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Altered Book Project: When Only Slow Will Do

23/4/2014

2 Comments

 
Altered Book Double Page Spread © Cherry Jeffs 2014
Landscape of Then and Now © CherryJeffs 2014
Mixed Media Altered Book Spread 19.7 x 38.8 cm

Sometimes when there is an incipient creative block brewing, taking the first step on a ‘What if I…?’ idea is just the thing for heading it off.

When I work in my altered book, the world recedes and I remember what it feels like to make art only for me.

Altered book as journal

I always turn to my altered book when I feel lost - either emotionally or artistically. It is my ‘slow’ project. It doesn’t aim to arrive anywhere (other than that one day, the book will be full); it has no deadline; no purpose other than to return to the very essence of the sacred act of creation. Some pages aren’t even shared publicly. 
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Since the death of my Mum last month, (it would have been her birthday today) I have found it difficult to return to my work in progress with it’s tone of light-hearted whimsy.

Inspired by the work of Mexican illustrator, Gabriel Pacheco, it occurred to me that I might begin a series of monochrome pieces with just an accent of colour. The idea must have taken root because I found myself following that brief for this altered book page. 

See: More pages in this altered book


What act of creation do you do just for yourself?

 If there isn’t one, might it be time to begin?

​What idea has been niggling away at your subconscious lately that you might start to put into action today?
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© Author: Cherry Jeffs



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2 Comments
robyn link
23/4/2014 06:41:54 am

Hi Cherry, I've been thinking about you. The thing I do just for myself, especially when I'm feeling low is to work on my quote journal. It feels very personal and therapeutic. Sometimes I jot down a few ideas and "play" with collages in the journal and invariably I end up reading through it and feeling inspired. My niggling idea has been brewing for over a year and I'm finally (over the last 10 days or so) placing elements on the wood, trying to work out how I am going to proceed. I'm not pushing myself.... though I think it's time to do so.

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Cherry Jeffs link
25/4/2014 04:38:20 am

Thanks for thinking of me Robyn! I'm always following your strands around the web so you are never far from my thoughts either. I can always spot a Robyn 'pin' or tumblr entry on my feed without needing to check it's yours ;)

Yes, your quote journal has been around along as my altered book. Maybe we'll get together one day n our old age and mull over them together :)

Look forward to seeing how your seed idea grows! Always a treat to see you exploring a different avenue.

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