Altered books - a collaboration

It has been a while since I worked in an altered book . . . not since I was creating sample pages for my lessons in Artful pages - 4 artists 4 ways. I’ve been busy almost every day now for a week, working on an altered book collaboration I am doing with Sharon Borsavage of Livewire Jewelry. We started our collaboration almost 2 years ago and have been working in each other's altered books without any deadlines. I’ve just finished a number of pages in my book and I'm sending it to Sharon for her to work on. She will finish it up and send home to me! I already have Sharon's book here in my possession and will start working on a few pages so I can send her book back home to her! Our books look beautiful already, each filled with art done by both Sharon & me.

I will share a few pages with you!

Part of a new page I did this week. I love the quote, click for details!

A new page spread in my own book, started by me

That’s my great uncle's painting - WIlliam Glackens, in the middle on the right. 

my page on the left, sharon's on the right  : ^ ))

I added this today, using a ‘Direct to Paper’ ink technique, then reorganized my ink pads!

These photos are of Sharon's favorite Zinnia's. I photo copied them and printed them onto the book pages (after removing them)

Sharon's work in my book - it is beautiful! 

The cover of my altered book

I was thinking about the difference between working in an art journal and working in an altered book while working on my book this week. It is not that different for me . . . In my altered book I have old music pages as my base. When I work in an art journal I usually have plain paper pages to work on. More recently, I had a watercolor paper Journal, which allows for using a lot of wet paint! I did do a little bit of journaling on the sea grape leaves page in my altered book . . .  but found I’m doing a lot more writing in my art journal. I miss doing that, so I may need to do a page in my art journal soon. My 2nd art journal is almost complete, just a couple more spreads. I am so, so glad giving up working on a daily basis has given me the time and inspiration to return to this exchange with Sharon.

I’ve added a full page on my website that shares our collaboration in both altered books., click below!