u/BeaTheKeeper

Ive returned yet again to seek help as I now have a genuine bookpress instead of clamps. And ive followed tips as sanding till smooth and even thinner water paint...yet my books still flake even after varnish.

Its just so saddening to be so happy over what ive made, just for it to keep failing. Im also attending an art market soon where id have loved to bring some with, but i dont wanna sell people stuff if theres a chance it wont last.

My core issues:

- the paint looks fine after varnish and before i separate the edges.

- one i start separating the pages, the paint starts flaking, especially if you rub your fingers over it but some is lost just from handling the pages.

- ive done what i thought would help and work but it still happens and now im just unsure if its a 100% thing thatll happen and people just dont mention it?

- will the varnish even protect it if it becomes flaky?

The picture shows the paint looks fine unseparated but as I begun (you can see the few pages to the left) those started to become flaky. And that was just from minor separating, not even individually.

Any help and comments would be greatly appreciated as no of the more experienced book painters and sellers on tiktok or YouTube has replied or given help

hello everyone! i too wanna spread some joy by playing santa in july so hand over your picnics >:3

im not like super rich so please dont expect things like alphas and double tails. but if you collect specific effect animals, specific colored party clothing and more, something you wish more, etc. let me know! <3

So i posted this looking for help in bookbinding and they guided me to here, so ill just copy and paste after this <3

So, i started painting book edges (hoping to both keep and sell) and this one has caused me so much darn trouble. Its my first one to fully paint and varnish but it keeps flaking/rubbing off no matter what i do.

It was made with thinned down watercolors and a watercolor spray varnish...which ended up causing tiny white balls to form at the third layer- it was sanded down (not sure how tough) before starting and was…relatively kept clamped down.

Im just so annoyed cuz i was really hoping to sell this one and nothing ive done has worked and now it looks so rough and used considering how it looked newly painted..and I dont think I can allow myself to sell this given its looks and that if you rub your fingers over it it flakes..

Any advice?

So, i started painting book edges (hoping to both keep and sell) and this one has caused me so much darn trouble. Its my first one to fully paint and varnish but it keeps flaking/rubbing off no matter what i do.

It was made with thinned down watercolors and a watercolor spray varnish...which ended up causing tiny white balls to form at the third layer-

Im just so annoyed cuz i was really hoping to sell this one and nothing ive done has worked and now it looks so rough and used considering how it looked newly painted..and I sont think I can allow myself to sell this given its looks and that if you rub ypur fingers over it it flakes..

Any advice?