studio notes

Beginning Stages of a New Mixed Media Book

I have been working on a new mixed media book about nature, that was inspired by my art retreat in a wooded area along the East Nishnabotna River. It was in the fall, yet the trees were barren, and the leaves were thick on the forest floor.

This is the base layer of the cover. It is mat board covered with a crumpled piece of painted paper. I used gel medium to adhere the paper to the mat board once the paint had dried.

Layer #2 --- I added a thermofax screen print of a tree. This is from a photo that I took at the retreat, and I love all the fine branches that radiate out from these tree trunks.

Layer #3 --- I have added some pieces of painted canvas to the cover. The strips on the left bring in some of the other colors that were present in this landscape, and the rectangle with writing in the center starts the narrative of the book.