I delayed starting to work on my Sketchbook Project until three weeks before the deadline. I was determined not to make this a crisis, but rather embrace producing what I could in the time I had.

Citra-solv transfers

I have been playing with melting magazine photos with Citra-solv then scanning then into the computer and using it as a background for drawing. Just as I was starting to wonder what I was going to do for my sketchbook, a new video appeared on the Citra-solv facebook page showing how I could transfer images I printed on my laser printer.

Next I decided to use one of the Citra-solv melted backgrounds I had scanned in. I’ve been fascinated by reptiles and amphibians for a long time, and I’ve always had a sense that they carry secrets. So I decided to use them to hold part of the message I was sending into the world. Then, I ran out of laser toner. Next solution? I thought I would try to use a combination between melting magazine photos and the transfer technique to lay backgrounds right into the sketchbook. I coated the pages of a National Geographic and waited. This time instead of creating interesting patterns, it just loosened up the ink a bit. [table id=8 /] One good thing, the Citra-solv made the sketchbook smell like oranges.

Other posts about the Sketchbook Project

Solving problems when short on time

Greeting challenge with creativity

Sketchbook Project: Putting it together

Recommended Posts

Showing in July 2015
Showing in July 2015
Upcoming Shows
Getting Warmer

22 Comments

  1. First of all, I want a Canvas Art Bar here!!!

    Second–thanks for sharing–love that washed out messy look! I never heard of CitraSolv so now will have to check it out. Looks like it could do some interesting stuff, plus I like the whole concept of it in terms of the kind of art I’m thinking about lately.

  2. First of all, I want a Canvas Art Bar here!!!

    Second–thanks for sharing–love that washed out messy look! I never heard of CitraSolv so now will have to check it out. Looks like it could do some interesting stuff, plus I like the whole concept of it in terms of the kind of art I’m thinking about lately.

    • And yet another reason for Michele to come back to Portland 🙂

      Citra-solv is great stuff. I have used it for many years for cleaning, just recently started using it for art applications. It is lots of fun, definitely try it. Just make sure you get the concentrate.

  5. Oooh, love that mask one, and your lovely lizard.

    I’ve heard of artists making terrific accidental discoveries with Citrasolv, but haven’t tried it myself.

    I’ve played around with transfers just a little bit, and recently got a new book by Bonnie Pierce Lhotka called Digital Alchemy that uses Purell as a transfer medium, if you can believe it.

    I’m so glad you’re posting pics of your sketchbook…. It is so much fun to see what another artist does with a theme.

  6. Oooh, love that mask one, and your lovely lizard.

    I’ve heard of artists making terrific accidental discoveries with Citrasolv, but haven’t tried it myself.

    I’ve played around with transfers just a little bit, and recently got a new book by Bonnie Pierce Lhotka called Digital Alchemy that uses Purell as a transfer medium, if you can believe it.

    I’m so glad you’re posting pics of your sketchbook…. It is so much fun to see what another artist does with a theme.

    • Citra-solv is like playing with magic. Very fun.

      The book looks great. Now I have to decide if I am actually going to stay with my commitment to not buy more books before I read the pile I have…..

  7. I had the opportunity to see this sketchbook in it’s entirety some days back. While the pictures were wonderful and dreamy, the feel of the book was what I found most amazing. The pages did not lay flat (from water? Citra-Solv?) which made the book feel as if it had been read countless times over many years, and I believe that 100 years from now someone will find it and say with delight as they turn it over in their hands… “What a curious little book!”

    Great job on this project Christine!

  8. I had the opportunity to see this sketchbook in it’s entirety some days back. While the pictures were wonderful and dreamy, the feel of the book was what I found most amazing. The pages did not lay flat (from water? Citra-Solv?) which made the book feel as if it had been read countless times over many years, and I believe that 100 years from now someone will find it and say with delight as they turn it over in their hands… “What a curious little book!”

    Great job on this project Christine!

    • Thanks Gina, it is really different looking at the pages out of the whole context. The other thing I noticed is the sheen from the metallic doesn’t really show in the photos, so you don’t get the subtle color change that happens when you shift the angle of the pages.

  9. […] procrastination in a creative project, I talked about committing to letting go of perfection. After laying down my base layer for the pages in my Sketchbook project I had lots of second thoughts. I started to think about […]

  10. […] procrastination in a creative project, I talked about committing to letting go of perfection. After laying down my base layer for the pages in my Sketchbook project I had lots of second thoughts. I started to think about […]

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *