A stone bridge watercolour painting @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

Wandering Pages & Watercolour Books

 

Hello Everyone!  I have been working on so many different things that it has been hard to share all of it here in real time.  I have been painting quite a few adventures of  The Girl And Her Cat, even though they have not been here lately.  Before we join them on their next adventure, I have something special to share with you.

 

Growing up with sketchbooks and watercolours in my hands, I have grown very persnickety about paper.

 

 

Handmade clothbound watercolor journal @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

When I started painting the Lost Pages book,  I decided to make my own journal so I could paint without having to worry about the paper falling apart on me.   I have made quite a few books since then.

 

 

Handmade clothbound watercolor journal @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

This rekindled the love and awe I felt toward bookmaking as a child.   Most of these books are about the Girl And Her Cat but there are also a couple of other stories somewhere in them. 

 

 

Handmade clothbound watercolor journal @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

I even reorganised my Atelier to have all the supplies at hand.  I also realised that I am making more books than I can use.  In the end, I decided to add books to my shop. 

 

 

 

Snowdrops Watercolour in handmade watercolor journal @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

It drives me insane when paper pills or falls apart when I am painting.  I should be able to layer paint as well as lift it off without the paper starting to disintegrate.  I could not be happier with the paper choices in these books. 

 

Here are a few detail photos. Please click on the image thumbnails to see the photos.

 

 

 

A little about the books –

 

The books are encased in covers made with high quality book cloth.

They are made with paper vetted by me.

I hand stitch them the traditional way with special strong thread, then additionally use glue and other methods to secure the spine.

They are also bound in a way that they stay flat.   There is almost no gap in the middle, so a painting can be done spanning both pages.

The end papers are made with card stock.  My logo is on the back for authenticity. 

 

 

Wandering Pages

 

It all started with the Lost Pages book and the Girl And Her Cat.   It is time for them to return here.   This time, the adventurous girl and her cat decide to take a walk past the little bridge that they can see over the wall and see where it takes them.

 

So without further ado, let’s see where they go in the Wandering Pages Book. Please click on the image thumbnails to see the pictures and read about their wanderings –

 

 

 

Aside from exploring with them,  I have also been making the new books in these colours.  They are all clothbound, which I have always found to be very special.  Please click on the image thumbnails to see the photos.

 

 

Purchase Journals

 

I want these books to be available to both artists and non-artists.  So I have created two kinds.  Other than the paper, the two kinds of books are identically made.

 

For artists – The pocket watercolour journals are made with 140lb cold press artist grade 100% cotton watercolor paper.

For non-artists – The pocket journals are made with 140lb high quality paper great for pen, ink and gentle watercolor.   I use them for any kind of notes such as gardening, travel and nature. 

 

At 4″ x 3″ (4” x 6” opened) the books are the perfect size to carry around everywhere.  You get the exact journals that I make for myself.   This way, I can share the joy of using traditionally-made clothbound journals filled with wonderful paper with you.   You can purchase the journals from my shop.

 

Since I make them personally, please allow me a few days for making them, especially if you are getting them for gifts. 

 

 

 

I hope you liked the beginning of the new adventures of the Girl And Her Cat, as well as the books I made.   Where would your journey begin, I wonder…

 

Until next time,
-Soma

 

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please pay a visit to some of them.  Also, you can still link up on Wandering Camera.

 

 

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Dragon magic bow and arrow painting @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

Little Stories – Lost Pages And More

Dragon magic bow and arrow painting @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

Today I have quite a list of things to share with you.  New finishes and projects.  The revival of a  linky party and news of an upcoming giveaway.  Also, there’s a new place in the shop for The Girl And Her Cat.  I called the very first post of this year Little Stories.   It is a blend of the many things I worked on during the long winter break.  I miss sharing the little things that I come across now and then and I almost always have a little story or an anecdote to go with my work.  I thought I’d make Little Stories a series.   So, without further ado, let me show you around.

 

 

After The Storm Print @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

After The Storm

 

Twitter Art Exhibit is an event where artists send their works to be sold for different charities each year.   This year, all proceeds will go to the L_I_N_C, supporting leukaemia and other blood cancer patients and their families.

Last year I injured my right hand very badly.  For a while I couldn’t even hold a pencil, let alone draw and carve for a relief print.   Thankfully, they extended the deadline and I was able to finish this print.   I am happy to say that it got sold within the first day of the online shop opening.  That made me incredibly happy.

 

 

 

Knitting WIP @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

My hand has also mended enough for me to knit again.  The background in the photo is a cardigan that I finished knitting, now waiting for a zipper.  The front is a hat that I am currently knitting using wool that I purchased on our travels.  Hopefully I will be able to share the finishes here soon, along with pattern links and review.

 

 

 

Wandering Camera photography and arts linky party @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

We decided not to travel this year.   Since I really miss travel photography,  I thought I would take this chance to go through old travel photos and share them here.  Wandering Camera linky party is coming back.  It not only motivates me to work on my photos, I also love seeing yours.  If you follow me via email, you will get a reminder.

 

Even though I miss the excitement and wonder of visiting a new country, I am content with wandering in my painting books for now.

 

 

Paintings From The Lost Pages Book

 

Here are the last few paintings from the Lost Pages book.   Please Click on the image thumbnails to see the photos and read the captions.

 

 

 

I finished this book on my birthday.  Since I am squarely a winter girl,  I thought it would be apt if  The Girl And Her Cat were enjoying the aurora during an Arctic dawn.

 

 

 

Dragon magic bow and arrow painting @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

This one is really special to me.  I painted this bow and arrow imbued in dragon magic for protection and strength for an old friend who was going in for cancer surgery the next day.  The Girl And Her cat brought him to safe harbour though the storm.

 

Lost Pages Paintings

 

You can see all the paintings from the Lost Pages book together at the above link.   Each page of this book tells a little story.  

 

 

 

Little sketchbooks for painting @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

Here is the latest stack of books I have made for painting since December of 2020.  They are all named and at least one of them is an illustrated story.   Most of them are about The Girl And Her Cat.

 

A Thank You

 

I really want to thank each one of you for visiting me and leaving such wonderful encouraging words, not to mention continuing to purchase from my shop.  Each sale is very special to me, whether it is a quilt pattern or a an art print.   The sales enable me to make donations to my favourite shelters and humane societies.  I will have a special Thank You giveaway next month.  Stay tuned!

 

Until next time,
-Soma

 

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please pay a visit to some of them.

 

 

 

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