I'm still working on this little sketchbook, knowing that my holiday will be over come Monday and I won't have the luxury of time anymore. I get up early and come down to my studio then suddenly its 11am and I'm immersed in drawing or painting and the world around me disappears. I love it.
I wanted something to complete the reverse of this sketchbook as I put the portrait on the front. I thought of many things that spelled closure or the end, then finally came up with a closed door. That evolved into this old door knob and peeling paint that I've just realized took me the morning to fiddle with! I added a little pen and ink to define the peeling paint and now it almost looks pointillistic or jewel like instead of the rusty knob I used. Silk purses out of sow's ears I guess.Its coloured pencil on the back cover of my little Moleskine cahier sketchbook. Ok, now that's done and I can get down to more contents for the inside!
Shut the door on your way out please...
25 comments:
personally i love the effect you achieved even though it wasn't what you were trying to accomplish. it almost looks like mosaic. i also like the concept of the closed door for the back page.
This is great, Jeanette. Most of us don't decorate our sketchbooks. :) One of the Scavenger Hunt artists puts a few borders randomly in her sketchbooks and then when she gets to that page, just sketches what fits. Anyway, I like this so much.
Thanks Billie. I quite like the final effect. Some days I never know what will come out of the end of the pencil!
Well I don't usually decorate a sketchbook either Jo, but I want this one to stand out in the crowd a bit more. Its my experiment :)
This is absolutely stunning, Jeanette.
I agree with Steve.
Thanks Steve and Rose. I rather like it too. I may even be loathe to part with it. Do you think they'd notice if I ripped off the back cover? :)
Oh my, what wonderful covers for the Moleskine, and a wonderful idea. Now you can collect doornob images to decorate all your journals. Did you use acrylic paint? Did you gesso first?
Thanks Jo. Yes, a whole series of doorknobs could be interesting, couldn't they?
No, this wasn't acrylic, its coloured pencil. The effects you can get with it are quite painterly at times.
Ooh yes Jeanette, do a doorknob series...that is a fabulous idea!
Brilliant idea - I love the painting too. Question - did you paint directly on the cover or did you cover it with something first?
I know what you mean about going back to work and the luxury of time to paint. Oh to be one of those lucky people who can stay at home and paint all day!
Love it Jeanette, yours would certainly catch my eye.
You've a achieve a wonderful trompe-l'oeil effect with this drawing, Jeanette. I certainly wouldn't be able to part with this book. Splendid!
How simply wonderful. And I love the idea of even putting something on the covers! Bravo. Lucky duck who gets this.
You have such a wonderful texture to the peeling paint. You could say you had to rip the cover off because it got covered in mud? or eaten by an animal? ;)
The back and front of this sketchbook are gorgeous. :)
Well there's no shortage of door knobs Rose! :)
Anita, I didn't prep the surface first as it wasn't paint I used, it was coloured pencil.
Oh yes, work will be a wake up call for me tomorrow...yuck
Thanks Gayle. I wanted it to be eye catching front or back. Now I just need to make the contents match up the covers!
I rather like the surface colour and texture of these sketchbooks Robyn. I'll have to get some similar Kraft paper and try it out.
Thank you Tracy. Its been fun to do and I may do similar things with other old sketchbooks now.
Its almost like making a mosaic Jennifer and quite interesting to draw textures. I get all caught up in it and time flies.
Yes! The dog ate my homework... :)
Now THAT'S a sketchbook!
A beautiful little cover, an appropriate beginning and end for a sketchbook. My own are a motley assortment lying around the house and car.
Happy New Year from Edmonton.
Cindy
Hi Jeanette,
Wow, great job on these covers! Coloured pencils are great aren't they? :-) I love your choice of subjects. Very creative.
it's great! very striking and mosaic/stained glass window in effect and a great concept too for your book :>)
I really, really like this - if you decide to rip off the cover, would you send it my way, please?
Happy New Year Cindy! This is the first time I've used the cover of a sketchbook, but I may do so again.
Thanks Teresa. Gotta love those coloured pencils. They're my comfort zone after oils.
I like the effect of the cracked paint and how it ended up too Vivien. Its unique.
No problem Jan. If it doesn't sell and I get it back, the cover is yours. :)
Jeanette, I thought I commented already and I see many people did, but not me! I love the doorknob and how it looks like I can reach out and turn it to open that door. I actually think a doorknob drawing would be good on the front of a sketchbook too. It could say open the door and take a look. :)
Yes, that could work well on the front too Stacy, wouldn't it?
Perhaps I'll practice on my old brown covered moleskine with another doorknob on the front. A big brass lion knocker maybe...
Amazing 3-D effect you got here. I really thought it was a real doorknob until I saw your fingers holding the book. I have a stack of sketchbooks completed for the year and have been thinking about how to design the covers. Thanks for the inspiration from seeing your covers!
Thanks Jana. I hope you'll share some of your cover designs when you do them.
Jeanette said "No problem Jan. If it doesn't sell and I get it back, the cover is yours. :)"
As if it won't sell! Well, kiss that cover goodbye for me - good for you, not for me.
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