A new book.... How do I start...

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

Today has found me doing a little lino cutting and printing for a new book. I was recently asked how I start one of my complete or artist's books. To be honest it starts by indulging my likes. For example... I have a modest collection of Tart Cards, you know.. those post card adverts for services that one finds in telephone boxes. It is a long story as to how I have a modest collection, let us just say I have a modest collection. I have always had a serious like for Pop Art, so important for me as it is the first art genre that I understood and felt related to the way I work and appreciate things. Finally, I have always enjoyed the art work and characters of the early comic book super heroes.

So by combining the 3 I have my subject material for my next book...... No title as yet and only the first pull done but I am happy and I feel that the book will be funny and tongue in cheek!

Please note.... there are other studios/binderies/ doing stuff, spelling and grammar. Please further note, the opinion of the author may change at any moment. This is due to having an open mind of sorts

And there you have the first pull/proof of my P.V.C. Super Man

BOOK ¾ AIR

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

Film time!.

A book, hand bound in Studio 5 in 2015. Hung in a Spruce tree in Norway for some 2 and a half years, open to the elements. Honey applied to some of the pages. Nature creating. Please follow the link..........

 

BOOK ¾ 'AIR' 

 

A book, hand bound in Studio 5 in 2015. Hung in a Spruce tree in Norway for some 2 and a half years, open to the elements. Honey applied to some of the pages. Nature creating. I feel that bookbinding is about control, precision, and deliberation. It can take many hours to make a book, let alone the content. In most cultures it is still considered abhorrent to destroy books. In the last century regimes actively encouraged the destruction of certain books as a form of control and as part of a systematic and deliberate prelude to ethnic cleansing. However, some books are not wanted, or are considered out of date, so what does one do? .... Perhaps a very famous example would be the Dead Sea Scrolls... Left or abandoned in a cave only to be found centuries later. Most, if not all, of the materials to make a book are derived from the natural world. So, what has this to do with books?.... As a bookbinder/printer and artist I cherish the book. And, with my book arts hat on, I consider the possibilities of what the book is and could be. As mentioned, the book is made from materials found in the in the natural world, so how does burying the book or books form part of my oeuvre? First I have to say that I only bury books I have made, therefore it could be said that they are mine to do with as I wish and as a book artist I want to explore the book in full. In 2009 I was invited to participate in 'Pestival' a celebration of the Insect. I collaborated with forensic entomologist Amoret Whitaker, then working in the Natural History Museum, London. Instead of making books to be cherished, I produced a series of books to be returned to nature (buried) and to be eaten by insects! This was an exercise in the interaction of the natural world (insects and larvae) and the book. The control I had in the making of the books was given over to the non control of nature. After being buried and eaten the books were isolated and treated to ensure that the books were/are stable, then going on to be exhibited. I have continued the exercise with books being buried in different parts of the world, exploring different soils and climates. The amount of time in the ground or exposed to the elements can vary. The outcomes are unpredictable, however, my collaboration with nature can result in creating, for me at least, the beautiful and intriguing. I consider myself to be a very deliberate artist/maker and embracing the loss of control continues to be a cathartic and inspiring experience. Indeed one of my books was buried in New Zealand, surviving two earth quakes, only to be dug up with a garden fork! The Buried Book series is ongoing with examples being in public and private collections and libraries. One buried book forming part of an installation piece Through the Looking Glass now in the collection of the National Art Library at the Victoria and Albert Museum. In short the Buried Book series is an exploration, collaboration and realisation of one aspect of book art that I embrace along with my more formal work, design binding, restoration etc. 

 

Please note.... there are other studios/binderies/ doing stuff, spelling and grammar. Please further note, the opinion of the author may change at any moment. This is due to having an open mind of sorts

Bookbinding for Beginners and Improvers.

My biblionautic chums and friends.

A very busy week at Flatford Mill teaching beginners and Improvers.

 

It is that time of year, Spring. Last week found me teaching at the beautiful Flatford Mill, yes, the home of Constable, the Hay Wain and Bookbinding for beginners and improvers. A 4 day residential course.

For the beginners we start with the Multi sectional Flat Back Case bound book. I know there will be those who say that it is best to start with the simpler stuff.... Zig Zag, single section and the like.... However my thinking is this...... By learning how to make the flat back, understanding paper; how it is made, grain direction and other stuff. Folding sections, pressing, sewing, threads, spine linings, paper decoration (Paste Paper and Flottage). How to measure and cut board (by hand) accurately. Case making and casing in, the student is able to make simpler books with confidence. In addition to understanding how other book structures etc are made. And, if I am honest, zig zag, single section and the like can be learnt from a book! The Improvers worked on their own projects, leather work, rounding and backing, foil work etc etc etc.

 

Along the way we had a quick look into the delights of Paste Paper (inspired by the country side) and Flottage (images to follow) inspired by the Surrealists.... and why not?... 

