How to: Colour, Cut and Hope
Ah! Spring is coming. In light of some hard, challenging things going on in the world right now, here’s a glimmer of green: How to colour, cut and hope a book in to being!
You’ll need:
- A juicy sheet of thick paper that will take watercolour paint (I’ve used an A4 piece of Khadi)
- Ink in two contrasting shades of green (I ended up using Pilot’s Iroshizuku ink in Chiku – rin and Daler Rowney’s Sap Green acrylic ink, though there was some Diamine choices for back up)
- Some brushes for applying the ink
- Water
- Cutting mat
- Ruler
- Scalpel
- Pencil for drawing leaf shapes
Step by Step:
Set everything out on a surface that isn’t precious.
Cover one side of the sheet with a single colour of ink.
Once it’s dry, flip the sheet over and cover the other side with a contrasting colour.
Then, when both sides are dry, we’re ready to fold.
Start by folding in half lengthways.
Open out flat, and then fold in half widthways.
Then take the short side into meet the middle crease.
And once you’ve done the same on the other side, you’ll have a grid of eight rectangles.
Now fold the sheet in half widthways, and cut from the centre, towards the creased side as shown.
So you’ll have a slit in the centre of the sheet.
Ready for the next stage?! (I was so excited that this image was taken in a hurry, hence the lack of space around the bottom of the WIP.)
Fold the sheet in half lengthways, with the slit on the top where you can see it.
Hold the left and right sides and push into the centre, so that the slit pops open into a diamond shape.
Then, pull the pages towards you, deciding what will become the covers.
Due to the nature of the khadi paper, and the structure, it’s likely to come out a bit wonky – cherish that.
Next, lightly outline a leaf shape on each page. Seek botanical references to copy, or make them up, like I have. Do you remember the Autumnal Cut Collage Concertina from a few years ago? This is a Spring update!
Here are the outlines all done.
One by one, carefully cut out the leaf shape with a scalpel.
I was chanelling my inner Hannah-Nunn-laser-cutting-skills as the scalpel blade sliced through the rag paper.
Guess which leaf is inspired by my new Donna Wilson scarf?!
I love the cut out shapes!
Fold the sheet back in to the book form, enjoying the contrasting colour and combination of cut out shapes.
How to: Colour, Cut and Hope with ink, paper and a scalpel! Happy creating!
That is such a cool idea. Being down under in Aotearoa New Zealand, I hope we hold onto summer for a while longer…………always a reluctant release. Thank you for your total inspiration……..
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A pleasure Graham! Rachel
As usual – I love it. Might even try it out here on holiday in Oman.
Brilliant! Oooh a friend has just returned from a grand time in Oman – Enjoy X
An absolute delight
Thank you
Ah Treeza! Thank you X
Fabulous! I need to create a thank you for a woodworker who made a bench hook to assist me in cutting paper/board for my bookbinding attempts. He often uses local wood for his projects and a card of local leaves (if my hand will let me draw) will hopefully delight. Color, Cut, and Hope also replaced my overall sense of gloom and bewilderment with a promise of spring and the potential for a new beginning. Thank you!
Hurray and delighted – lucky woodworker – There is always potential X
This green and leafy project is perfect inspiration for the first day in our part of Minnesota that will reach 50-degrees F this year. We’re dreaming of bud and leaf. Watercolor on paper will meet our kindled spirits. Thank you so much, Rachel
Oh Milne i’m glad that bud and leaf may bring cooling inspiration XXr
Thanks so much for this, Rachel! I’ve forwarded the newsletter to a friend who I think will love this – she’s just been given an allotment, after waiting several years. It was lovely to see you at the Fruit Market Book Fair.
So glad X