I’m making it my pre-New Year’s resolution to try to post here as much as possible before the end of 2007. It starts here:

Last week, I was fortunate enough to take a three-day bookbinding workshop at my school, instructed by my friend (and amazing artist) Seamus Heffernan. Over the course of the workshop (only like 1-2 hours a day), I was able to make this awesome, hardbound, 6″ by 9″, 76 page sketchbook, all by hand. I used actual, unused book cover material, from “2005 Oregon Revised Statutes” as my cover fabric. I feel like I’ll never need to buy another sketchbook again, and now I can actually fill one with paper I like, instead of relying on the default paper in most books. I think it will also give me a more personal connection to my future sketchbooks that I choose to construct myself, which I think can only help when it comes to filling its insides.

I recommend checking out Seamus’s site; besides knowing how to make a fine book, the dude can draw, comic, and paint his ass off, seriously. Maybe he can even make a book for you, I’m sure they’d make a lovely gift, what with the holidays fast approaching.

I don’t really like sketchbooks this small for project planning and the like, I’m more comfortable with something in the 8.5″ by 11″ size, but due to its portability, I plan on using this book only for drawings done from reference, either from life (something I need to get back into) or from photo reference (something I almost NEVER do, except to figure out a pose for something else).

Tags :: Crafty