Dear Reader, there now follows a series of images, finished work, work in progress and stuff. It may be of interest to realise that the Flat Backs in the images are the first books the students had made...ever! They went on to make more....

Please note.... there are other residential courses available (but not with me teaching!), studios/binderies/ doing stuff, spelling and grammar. Please further note, the opinion of the author may change at any moment. This is due to having an open mind of sorts.

 

For course details please follow the link... https://www.field-studies-council.org/courses-and-experiences/static-courses/bookbinding-for-beginners-and-improvers/ 

 

 

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

I am very pleased to be able to announce a new series of evening classes in printing and bookish things.

The first evening class, Introduction to Letterpress Printing and Block Printing, will be on the 6th of May.

Please follow the link for more wonderful details.....

https://www.wurkshop.co.uk/adult/

 

Please note.... there are other studios/binderies/ doing stuff, spelling and grammar. Please further note, the opinion of the author may change at any moment. This is due to having an open mind of sorts.

 

The Telephone Call at the Crafts Council.

My biblionautic chums and friends.

 

The Telephone Call.

 

I am delighted to say that a recent complete or artists' book of mine has been included in the Covered • Discovered (selling) exhibition at the Crafts Council Gallery, 44a Pentonville Rd London N1 9BY. Free to visit 13th of March - 13th April. 

 

Some 30 years ago the Society of Scribes and Illuninators and Designer Bookbinders held a joint exhibition ‘Fine Words Fine Books’, which showcased the work of the two groups. Following hot on the heels of that exhibition the two societies have, once again, joined forces for a new exhibition of wonderful work.

With 50 plus works of contemporary bookbinding, book arts, calligraphy and lettering being shown in the Crafts Councils Gallery in central London. In addition, there is a fully illustrated catalogue for sale either at the most affordable price of £15.00 from the gallery and from both societies.

 https://calligraphyonline.org/shop/ 

https://designerbookbinders.org.uk/product-category/catalogues/ 

The gallery space will be open from Wednesday through to Saturday though it is closed over the easter period, hours being 11am – 5pm each day. Visitors will be pleased to note that the exhibition is invigilated by members of both Designer Bookbinders and the Society of Illuminators and Scribes. 

 

Please note.... there are other studios/binderies/ doing stuff, spelling and grammar. Please further note, the opinion of the author may change at any moment. This is due to having an open mind of sorts.

 

THE TELEPHONE CALL.

 

Binding. A Minimalist Flat Tight Back with goat skin to the spine and palimpsest parchment to front and back boards. Lino print to front board. In-set laminated board attachment.

A two section, secondary sewn text block to linen. Leather jointed made end papers to edge to edge doublures. Binder’s/Artist’s stamp to bottom right back doublure.

 

Hahnemuhle Burga Butten paper with multiple hand cut and printed Lino Cuts. Hand set and printed title page and colophon. Spray/stencil work.

(H x W x D)  298mm x 276mm x 11mm

 

Recurring images and confusion, telephone calls jumble from page to page in a manifestation of the subconscious of the half heard and half remembered. Colours, lines, shapes and forms become shadows as they are covered by the darkness of the forgotten only to be rediscovered in a different place and time. What and how do we remember? 

 

 The binding, Minimalist Flat Tight Back with goat skin to the spine and palimpsest parchment to front and back boards.

 

 Front doubler and end paper.

 

 Title page.

 

 1st spread.

 

 2nd spread.

 

 3rd spread.

 

 4th spread.

 

 5th spread.

 

 6th spread.

 

 7th spread.

 

8th spread.

 

 9th spread.

 

10th spread.

 

11th spread.

 

 12th spread.

 

 13th spread.

 

14th spread.

 

 15th spread.

 

 Colophon.

 

 Colophon detail.

 

 Back end paper and doubler.

 

 

 

OBLIQUEa Prints for sale.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

OBLIQUEa. 

 

After the final pressing, numbering, titling and signing ,the first set of loose prints are now for sale.

 

I suppose that I like to look at life at an angle, to see what is on the other side or to experience from different perspectives. I have always wanted to combine the visual texture of bygone glass negative with the stylistic nature of illustrations from Victorian publications. 

 

 The 14 prints offer us a distorted, sometimes grotesque oblique view. The print area is 12cm x 12cm on approx 29.5cm x 21cm, 145gsm Liber Charta acid free paper. With the nature of the printing technique employed, Soft Plate Off Set, each print is unique. 

 

A limited edition of 20 sets, with the first 5 sets being modestly priced at just £250.00 plus p&p

 

Please email for more information studio5bookarts@aol.co.uk 

 

Please note.... there are other studios/binderies/ doing stuff, spelling and grammar. Please further note, the opinion of the author may change at any moment. This is due to having an open mind of sorts.