Coptic bound art journals for winter sketching

Winter, with its cold temps and shorter days, seems like a season for slowing down and making something with my hands—vegetable prep for a rustic soup, baking cookies, or making hand-bound books.

Coptic bound art journals. 5.5” x 7” size.

Recently, I came across a few winter Art Challenges that focused on spending time on mindfulness, creativity, and self care. Inspired by these Art Challenges, I made two junk journals in order to practice the hand sewn Coptic binding method I learned this summer. It was a good opportunity to focus on making something by hand, practice hand bookbinding, as well as getting the bonus of two new journals for future use.  

Making Coptic bound journals, Junk Journal style

Rummaging through the recycled paper bin, I gathered various papers and old sales boards to make these small junk journals/sketchbooks. Coptic bound books require no glue and have a flexible spine that allows the books to open and lie flat. It’s a good binding method for art journals, junk journals, or sketchbooks that are used for drawing, painting, writing, and collaging in. 

Hand sewn Coptic binding.

The Coptic bound book lies flat when opened.

Recycling brown packing paper

One of my new journals was made with discarded brown packing paper. (You know, the brown paper that is stuffed in a box to keep items from shifting or rattling during shipping.) Before cutting the paper to size for the journal signatures, I ironed it with a warm iron to diminish the folds and wrinkles. Not all wrinkles were able to be removed, but the neutral brown paper and residual fold lines make it an interesting, imperfect surface to draw on, particularly with a white gel pen or white Posca marker. 

Drawing with white gel pens, colored pencils, or Posca markers on the brown pages.

There’s something satisfying about binding a book by hand while transforming everyday materials into something useful like a sketchbook or journal. These journals are 5.5” x 7”— a slightly smaller in size than what I usually make for my junk journals, but I like the portable, pocket size. 

Back covers of coptic bound journals. 5.5” x 7”.

With gentle encouragement, the quiet winter season beckons the hands to fill the pages with meditative marks and slow drawing. 

Inked line drawings with white colored pencil marks.

White and black marks on a neutral background. Reflecting the sparseness of the winter landscape.

Reflecting on balance with the Fall Equinox

Today, September 22, is the Autumn Equinox, where the sun is directly over the equator and it appears to rise and set due East and due West from anywhere on the planet. In the northern hemisphere, animals are beginning to store food. Trees are shedding leaves. Plants are slowing their growth in preparation for less sunlight and the cold of winter. It's a gentle nudge to slow down, reflect, and find balance.

Stash buster crochet project.

As with most makers, I have many on-going projects... patchwork for kitty/charity quilts, several hand stitching WIPs [works-in-progress], a pair of jeans in need of mending, collage and slow drawing, and my stash buster crochet shawl. Each project brings something different to the table—in technique, materials, tools, set-up—and requiring a different kind of attention and energy.

Slow drawing in my junk journal.

Like the equinox—with an equal balance between daylight and dark—working on multiple projects is a balance. 

• Sometimes the portability of a project is needed. 
• Sometimes it’s the ability to leave the work in-progress, and not have to pack up the tools, equipment, and materials. 
• Sometimes it’s a question of needing inspiration to move forward, or if following an established pattern will result in progress. 

It’s a balancing act between the availability of time, space, and mental capacity.

Hand stitching project.

Collage in the junk journal.

With the fall equinox and the turn of the season, I’ve determined that it's a good time to lean into a slower, more mindful approach. To find whatever balance is needed at the time.

Collaging in the junk journal.

And reminding myself that there is no rush to finish, but to enjoy the process. Like the turning of the leaves, projects evolve and unfold at their own pace. 

Reflecting on the Simplest Things Challenge: A 5-day drawing journey

This week, I took on the Simplest Things Challenge, a 5-day slow drawing Challenge with Amy at Mindful Art Studio. The Challenge encourages the exploration of making simple marks and seeing where the process leads. 

Day 1 prompt: Closer

Simple supplies

I’ve done the Simplest Things Challenge a couple of times. Sometimes I draw in a sketchbook, sometimes on small pieces of card stock or watercolor paper, and often the compositions become fodder for pages in my art junk journals. 

As I was traveling earlier in the week, I packed a small 4” x 6” sketchbook and a few Micro pens in my travel bag. This weekend, I opened a small palette of watercolors and pulled out a paintbrush. So, even the supplies for this Challenge are minimal! 

Day 2 prompt: Squiggle

Daily prompts

I like the low-pressure nature of the daily prompts. There are only 5 of them! It’s a short, easy Challenge to do. Responses to the prompts can go in any direction.

Another version of Closer (Day 1 prompt) with Dots (Day 3 prompt).

Another version of Day 2 prompt: Squiggle. Watercolor and line drawing.

Day 3 prompt: Dot

The prompts offer an opportunity to let the mind wander while interpreting them. The slow drawing makes you present and in the moment.

Day 3 prompt: Dot

Day 4 prompt: Branching

Day 5 prompt: Smash

The simplicity of the prompts makes the Challenge accessible to any skill level. If you’re looking to spark your creativity without feeling overwhelmed, the Simplest Things Challenge is a perfect way to dive into drawing and mark making. Use any art supplies you have on hand—pencils, markers, paint pens, watercolors, anything!

Day 4 prompt: Branching

This Challenge is a reminder that sometimes, art isn’t about complexity—it’s about slowing down, showing up for your art practice, and seeing the beauty in the smallest and simplest of things.