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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Nature Journaling

Northern California Wildflowers in Napa @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

Ever since I moved to California, my yearning to be close to nature has grown immensely.  Even when we lived in metropolitan Los Angeles, I always found a way to be close to nature.  My day usually starts with spending some time with the plants.  I love to photograph the local parks just as much as I love to photograph the grand scenes of the California landscapes.

 

Please Click on the image thumbnails to see the photos and read the captions.

 

 

While I tend to the garden, I come across beautifully mottled leaves, an occasional green acorn, a knobbly branch, or even a piece of old rosewood.  Since I always have a camera on me, it’s easy to pause from garden work for a few photos.  I suppose I have always used photography to record the little things around me.

 

 

Nature Journal handbound watercolor book @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

I have a dedicated Canson book that I use for painting flowers and leaves and such,  but it’s too large to carry around all the time. 

That changed when I started making my own books.   Of the two books I made for nature journalling, I am keeping one for myself.  I am giving the other one away along with the little artist colour paint kit ( valued at $45- ) as a thank you.

 

 

Nature Journal handbound watercolor book @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

A little bit about my books – I am more than a little picky about paper.  I use only very high quality artist-grade paper for my watercolour books.  I hand stitch them the traditional way with special thread, then additionally use glue and other methods to secure the spine.  The end papers are made with card stock and the book is finished by encasing it in a cover made with high quality book cloth.

 

The Giveaway has now ended.

 

 

 

Northern California wildflowers at local park in Napa @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

I am thinking about taking my book to the parks around here.  They are full of trees and during the months of March and April, the whole place is dotted with beautiful wild flowers.  Soon afterwards, everything turns into straw from the harsh California summer, but for those few weeks, it is just wonderful to get close to the ground and find these little gems even if it means getting mud and dirt all over my clothes.

 

 

I have gotten requests for adding photo prints to my shop.   I couldn’t think of a better way to start than by adding a set of sweet little wild flower photos that I have taken around here.

 

Northern California Wildflower Shooting Stars @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

Purchase Dancing Shooting Stars

Shooting Stars happily dancing with each other

 

 

Northern California Wildflower Sweet Pea @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

Purchase Wild Sweet Pea

Little wild sweet pea flowers saying hello

 

 

Northern California Wildflower Spring Vetch @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

Purchase Butterfly Flower Vetch

The Common Vetch posing as a butterfly

 

I hope you like this set.   I print them on high quality photo paper with archival ink.  They can also be used as cards,  framed as-is in a 5″ x 7″ frame, or displayed on a small table easel.   You can find these northern California wildflower photos here in my shop.  Let me know which one is your favourite.

 

Good luck to each one of you for the giveaway.  My heartfelt thanks for visiting me and leaving such wonderful, encouraging words, and also for continuing to purchase from my shop. Each sale is very special to me because it enables me to make donations to my favourite shelters and humane societies. 

 

 

 

Don’t forget,  Wandering Camera is at the end of the month, 26th of August.  An Art & Photography linky party!

Until then,
-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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