Sunday, January 25, 2009

Fat Book Pages




Hi everyone, I know it has been a long time since my last post. I have been very busy in my new job and when I have been home I have been doing a lot of reading, to re-familiarise myself with the 0-2 year old age group (previously I taught 3-5 year olds). I am loving my new job role though, it is a pleasant change. Additionally, my sister and niece who are living with us at the moment, have taken over my art studio so it has been difficult to get in there, I like them to have their privacy. They have found a house that they like and are going to make an offer on it this week, so I should have my studio back within the month! Yay!

OK, today (Australia Day) I had no choice but to invade their personal space as I desperately needed to complete the 120 pages for the Fat Book Swap I am involved in. We needed to choose a technique that used recycled or cheap materials. I chose to use rubber band printing. I used cereal boxes as the basis for the 4x4 inch squares. I base coated these with acrylic paint (Payne's Grey). Using a brayer, I took off the handle and wound rubber bands of various widths around the brayer, overlapping them to get different sizes and effects. I rolled the brayer in another acrylic paint (Red Earth) and rolled the design across the fat book page. When that was dry (it didn't take long), I inked up the brayer on a gold Brilliance ink pad and again ran the design across the previously printed fat book page. It was a really fun technique to do, very speedy, very effective result. I found I could vary the design by curving the way I ran the brayer across the page, by criss-crossing, by shadowing, etc. Really there are so many options on how you can vary this technique. Give it a go. I have used it as backgrounds on my portraits for a different sort of effect. It would make a nice background for cards, ATC's, moos, etc.

16 comments:

The Bodhi Chicklet said...

That looks like a lot of cereal boxes too...

I'm curious to see where these pages will go. Very inventive technique, too. I just might use it one day, thanks for the tip. Nice to have a peek at a few things in your studio too.

Martha Lever said...

Neat!!! Can't wait to try it! Glad to see you blogging again!! Thanks for visiting today!

~*~Patty S said...

What an impressive accomplishment! You must feel great for a good days work. Your fat book pages look super. Love the rubber band technique!
Bet you can't wait to get your book!

HeARTworks said...

That was interesting! Would like to give it a try! Thabnks for sharing!

Margaret said...

what a clever idea! love the technique, fab result.

Unknown said...

Wow! these came out fab... who knew cereal boxes could look so great!

sherry carrigan said...

Hi Brenda, Really like this technique. Even when life gets in the way of play time, all ends well.

Michi Michaelson, Orange County, CA said...

Hi Brenda!
I'm LOVING your Fat Book Technique! It's SO exciting! I'm anxious to receive mine in the mail!!!!

Teri Leigh said...

Great idea. I wouldn't have thought of it but I like the look.

Trish said...

thanks Brenda:) I'm waiting to see what you do with the fat book pages! I keep forgetting to save some cereal boxes.
you have a good weekend
I'm going to go do laundry before I'm snowed in again!
Trish ;)

Pretty Things said...

Swaps take up so much time, don't they? I did some altered art charm swaps last year and they wore me out, especially since I was learning as I went along!

Re said...

i love this technique. thanks for sharing