Bookbinding workshop in Manila.

Back to Manila in October.

Bookbinding Workshop with Mark Cockram

Mark Cockram is an internationally exhibited contemporary bookbinder, book artist and installation artist based in London. He has ongoing long-term projects which include methods of working with design bindings, print techniques and ways in which the book can be viewed within the context of the exhibition and the public/private collection. All workshops participants will be taught to make two books using a variety of traditional techniques. Date: October 27, 2013 (Sunday) Time: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm Place: The Forum, 4/L Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street Fee: P4,000 with the complete kit The bookbinding workshop is intended for beginners and introduces the fundamentals in the art and craft of hand book binding. Mark will demonstrate each step, explaining technical points and tips along the way. The participants will be making 2 books from individually prepared kits. Each kit will consist of everything needed to make a Single Section, hard bound book (approximately 12.5 cm x 10 cm) and a non adhesive Zigzag Book (approximately 12 cm x 7 cm) All the hand tools including Bone Folder (specialist paper folding tool), linen thread, quality papers and adhesives are included. Extra decorative papers and an instruction sheet will be included allowing the student to go on to produce more books. The decorative papers have been produced especially for the workshop by Mark Cockram ensuring that every participant will have their own unique books to take home. Inquiries and registration: events@fullybookedonline.com. Limited slots only! 

www.fullybookedonline.com/blog/events 

Man Booker, late sheets.

The sheets (text block folded but not cut or sewn) did not arrive until Friday afternoon, about 3 days late. During the time I Read the reading copy twice and started on the end papers. First some lino cuts.

Then the first pulls, which I thought were ok, getting the effect I wanted first time is a bit of a rare thing for me.

Next came a wire coat hanger, changing from a hanger to a noose.

Final prints for the end papers.

At last I could sew up the text block. The grain direction is all wrong, the paper is the same quality as in a paper back and the margins so narrow that there is no balance...  However, we press on.

Man Booker 2013

My Man Booker binding for this year is;

Lysistrata, finished.

Having taken something like 200 hours Lysistrata is finished. I enjoyed working on this so much. 

Front doubler and end paper.

The box.

Emirates LitFest

www.emirateslitfest.com/mainprogramme

Lysistrata, the folio, and the beginning of the label making.

Studio5 on Face Book.

Studio5 on Face Book.

Lysistrata, back doubler 95% finished.

So near to completion, but now is the time to stop and look. Keep looking. Next is an enclosure for the advertisement. Then the box, I am thinking that a box may be the simple answer... and this is not a simple book.

Lysistrata. Front Doubler 95% finished.

Now to the back doubler.

Lysistrata, outside 95% complete.

NO NO Lysistrata.

NO. Lysistrata.

Lysistrata, front board.. the work continues.

Lysistrata, the front board.

Early days....

Lysistrata, back board finished for the time being.

I really like to work free hand, the joy of using mixed media allows for so much freedom of expression. Though the traditional aspects of the book are important..... and when used well are a joy to behold... I do find them somewhat limiting at times and to be frank boring. 

As ore is added more is hidden, I know it is there. Perhaps to be exposed later.

A touch more manipulation, more depth, more colour, more movement.

Detail, small things matter. Now for the front board, the protest, the strength of reason and to resist.

Lysistrata, Collage begins.

Ancient Greece divided by war.

Invasion.

The protagonists.

Time and date.

Wasting of blood.

Lessons never learnt.

The idea is to build up multiple layers, tearing off as I go. Rather like Affiches lacerees  (torn posters) I suppose one could say Papier dechire  (a collage of torn papers) This takes longer than one may imagine, not only is it in collecting the images, torn paper etc but also in the composition. A balancing act of not letting it look thrown together whilst creating a narrative without over working it.

Kintsugi Binding and stand finished.

Lysistrata, base dying complete.

I am liking this the book.

The base dying is complete.

Though we think of the obvious, there are the underlying tensions of the Peloponnesian war. The base dying reflects the chaos and destruction of war. 

The women sacrifice wine to the gods and old men try to burn them out of the Acropolis and the women swear to stop having sex with their men folk until peace breaks out.

There are mock fights lots of singing and frustrated men all over the place.

The next phase of the binding work is to start on the inlays, text (a big NO) and graphics (images of a nature), this will be in collage.

The Lysistrata of Aristophanes, first dying process.

The Lysistrata of Aristophanes. Forwarding the book.

Forgive the terrible image.

After guarding all the sections the text block was  sewn with an unsupported link stitch with secondary sewing through the first spine lining of Fraynot. After end banding the boards were attached and hand dyed leather skirting to the head and tail. The hollow was then applied to the area between the skirting and the final spine piece cut over long and adhered to the hollow only.

I am using a fair-isg goatskin. Reduced to 0.7 on the Scharf-Fix and then to 0.6 by hand. The turn-ins were reduced to 0.5, again on the Scharf-Fix and finished of to 0.4 by hand.

Now to start on the design. Where is my wine list ?

Man Booker Binder 2013

Have just been informed that I will be one of this years Man Booker Binders.

The Lysistrata of Aristophanes by Aubrey Beardsley.

 Boo Boo Pink endbands. What a super name for a delicious colour.

The endpapers, pinkish fragments of part of one of the illustrations.

Summer and Flottage.

 The sun has arrived and with it out-door pursuits.

A morning of colour. Papers decorated, ready to use on bindings.