Wednesday 10 February 2010

The Four Gospels. Boards on and designing.


Both boards are on the maquette and the book structure looks as if it is going to work. Now comes the design process. With this sort of work I tend to work directly on the boards. First I pencil in the lines, notes on colour and the like.



Then I paint the black lines in. I have chosen to use a quick dry, cold enamel paint. I like the way the line works, the tension of the thick and thin. I some ways I am beginning to treat this book in much the same way as Icons. The more I work this way the more my interest is heightened in mixing media.


Next is the white ares. This is in acrylic with these areas being made ready for the collage work. The way the brush leaves small lines catches the eye, this exercise is fun.



Finally, for the time being that is, the red is applied. Again acrylic and again with a brush. I am hoping to create a stained glass effect. The image will be of a stylised arch with biblical middle and back grounds glimpsed through the arch (back board) with a winged man (sign of St Mark) with an Icon like image of part of St Mark's face. I am quite excited,

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Particularly liking that 'biblical' red wine next to the book... inspiration no doubt ;)

Anonymous said...

Mark, as a (very) amatuer bookbinder, I am in awe of your work. Posts like these that catalogue the creative process as well as the technical are excellent as they provide a realistic background to the finished work. There are great books showing lovely bookbinding skills, but your blog is much more useful, inspirational and inspiring. (I particularly like the 'thoughtful' pose in this post!)

I hope to join you on one of your courses at some point in the future (wife & kids have other plans for the money!)but until then, I'll stick with the blog.