Altered Book Art Journal Tips & Peeks

A patron recently asked me if I had some tips and tricks for choosing, using and prepping a book to use/alter as an art journal or paint-sketchbook for your creative practice - so I hit record in the studio recently and shared some thoughts and peeks from some of mine.

A few quick practical tips for altered book art journals:

- Do I prep pages before painting on them? Usually not - like 95% of the time I just dive right in. Start thick-ish - meaning the page quality is already on the thick side, or with a layer of acrylics. With that in mind, you really don't need to worry about it. But there are reasons to consider prepping the page before painting on it (like thin or glossy pages) - and there are many artists who wouldn't dare do an altered book page without prepping first - and I do share a few tips in the video.

- Size (and feel) matters... and this is so subjective. Consider weight, how it feels in your hands, texture, and does it lay flat? While I like experimenting with a variety of sizes and orientations, laying flat is a non-negotiable for me.

- Sewn signatures are best for a sturdy book that can take handling and mixed-media

Do you ever use an altered book for your art journaling? What are your preferences, favorite tips and discoveries? Share in the comments, if you like...

And if you've never tried one, grab an old book laying around and have at it - they are a special twist to keeping a visual/art journal to play, paint, rest and practice in.