The project
Inside Your Heart is a fantastical storybook made as a labor of love for my boyfriend's birthday. He is the main character in the book. I used a combination of paper cutouts, watercolors, pen drawings, and textured prints. I bound the book by hand using glue and watercolor paper.
The process: storyline & sketches
First, I wrote the storyline in my sketchbook and thought about the meaning and message I wanted to convey. I did quick sketches for each page, and decided on a color scheme-- orange and a vibrant turquoise blue.
Page by page
Then I just made it. Page by page, bird by bird. I think the first few pages took me over 6 hours each. I was already running late with this gift, so instead of doing paper cut illustrations for every page, I opted for some watercolor and print collages, which were less time consuming. It was intense.
Binding
I used glue and watercolor paper to bind each page together. I think I took a bookbinding class in high school, but I forgot everything. For this project, I just made up something that worked. And used a lot of glue.
Reflections
At the time I made this, I was a sophomore in college. His birthday was in February, but I didn't finish making this until May. It was very labor-intensive and stressful. Exacto knives and paper bits everywhere!
I think I've found my magic ingredients: hard labor, love, and a deep sense of wonder.
I love making things by hand, thoughtful design, and helping creatives get organized.
Visit me at my small home on the internet.
Visit me at my small home on the internet.
