One day I was in my LSS... Be Creative in Pitt Meadows, B.C. and Lisa Strahl had hers there. I thought what a wonderful idea! So...I began.
I started with 4-1/4 by 5-1/2 but the pages were going to be too small and the book would be too thick so I started over and went with half-sheets. I decided to use my stock of Gina K Pure Luxury as: 1) I was not a fan of the paper (I know people rave about it but, I have way too much trouble blending on it) and 2) It was nice and thick with no bleed-through to the other side....perfect for my book. I got all the paper cut to size, my binding coil at hand, my Cinch ready to bind and I picked up a sheet of heavy-duty acetate/mylar stuff...cut it in half and it was perfect for the front and back protective covers.
I started at the internet with digital clip art. I could have stamped it all but, I am such a newbie at stamping and there were so many images to do....I decided to go with digital instead. I searched until I found the images I wanted to represent my swatches....blank faces, hair, flowers, leaves, etc.
I created my templates and printed off all my pages.....sat down one night with my Copics and colored the pages in. I split each section by color and representation. I was not concerned with the actual representation of....say a leaf or a barrel but, with the laying down of my color blending families.
I am really, really happy with it. I can sit down now...open the book...look for a color family I want...see the main color, the highlight and the shadow....grab my markers and color. No more guessing!
Have a wonderful day!
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Hi. I am usually a blog lurker but I wanted to comment to say what a fantastic job you have done with your swatch book! I found your blog through SCS as I love my copics and always want ideas for my swatch book. This is great idea and a great size for a book. I have been doing the same thing, but I have been putting my pages into an A5 folder in page protectors, as I am finding it too difficult to work out how many pages to add to my swatch book and it allows me to add as many as I need. Great job! Hope you will keep posting more pictures of your swatch book as I have definitely been inspired. Annie :)
ReplyDeleteThank you. These are just a sampling of the pages in my book. I did all my pages up before I bound them...and, it is not really all that difficult to add more pages to the book after it is bound.
ReplyDeleteCathy
What a great idea, love how you did this!!! Thanks for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteThis is great! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAwesome!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had the time to do something similar with my watercolors.
I am not an organized artist though.
Ah...you can always squeeze in a moment while that darling son of yours is sleeping!
ReplyDeleteCathy
I am just starting to realize how much I need a swatch/technique book. I googled the subject and found you. Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Julie.
ReplyDeleteCathy