ARTFEST 2002 - April 3-7, in Port Townsend, WA

Telling My Story / Making My Book

Supply List

Basically, you need six things:

A book
Cutting tools
Adhesive
Paint
Writing tools
2d and 3d collage items

This can be as complex, or simple as you'd like it to be. The following are several ideas for what you might want to bring. You DO NOT need to bring ALL these items!

Book: I prefer to use small, old books.. 4x6" or 5x7". I like to use vintage books, but be careful not to choose one that is totally falling apart or that has crumbly pages. You might want to choose a book that has special meaning to you, or the book may just be a substrate to work within. You might bring an extra to try some techniques out on first.

Cutting tools: Scissors, an xacto knife and blades, a cutting mat or piece of mat board. You might want to bring fancy cutting scissors like pinking shears, and hole punches.

Adhesives: I'd recommend a glue stick, PVA glue, and possibly acrylic medium (matte or gloss, your choice). Quick drying 2 part epoxy might be useful if you want to put 3D items on the cover. Clear packing tape is useful. Thread and needle, and wire are alternative ways of attaching items and binding pages.

Paint: I prefer to use acrylics. You don't need many colors. In the book I've been working on I've only used three. You may also want to use watercolors, pastels, watercolor crayons, grease pencils, colored pencils, ink. Bring what you like to work with, or something you've had around and haven't used yet. Gesso or white acrylics are useful if you want opaque coverage. Gloss or matte acrylic medium are useful if you want to create glazes. Bring a couple of small flat inexpensive brushes. You may want to bring an ink pad and a few rubber stamps that have special meaning to you.

Writing tools: Can be as simple as a pencil! Or.. as complex as dip pen and ink, lining tool, rubber stamp alphabet and ink pad, gel pens.. Or text from books or letters you want to include.

Collage elements: You might want to bring old family photos and mementos, or just images that appeal to you or bring childhood memories to mind. There may be certain images - like birds, or houses - that hold a special meaning to you. Ephemera, book illustrations, clip art -- you may choose to use originals, or xeroxed copies. Maps, letters, school papers, pages from old journals, printed, handmade, or marbled papers are some other ideas.. You may also want to bring scraps of fabrics, ribbons, ric rac or other cloth items.
3d Items: beads, buttons, old jewelry pieces, letter and number beads, silk flowers, tiny toys or charms, doll parts.. whatever appeals to you!

Remember, these are all just optional items and things I mention to give you ideas. If you have a book, some basic art supplies, and personal mementos, you shouldn't need to buy anything for this class. I will have all of the above materials with me if you want to try out something you don't have.

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