Bookbinding “How To” Guide
As I learned how to bind my own journals I began updating a step-by-step file on how to make a sewn-signature case-bound book. I’ve gotten lots of help from my friends Shirley, Roz,and Kate, as well as from numerous books and online videos which I’ve linked to in this guide. I continue to update it as I learn and bind more books.
Click here to download Jana’s Bookbinding Steps (pdf) that provides instructions for making a 5.5″ x 7.5″ case-bound journal like these.
Notes on Framing and Mat Cutting
I put together this “cheat sheet” for myself on how to measure for mat cutting, how to shop for materials (written back when I did all my shopping at a local art store) and some tips for mat cutting using a Logan Simplex Mat Cutter (which comes with very good specific directions for basic use). Click here to download JANA’S NOTES_ON_FRAMING (pdf).
Recommended Books
Sketching and Drawing
Sketching – from Square One … to Trafalgar Square (Learning to see and draw what you see. May be the best book on drawing ever!)
The Creative License: Giving Yourself Permission to Be the Artist You Truly Are (The book that inspired me to start drawing again. Danny Gregory kickstarted the sketching/illustrated journaling movement with this book. His writing and art continue to inspire me.
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: The Definitive, 4th Edition (This is the book that got me drawing and first taught me how to see and draw way back when!)
The Art of Urban Sketching: Drawing On Location Around The World (The first book on Urban Sketching that celebrates the Urban Sketching movement and the artists who do it. I have several sketches in this book and on the spine.)
Alla Prima II Everything I Know about Painting–And More This is a comprehensive guide to Alla Prima painting from a living master.
Daily Painting by Carole MarineCarol Marine’s
Figure and Portrait Online Resources
See this blog post for links to many excellent resources for studying human anatomy, figure and portrait drawing and painting.
Favorite Art Supplies and Tools
Sketchbooks for ink and watercolor
Moleskine Art Plus Watercolor Album, A4, (12 x 8.5) (Professional Folio Series)
Moleskine Art Plus Watercolor Album, (5 x 8.25)
Bee Paper Super Deluxe Sketch Pad, 9-Inch by 12-Inch Relatively inexpensive and not precious so freeing to use as a result, but good sturdy paper that allows some reworking and then doesn’t, forcing you to stop before you overwork it. Great for ink, watercolor, mixed media, gouache. It does buckle a bit but relaxes to flat after it dries.
For Gouache:
Having the right brushes and palette really make a difference!
Strathmore Mixed Media Art Journal is a good surface for gouache.
For Oil Painting sketches
Grafix Matte 0.005 Dura-Lar Film, 9-Inch by 12-Inch, 25 Sheets I love using this material for oil painting studies. It is so inexpensive compared to panels of any kind. I just tape it to a piece of white plastic or foam board and start painting. It’s like painting on the finest oil-primed linen and is even more archival. When it is dry, if I want to frame it, it can be mounted to a Gessobord. For storage I keep it in a clear envelope with a cardboard backing board.
For Oil Paintings
Ampersand Gessobord is my favorite surface for oil painting.
Studio Lights
This is still a work in progress…studio lighting seems to be my nemesis, the final frontier and lately I’ve been working mostly with natural light plus one bank of 4 overhead 5000K 93 CRI fluorescents. For lighting still life I like to use an LED 4000K spotlight and if I have to light my easel this LED 4000K floodlight clamped to a rafter above my easel to light my canvas. The 4000K lights are a nice middle point between warm and cool colored light bulbs and don’t produce heat that can affect flowers or produce.
Watercolor Supply List
Download Jana’s watercolor workshop suggested Supply List (pdf)
Jana Bouc, Artist 