Wednesday 4 April 2012

from scribble to book .....

On and off since 1998, and very much more off than on, I have been part of the DaD project inspired by Adele Outerridge.  Drawing a Day.  Sounds easy but unless you are incredibly disciplined it is quite difficult to maintain.  In 1998 from February when I joined the project, I drew daily and then bound these drawings into a visual diary.  In fact one day I will blog on this book.  The drawings ranged from the inspired to the jovial depending on what was happening on that day - I had one 'drawing' where the page was smeared with chocolate and red wine.  Hardly a drawing in the real sense but certainly a lovely reminder of that evening shared with friends.

I speak of this because very often from those drawings, explorations often developed and from those explorations very often a series of artwork developed.  We all 'play' with our jottings and scribbles and in their own right, these are a significant reminder of our creative processes.  Out of those scribbles it is rather satisfying to see a work of art emerge, or several in the same vein.

scribbles from DaD 

scribbles from DaD

more scribbles



Playing with 'writing drawings' is something I have played with for years and this series of drawings from my DaD diary in 2010 turned into an artist's book which was exhibited and sold.  I actually added to the book post sale by making separate perspex covers into which the paper covers slipped.  The perspex was engraved with some of my writing scribbles and the contrast against the black paper was lovely.  The perspex covers gave the book a more rigid frame which enabled it to stand up in open display more effectively.



Artist's book by Susan Bowers











9 comments:

  1. Lovely. The play of your marks with the texture of the ends of the papers, the light...aaahhhh.

    Is the photo in your header one from this book? Just wondering. I love that shot. Enjoy!

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  2. Susan - I always think your doodled writing-drawing is beautiful enough to be a finished piece; and the work that emerges from it is so perfect. I love these marks, and the hint of text/language in the abstract. Wonderful to see them all again!

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  3. Thanks, I enjoyed looking at your images today.

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  4. Beautiful scribbles - I find it SO hard to be naive with my mark making - using my left hand sometimes does the trick xoxox

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  5. Jennifer - yes, the photo in the header is of the same book - quite a large one, about 60cms tall. Actually want to do a smaller series sussing the same concept. Thanks Fiona - wish I had some of your calligraphy talent. Noela - it must say something about me that the scribble mark comes so easily!

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  6. I love your scribbles.. I call them mark making.. and the subdued colors are within my realm of light and shadows.

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    1. Thank you for you thoughtful comment Donna. I actually consider myself to be a mark maker - and this is reflected in much of my work, book making and etchings.

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  7. SB-beautiful depth in the layers and colours of the marks - like looking through the twigs of a bramble bush. B

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  8. The layering of the marks is beautiful.... delicate... some floating and some integrated into the background.

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I appreciate your comments - thank you!