I have started the New Year with a project to get my teeth into. As you are probably aware, I draw in old books that about to be discarded – the books no one wants at op shops ! They are either free or under $5.

I have a lovely stock of these at home, which I bought a year ago, (before our 9 month lockdown) and have recently been given some more. I usually read or browse through the a book, sometimes two or three times, noting pages that have potential. I will narrow it down to one or two which mentions or describes something that I can illustrate with my watercolour pencils. I then search on the internet for copyright free images to use on the page. I often have visualised a concept in my mind and try and locate an image that matches that. I am not always successful and sometimes need to change ideas.

Below are some of my recent “drawn in books” and a few current projects. All are or will be available on my ETSY online store for purchase. The postage rate is set for Australia, but please contact me and I will find out what the International country rates would be. At the moment postage is unpredictable and there is no guarantee how long a parcel will take to arrive.

These three drawn in books have just been added to my ETSY online store. Did you grow up reading these? I only know “Timmy” as a black and white border collie in the 1970’3 TV series, but not in the original book.

• Timmy a ” large, brown mongrel” in Famous Five (1967)
• Scamper a “golden spaniel” in Secret Seven (1957)
• Snap a ‘big , shaggy white dog’  in The Bobbsey Twins (1955)

I am currently working in three books. I usually have two or three going at the one time, so that I can move between. One book will often sit for a few days and I will leave it open to the page, and walk past, think how it could be improved. Usually, this involves adding more colour to one area.

This Motoring: Being the romantic story of the Automobile Association by Stephen Cooke Published by the Automobile Association in 1931 268 pages

This is about 80% complete. Some more details need to be added. Finding an image to inspire me to draw was not as easy as I thought it would be. It is a book about the founding and growth of the Automobile Association in the UK up to 1931. I assumed there would be a lot of references to cars, but there wasn’t. However this early page explained the history of motoring. The famous annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run commemorates the 1896 “Emancipation Run” as a celebration of the then recently passed Locomotives on Highways Act 1896, which increased the speed limit to 14 mph (23 km/h). The Act also abolished the requirement for the cars to be preceded by a man on foot with a red flag. The Annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is open to vehicles built before 1905. The 1953 comedy movie Genevieve is set during one of these runs.

Sheet Music

James Hook Sonata in G for Descant Recorder (or Treble Pipe or Violin) and Pianoforte(Bergman) Published by Schott & Co, Ltd. In 1948  12 pages. The recorder, which many of us may associate with primary school music lessons, actually has a long history. I discovered this in my research.

• 

Report of the Botanical Section for the Year 1936
By Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society in 1936
6 pages

I have only just started this one. This pamphlet lists grasses, small flowers, and lichen by botanical name. I looked them all up online and none of them were very dramatic to draw. However,Chanterelle mushrooms are mentioned in the text and they are very colourful.

I hope that this provides some insight into my process and way of thinking.

I have another shelf full (or two) of books with potential to draw in. Many hours of fun!