The Hours – journal
The new cover
This is an extra copy of one of my favorite, albeit somewhat depressing, books, The Hours by Michael Cunningham, that has been used as a kind of sketchbook/journal. Many of the pages are stitched together to give more support for paint. Other pages are left alone.
Although I started this book some years back, I haven’t worked in it for a while. However, a few weeks back I rediscovered it and (as my bad back is preventing me from doing anything too much these days) decided to work in it again.
I made a new cover for it that’s based on a digital collage I made using a photograph of a clock I took in London and a drawing. The image seems particularly appropriate being the book’s title and my ever-awareness of time ticking by. I scanned the collage, recolored it (the original close is blue), printed it on fabric, added some paint and stitch to it, and collaged it onto fabric/paper to make the cover.
The following are some of the pages in the book.
Some of the pages are plain, some painted, many are stitched together using either a running or a blanket stitch and perle cotton thread.
These pages are dated 2007.
Also from 2007. This came with me on a trip to California, hence the bag from In N' Out Burger.
Recent sketches of Bud-Z
Another recent sketch of Bud-Z
He looks like a cutie here, but ...
This expression gives a hint of how he can be a handful.
Some of the pages are stitched on the top and bottom.
April 17th, 2012 at 6:38 pm
Wow, you painted and drew right over the words on a page! That feels so radical and absolutely disrespectful and forbidden. My grandpa would’ve never allowed any damage to a book.I’d never be allowed to touch one again. In college I found it unsettling to write in a textbook or underline for notes. I was just in B&N last week and it came over me again that it is amazing that there are so many thousands of books and you can just get one any time you want to. I can still see the few precious books that there were in our house when I was small. Thank God there was the public free library.
April 17th, 2012 at 7:53 pm
I did Marilyn, and on one of my favorite books, too. I have several copies of the book, and that one someone was throwing out and I took it. I didn’t find it disrespectful at all. Rather, I felt like I was intertwining with the book. However, I am also one that underlines book passagesand makes notes in the margin. I love when I’m at a second hand bookstore and find a book that was annotated by another. It feels more personal and valuable. As one who has written books that are now out of print, I’d rather someone do something with the book than toss it in the garbage. That being said, I do appreciate your viewpoint. :)