I bought a couple of hardback books from the charity shop and up-cycled them into handmade books filled with watercolour paper, and covered them with unique printed paper using my gel plate.

I added a new book binding stitch to my reportoire. This book was made with recycled materials, and I used a variation of the traditional buttonhole binding stitch to hold my signatures in place.

One of my new projects for February was to make a sketchbook in a Photo-Booth-format style, and fill it up with portrait sketches of people I’ve encountered during my day. He’s the photo booth portrait sketches I completed in February, and tips on how to make your own version of this photo booth sketchbook.

Day 57 of sketching people. A visit to a local bar in Cabanas to sketch in the sunshine to sketch groups of people, to practice compositions with a group of people. And also try out a new sketchbook format in the shape of a photo booth strip of images.

A productive January making hardbound books. Experimenting with different binding styles like Coptic stitch, French Link Stitch, Case Binding, Secret Belgium Binding, and Australian (Reverse) Piano Hinge Binding.

A prototype of a playful matchbook bookbinding style. For small sketches and watercolour.

The beginning of my 365 Day of Urban Sketching People. Follow along on my journey to master capturing people live.

I’m gathering Bookbinding Videos and Equipment resources to continue my handmade journey

Don’t let Covid stop your entrepreneurial spirit. I’m using skills I learnt nearly 40 years ago to start a new venture in 2021.