Mark Making

We had a lot of fun  making cola pens and making marks with inks and a range of materials members brought with them. The cola pens were made from aluminium cans cut into sheets, and the nibs  fashioned from the sheets and some type of holder-bamboo sticks, stirrers, old pencils etc. Everyone was surprised by how much ink the pens hold as they have no reservoir, and they can be made to have a narrow or broad nib, or even a two or three nibbed pen. 

 

 For making information :

https://paperwhitestudio.com/handlettering/folded-soda-can-pen/. 

 

This is the easiest template, but there are  others on the net.

Of the experimental mark makers we tried, the metal scourer, bamboo knife, 5 cotton buds tied together, a finger stall, shaped bamboo and a feather all made really interesting marks. The underside of a plastic pencil sharpener made great rectangular shapes too. Plenty of ideas to take away and try, and all great for making book covers.

 

 

We had a short show and tell, and Jac had made a book for the theme of inked/inky which was very effective and beautifully bound in black and white.

Some of us then went on to the Liverpool Book Fair, where we had a stall. The foot fall was better than expected and we made decent sales, and enjoyed the company of other makers. There were enquiries about the group from several people, so we may see them at future meetings.