Encaustic

Encaustic - (en-kaw-stik) Painted with wax colors filled with heat, or with any process in which colors are burned in.

Encaustic painting was developed by the ancient Greek shipbuilders, who used hot wax to fill the cracks in their ships. Soon pigment (color) was added and this led to painting on the surface of the waxed hull.

I want to try!

I found a technique I'd love to try and it seems fairly simple and inexpensive.  It's called Scratch Foam Block Printing and I found it on Daria's blog Glitter Goods a blog that is already on my blog roll to the left.

Photo posted with Daria's permission

She purchases supplies from Scratch Art.

My FIRST!

Honestly, I'm pretty proud of my very first attempt at an altered page.

I decided to keep it simple - as far as techniques go, I stuck with mostly Bic fine point permanent pens. I did use some Wite-Out (Bic) correction tape and some faux embossing liquid I had in my scrapbooking supplies.

What I did:

I used the original title page of the book, The Sidetracked Sisters Happiness File.

With white correction tape I manipulated the type to read The Sidetracked Artist's Happiness File.

Authors were noted as Pam Young and Peggy Jones.

Again with the correction tape and markers I transposed it to read "I am Young, an edgey one."

Yes I know that edgy is spelled wrong in this case, but what is 'right' when creating art? I like the irony of edgy spell wrong.

The rainbow lines were part of the original title page, I spelled out numbers repetitively in corresponding colors of the spectrum.

The rest I just filled up space with doodling. Throughout my life, my doodles have been writings. Not the typical mindless wanderings of a pen. I would write the alphabet, list all the states and numbers over and over again, maybe the predictable pattern gave me comfort. So, that's why the set of alphabet and numerals are a part of this first try. Subconsciously adding a familiar pattern to my 'new' exploration.

After all was inked, I thought it 'needed' just a touch of something. So I remembered the liquid I had that dries to form a raised shiny look in my stash of neglected and overwhelming scrapbook supplies. The product is Royal Coat by Plaid "Dimensional Magic" it also advertises.

Of course my markings bleed through several pages so I glued them together, (Tombo Aqua liquid glue) creating a nice sturdy title page for my first ever altered book!

Great Resources

Altered Books Websites

International Society of Altered Book Artists

Go Make Something

A Cyber Home for the Altered Book Artist

Lists definitions, techniques, products,
Links to copyright FREE images, copyright laws with regards to altered books,
How to links to anything book crafty, altered or mixed media

Overcome Your Fear of Book Ateration article

Alter Artists

Karen's Whimsy

Trish Bee Technique Archive
HUGE archive of techniques for
Book Making
Collage Art
Mixed Media
Card Making
Altered Art
Stamping

Book Making and Binding

Etsy Books Blog A team of creative book artists. Tons and tons of pictures, and links on how to.

Great tutorial at Glitter Goods

Single Needle Stitch binding tutorial

Simple Bookbinding Part 1 on YouTube

Coptic Stitch Binding with hard cover method 1 on YouTube

Coptic Binding on YouTube

Simple Pop-up Ups by Robert Sabuda

How cool would attending these workshops / retreates be?
Website The Muse is In Blog http://kaizentral.typepad.com/awemanac/



Online Classes
Creating Your Own Story by Eliece