" Repurposed for Sketchbooks "
This series is analog art in old books and printed materials that I've collected while traveling. I started it when I was in Amsterdam in the summer of 2025 where I discovered a wooden shelf in the entryway of one of the neighborhood grocery stores which contained books and household items that locals were giving away. I treated it as a sort of exchange situation when I could.
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I was restarting this type of art practice then (drawing and painting generally), and I found these inspirational in terms of their covers, worn appearance, dates when published, subject matter, and/or variety of languages which I did not read. Having a background of foreign language text to work on really helped me to get going creating. I can't exactly explain why that is, but I liked it very much. It was/is a fit for my lifelong openness to different cultures and life experiences.
The reused item is listed or credited in the label below each image.

Big Ben
acrylic in Nederlandse Filmdagen 1988/Dutch Filmdays 1988, Dutch and English language film festival catalog, 1988
approx. 4 x 5 in. (10.16 x 12.7 cm)
February 2026

No Q or X
ink pen and colored pencil in Wijkgids - Slotervaart 2009, Dutch language neighborhood guide, 2009
8.25 x 5.75 in. (20.96 x 14.61 cm)
August 2025

Untitled - Bold
Sharpie and oil stick in Drank - en Horecawet, Dutch language booklet of Alcohol and Catering Act, 2015
approx. 6.13 x 4.13 in. (15.57 x 10.49 cm)
August 2025

Untitled - Soft
graphite pencil and colored pencil in Drank - en Horecawet, Dutch language booklet of Alcohol and Catering Act, 2015
approx. 6.13 x 4.13 in. (15.57 x 10.49 cm)
August 2025

A Good Idea
ink pen, graphite pencil, and colored pencil in Erst Wägen Dann Wagen, German language exam practice book, 1969
8.25 x 6.25 in. (21 x 16 cm)
July 2025

Aufgaben
ink pen and colored pencil in Erst Wägen Dann Wagen, German language exam practice book, 1969
8.25 x 6.25 in. (21 x 16 cm)
July 2025

Chapter 6
colored pencil in Erst Wägen Dann Wagen, German language exam practice book, 1969
8.25 x 6.25 in. (21 x 16 cm)
July 2025

Jenö Was My Friend
oil stick, acrylic, and ink pen in Erst Wägen Dann Wagen, German language exam practice book, 1969
8.25 x 6.25 in. (21 x 16 cm)
June 2025