If you have been following my art for a while you will know that I have had several projects where I have drawn in books about to be discarded.  See the end of this blog for links to my previous projects .

The current project is for entry into art competition. Blarney Books and Art are holding their annual Biblio-Art competition. The brief : create an artwork which is clearly inspired by a book you’ve known, in any medium. 

I had left over books from my Drawing in Books exhibition. I had never knew what to do with this particular book, as there were so many potential pages to draw on. For this competition I get to draw on them all ( or as many I want to) . 

My book is Teachers’ Notes on “Nature Study: Plants and Animals” published 1910 by Blackie & Son Limited in London and Glasgow.  hardcover, 233 pages. 11.5 cm x 18.5 cm .

Purchased at Kyneton Church Book Sale in a bag of books. Stamped inside book Mary L Norman, The Studio, Ararat . Inscription in pen C.E.G.S 1920

Reading the teacher notes for this 1910 book is fascinating, It is amazing how many lessons require a live object and also the way they incorporate English and Maths into the Science lesson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have drawn in watercolour pencil on 43 pages so far, illustrating the animal or plant on discussed on the pages. This blog post has just a few of those I have done so far. I will put them all into a Flickr album over the next two weeks . It has been great fun to illustrate, as I am under no pressure, doing simple drawings. The print on the page takes away the need to go into too much detail in the drawing.The paper of the pages are a decent weight, so it takes the pencil well, but stops me doing too much. 

I have another three weeks before I need to submit my entry. Up to sixty selected entries will be chosen for display before judges make decisions. All works are for sale (including this one!) .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My previous “drawing in books”

The first was an exhibition You Can’t Draw in Books as part of Melbourne Rare Book Week in 2016. This exhibition was also shown at East Melbourne Library  and Blarney Books and Art in Port Fairy. some of the drawings are here . There are some of them available for purchase on my ETSY online store 

I drew in a recipe book as a special birthday gift for a friend.  see all the pages here.

I will be adding more of these pages to my flicker website…