Love, Love, Love!

I belong to an art group of wonderful women that meets monthly.  A part of the group decided to do an altered book exchange a couple of months ago.  The idea is to swap books every month so that each member of the group works in each book.I bit the bullet and joined this group, which was the ultimate challenge for me. 


I've been going to the library and revering books since I was old enough to walk.  If there was anything that was drummed into my little brain as a child, it was to NEVER, EVER deface or hurt a book.  Fold the corner of a page to mark your spot??  No, no, no!!!  Place an open book face down?? Never!  You're break the spine!  Write in a book??  Unthinkable!!


As a college student, I did make the leap to using yellow highlighters--seemed that was the only way I could force myself to read a textbook.  So you can imagine how the thought of ripping pages out of a book, gluing pages together, painting and drawing in a book, cutting pages up and the like just makes me break out in hives!


Well, I've successfully managed to alter a couple of page spreads as we've exchanged books each month.  Here's the latest double-page spread I did in a book whose theme is "Love".  First, I  covered the pages with gesso so that the text was pretty well covered and also to add a layer of "umph" to the thin paper.

Next, I layered 2 colors of paint onto the pages...

Ta da!!  The finished product...on the left side I pasted in a verse from the song, "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" by Jackie DeShannon.  Anyone remember that great tune from the '60s??  On the right side, I pasted in layers of cut-out hearts.  

I topped it off with a fold out of 4 hearts strung together, with L-O-V-E spelled out.

I have to admit, I did have fun working on this book and hope that the library police don't find me anytime soon!


Happy reading,

Deborah