Mes Journals Pour Paris

In an earlier post I wrote about the various art workshops that I'll be doing in Paris (and elsewhere) when I arrive in just over 4 weeks.

I'll be filling journals with collages, prints, water colours, ink drawings and more...and  I've decided to theme mes journals pour Paris (my journals for Paris) around the 5 Senses of Taste, Sight, Hearing, Touch and Smell.  This will give me scope to develop my journals.......and capture much of what Paris is about.

I've always loved keeping journals and notebooks...even as a child....I would buy little notebooks from a local newsagent and fill them with scribbles, lists, drawings, pressed leaves and wildflowers. So keeping journals is not a new thing for me.....it's not expensive and a wonderful creative outlet.

I'll be taking my collection of journals and notebooks to Paris.......some consisting of beautiful watercolour papers, 100% cotton French etching papers, calendar eco/brown papers (which I love), and others with textured plant/fibre papers.

My collection of journals

A couple of these journals have been made by extremely talented printmakers and bookbinders. Sandra Pearce, a colleague artist from Impress Printmakers www.sandrapearce.com.au made this beautiful journal consisting of an original monotype, 190 gxm watercolour paper and onion skin/banana fibre paper (see below). Can't wait to fill this with something fab!

Sandra's beautiful journal

Rachel Hazell, based in the United Kingdom www.hazelldesignsbooks.co.uk, is the most divine bookbinder and I bought her limited edition bound journal at Spoons on the Isle of Skye last year www.thespoonsonskye.com.  I'm hoping to do a workshop with Rachel either in Paris or another spot in Europe.

Rachel's exquisite little "Spoons" journal.
I took home number 3 of an edition of 10.

By the way, if ever you happen to be on the Isle of Skye, please, please, please do yourself a favour and stay at Spoons.........divine!  The Isle of Skye is absolutely bee-you-tee-ful too.

Cute chooks at Spoons!

I loved this little red roofed cottage......maybe the subject for a future etching.

Dramatic, glorious scenery surrounds you everywhere on the Isle of Skye.

Pierre (better known as Peter - he's not French by the way) tramping in the Highlands.

Thistle...one of my favourite plants and a favourite etching subject.

I had my very first attempt at making a bound journal last weekend at Impress Printmakers.

Glen Skien, one of my favourite Australian artists www.silentparrotpress.com, led the workshop and I've posted a few images of Glen showing us the various techniques.

Glen made it look easy.........

My journal starting to take shape - with tobacco coloured end papers and a vintage ribbon divider.
I used 240 gsm French cream etching paper for the pages of the journal.
The cover was Venetian marbled paper that I splattered with grey ink and tea.
The spine was a dusty soft grey suede.

I used a little 'gold leaf' to embellish the cover.

Thought some vintage elements would also work - 1920's buckle and French grosgrain belting.

Voila - mon journal, L'Art de la Dégustation, with its little French belt!

I'm pretty happy with my attempt - which is mostly due to Glen's skill and teaching ability.  L'Art de la Dégustation (the art of tastes) will be home to water colours, drawings and collages etc of all that fantastic Parisian cuisine (theme: Taste)......though it's going to be a challenge to create something for my journal that imparts, for example, just how good this Millefeuille å la Vanille Bourbon from Le Florimond www.leflorimond.com actually tasted!!!!!  Fab restaurant by the way....and not expensive.

And now I'm starting to think about my second bound journal (theme: Sight).

I'll be making this in Paris....so let's see if I can improve on my first attempt.

A bientot mes amis.

You might also like this post on:
http://parisallons-y.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/hallelujah.html