Drawing in books !
I am a librarian, and although today my work is dealing with information and database, I spent many years handling books everyday– shelving them, checking books in and out. I still have a referential place in my heart (and head) for paper and books. I have not yet joined the Kindle or “i” device movement- I am still a Luddite when it comes to books . I enjoy holding the book, its weight in my hand, the turn of the page, the sight of books on shelves.
However, in the last few years I have been intrigued by the concept of drawing in a book . However it has taken me a while to do it.
I had decided that on my next holiday (in July !!) I would take a published book and draw in it. I decided that :
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It would be a book on the place I was going to (London)
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It would have to be an older book – so that it would have glossy pages. The paper would need be able to take the watercolour and ink .
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It would be better to have a light layer of gesso on the pages I want to draw on to allow the drawing to show on the page
Here is my book – Boswell’s London Journey, published 1958 . It’ is an old paperback , I am not sure where I got it. I had bought some other books previously, but didn’t want to draw in them as I liked the book so much that I wanted to keep them as they were.
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| book with tub of gesso , ready to paint onto some pages |
Why didn’t I want to draw in books ??
Writing in books was a BAD thing ! a big No No ! For many years I worked in Public and University libraries and saw writing in books: underlining, scribbles, notes, in the margins and throughout the book. These were books that belong to the public/community ie everyone. Still riles me to see it!
BUT – does that make a difference if it is your own book? Surely I can write in my own book… And yet I could not get over that boundary. Even if I bought it for only a few dollars, or it was free. It is purely a mental step and attitude on my behalf. I still have not made that step
I have been building up to it by…
drawing on notepaper, catalogues, on music, on a map – these were breakthroughs
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| part of my family history project , the watch has meaning, but the music does not have significance |
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| another family history drawing. The music has no special meaning |
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| drawing in the catalogue at an Exhibition |
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| drawing in the catalogue at an Exhibition |
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| at an exhibition – drawing in the catalogue |
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| sketching on the run sheet at the choir Christmas concert warm up |
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| On a map. I am very pleased with this one as this is the map that was actually used on the day in Hawaii, when my boots fell apart. I drew them from a photograph. I think that this piece of paper really tells the story |
Like it very much! I was always in love with books and fixed them whenever they got into my hands, since early childhood, was always loved by librarians 🙂 and given very special books. I got a Kindle some time ago as a present from my daughter and love it for built in dictionary and light weight, but still have paper books too.
When hurricane Sandy hit my home and I was 9 days without power, water, food locked up in my apartment, it was Kindle with 2 dollar reading light, which saved my sanity, I read 3 books. I think it is a magical idea to draw on old book, give it a second life. Drawings look so interesting on a page.
Thanks Nikira. It is lovely that you appreciate both e-books and paperbooks.
You are right – drawing in books is giving them a second life – who else would read some of these old paperbacks that would otherwise be thrown away !
It is good to hear that you could keep going through such a hard time with the companionship of a book (no matter what form it was in).
wow!!! what a big decision to make!!!! very exciting! Can’t wait to see what you will do
Thanks Liz – I will have to visit Dr Samuel Johnson’s house (compiler of the Dictionary) in London. Boswell was his biographer . However I have just realized that it is Another book for me to carry in my luggage, along with many sketchbooks . But it is a small paperback .
I absolutely understand how you feel! As someone who has also worked in libraries and has always revered books, I still think of them as sacred items. I overcame a huge hurdle when I decided to make paper ‘bunting’ from an old kids’ book. The way I justified it was: if the book was damaged in some way (missing pages, cracked spine etc) then it was fine, also if it was the kind of book that wasn’t really going to be read or enjoyed (because it had gone out of style in language or illustrations…or actually wasn’t that good in the first place!). I figured the end result (a beautiful decoration for my child’s room) actually honoured and celebrated books. And I think it’s the case with drawing in them too. It’s giving them a new life and a way to enjoy a book that might otherwise have languished unopened on the shelf. Can’t wait to see your London drawings!
I’m looking forward to seeing what you are going to draw in this book. Like you I struggle to let myself draw/scribble/write on the book, though find art made using old books fascinating.