Books and Paper-related items

Although this is a blog all about books, I do a lot of paper-related art work as well, some of which is included in the book art.  Anyway, I mentioned before an illustrator who has inspired me to produce some illustrated headed letter paper and envelopes and given me some ideas for how to use this sort of work in book art.  Her name is Angela McKay and her website is http://www.bytherealmckay.com/ if you want to look her up.  She's also running some sessions in her studio in Brighton for individual one to one sessions in drawing and watercolours for beginners.  She and I occasionally write to each other, and here are some of the letters and envelopes I have received from her, all with lovely images.

She very often matches up the envelopes with the letterhead and paper.

She gave me lots to look up about the process of adding images to letters, and I also came across a web site 'More than words: illustrated letters from the Smithsonian's Archives' which gives hundreds of examples showing what can be done.

As I said, Angela inspired me to start
some illustrating and shown below are some
of the envelopes, followed by some of the
headed notepaper that I have since made.

Although letter-writing doesn't happen much these days, it is great to receive a hand-written letter and to send out the occasional one too.  Angela is very interested in reviving this art form.  Perhaps some people just write at Christmas, and that's a really good opportunity to create a special letter and have some fun doing it.  By the way, it's simple to make well-styled envelopes out of wrapping paper, marbled paper etc etc.  All you do is get an envelope you already have and take it apart at the seams which are stuck together, then draw round the unfolded shape on to your own paper.  Now just fold it back up like the original and stick it with glue or double sided sticky tape.  If you are going to make a lot it is best to draw round the original onto some thin card so that you have a more sturdy template to use over and over.  Good luck.