I used to buy new sketchbooks from the art store every month...

Now I just grab old books from the library's free bin and paint over the pages (the paper is usually thick enough for watercolor if you prime it with gesso). Has anyone else tried using discarded textbooks for art projects or am I just cheap?

2 comments

2 Comments

val22323h ago

Paint over the pages" with gesso... wait, you're telling me library books have paper thick enough for watercolor?

ruby_lane14h ago

RIGHT? That was my EXACT reaction the first time someone told me about it! I grabbed an old discarded cookbook from a library sale and tried it and the paper held up AMAZINGLY well. I did three light coats of gesso and it was like painting on a textured canvas almost. The paper didn't buckle at all which shocked me because I've had watercolor paper buckle with less water. I think library books are made from that thick uncoated paper stock that just SOAKS up the gesso beautifully. I ended up doing a whole series of botanical paintings in an old novel and the pages never bled through.