Above: the Japanese bookcloth and decorative papers for the current batch of books, which will have Nideggen paper for pages.
I mentioned on Facebook that I was painting decorative paper and several friends asked for photos. Typically I don't post photos until everything is made up in book form, but I got to thinking people might enjoy seeing everything all cut up. I couldn't get high enough over the table to really include everything however: top left—it is difficult to see the gold and light green fabrics that will go with some magenta (yes magenta!) paper; top right— you can't see the lovely orange and cobalt blue mixes on the paper that will go with red and navy fabrics. This go around I actually made some decorative papers that went well with the smoky lavender bookcloth I bought by mistake months ago and haven't found a use for yet (four books will use this subtle color this round).
All the decorative paper painting was done while I was sitting on the floor, or kneeling on a cushy garden mat, while hovering over Strathmore Aquarius II watercolor paper (which rested on a large sheet of thick plastic), with acrylic paints and water spray bottles, and thin and fat and round and flat brushes.
The paper had to go well with the dark tone of Nideggen, a brownish-tan paper, as well as any bookcloth colors I had on hand. Matching the bookcloth and decorative paper to this lovely art paper is the most difficult thing for me when making books with Nideggen. It's much simpler to create decorative papers for books with white pages—or so it always seems.
This batch resulted in some very muted yet interesting selections. The complementary colors used in the upper right corner (cobalt blue and red) created a mix of neutrals that's simply yummy and will go great with the Nideggen. I will post a photo of the books (11 large books and two small books—the fabric and paper of the last didn't make it into the cropped photo) when they are all done. In the meantime I'd better get back to scrubbing the wall and flat file. I was particularly energetic when flicking paint this time!
Paint flicked on the wall... cool. Sounds like you should do some decorative wall painting too.
Posted by: Jon Harl | July 03, 2009 at 02:16 PM
These are fabulous, Roz. Can't wait to see the finished books.
Posted by: Sally Niemand | July 03, 2009 at 02:18 PM
HA HA Ha Jon, not in this life, but it could be a way to finally cover up all that antique bird wall paper in the other room!!!
Long ago we didn't do things to the house (such as paint a wall mural of the Wright brother's at Kitty Hawk, or create an elf work station in the wall in the downstairs bathroom) because we were always talking about "resale value." Several years ago those comments stopped. I know I'm never getting out of here alive. And frankly that's a good thing, I'd have to tear up the maple and cherry (some of the floor was added as the house expanded years ago) floor boards which have toenail marks from the girls and take them with me.
At any rate, I no longer worry about paint flicking on the walls. I try not to, but hey, if it happens—someone's working here right?!
Posted by: Roz | July 03, 2009 at 02:31 PM
Thanks Sally, neither can I. (Shhhh, don't tell Diane, I'm holding one back for her b-day in November. I found out she is quite fond of Nideggen.)
Posted by: Roz | July 03, 2009 at 02:33 PM