Books Come to Life! Little Free Library

Take a book or leave a book! Those little free lending libraries are actually kits you can order and paint. Mine was provided to me by the City of Dublin California and now has a home in Jordan Ranch Park near the playground. Here are the basic instructions to get you from receiving your library to sealing your artwork. (Dublin did the installation, so I didn't include that part here.)

The idea behind my design was to treat each panel as a separate piece of art, all with a single theme. My plan was to create whimsical paintings that “pop out off of book pages” and tell stories on the different panels of the library, framed by solid borders. Paintings are family-friendly and based on common storybook themes. 

Little Free Library kit, sanding paper or blocks, painter's tape, white outdoor primer, outdoor paint, clear outdoor sealer, brushes and rags, pencil and eraser

Get a schematic or take measurements to plan your design for each panel.

Unbox, but don't put any separate pieces together until painting is done. Save the packing if you might need it to transport your finished library.

Sand inside and out and all the trim. Medium grit is good.

Use painter's tape and paper to cover (mask) any surfaces you don't want paint on. I covered all the glass and hardware.

All raw wood should get 1-2 coats of primer depending on the primer and how porous the wood is. Sand lightly after each coat. You should end up with a fairly smooth surface to paint on.

Paint the inside first so it doesn't interfere with the more detailed design outside. I put down a blue coat first and then painted some sky inside.

Books will cover a lot of this, so keep it simple.

Trim is next.

Draw your design in pencil (it will erase pretty easily) on each panel. You can also mask off any shapes or areas you don't want painted yet.

I masked some of the planets and books on the outer space panel because I wanted to paint a dark background.

This way I still had a white base for the books and planets.

When all your panels are sketched it time to break out the paint.

Underpainting is a standard way to add color to your sketches and start to get a base of color down. I prefer to do all the panels.

To do an underpainting create a light color wash by mixing paint with water (and acrylic medium if you want). Fill in your whole design with light color. You will be able to change colors easily at this stage and the wash will dry quickly.

Start painting panels, one at a time, using full strength colors. This is where your own style and artistry will come in. If you're nervous about painting, try flat solid colors and see how you like your work.

Paint the background and then carefully remove the masking. Then you can paint the exposed white areas.

Rotate the box as necessary to access all sides. Use a small brush and paint carefully around hinges and other hardware. Note: You may need several coats of some paint colors to get a smooth solid color.

When all the painting is done, score/cut the masking tape with an xacto knife. gently peel the tape off. Then pull off the paper. Touch up any areas where the paint pulled up or are unpainted.

Or just admire your work!

Apply sealer according to product instructions. Make sure to get every painted surface, in and out.

Add the plaque and or any hardware that came with your kit.

Your Little Library is ready to go outside on a pedestal, table, or other support and be filled with books.