An Illustrated Life

I’m starting something new just for me, My Illustrated Life, a visual journal that will become full of all the inspiring/beautiful/creative/insightful/fun things that I want to remember. I hope to finish this first chapter by next spring, when I plan to start My Illustrated Journey, The Painted Road Project.

I’ve recently become super captivated by multi-media, pen and ink, and watercolour drawings. One of the most inspiring books I can’t get enough of is An Illustrated Life by Danny Gregory. It’s one of those special books that make you think, Hey I need to do that!

So I put together a portable kit complete with essential quality supplies, so I can sketch and paint anywhere my heart desires (see kit contents below). The only thing missing was a special journal that could handle the heavy use and media I planned to illustrate with. Then, this weekend at the Halifax Crafters TIBS Pop-Up show I found it! Hand-crafted by Mule Mother Books, I couldn’t stop thinking of this beauty all day. Finally I broke down and bought it… and commissioned the lovely Ellen C. Murphy to craft a special book for my journey next year. The same size, with 100 sheets of smooth 140lb watercolour paper for painting, pen and ink work, spaced between translucent vellum paper for sketching and writing, with a pocket inside the front and back cover, and an elastic closure. I’m so happy Ellen was just as excited to make this for me as I am dreaming of filling each page with art!