London Scenes.

 

 

A commission for a UK based Worshipful Company founded in 1528. . The Company have asked me to document all the various stages of the making of this binding... 

 

 

 

 

Surface treatment. 

 

There is still a lot of exploring to do. Though I am happy with the effect, I am not so happy with the surface. After dying the leather and cloth I applied an oil based printers ink. However.... it just does not look right too glossy... too plastic like. In addition the thicker sculpting looks a little crude.

These early steps in the design process are important.. to find what works and what does not work. Each step gets nearer the finished work. I could just use an existing technique or style but would it reflect the contents of the book? reflect the time of the images... London during the second world war? etc etc etc.

On to the next maquette I think.. refine and rework... get it right.

Please note there are other ways of doing things, binding styles and opinions..... 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.....

 

London Scenes.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

A commission for a UK based Worshipful Company founded in 1528. London Scenes. The Company have asked me to document all the various stages of the making of this binding...

Work continues on the full size maquette. Layering and covering creating form, depth and numerous textures. So far so good.

Please note there are other ways of doing things, binding styles and opinions..... 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.....

 

London Scenes. A new commission.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

A commission for a the Clothworkers' Company.

The following is from their web site......

The Clothworkers’ Company was founded in 1528, following a merger of The Fullers’ Company and The Shearmen’s Company. One of the ‘Great Twelve Livery Companies’ of the City of London, our original aim was to promote the craft of clothworking, supervise the training of apprentices and welfare of members, and protect standards of workmanship.

Today, members help us fulfil our civic duties to the City of London, manage our affairs and meet our charitable objectives. Livery members are expected to participate in the living history and traditions of the City – including the election of the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs and Aldermen – and to serve on our Court of Assistants or committees. They invest thousands of voluntary hours each year supporting the governance and management of our affairs. Responsible stewardship of our financial assets – principally based on historic property bequests and investments – has enabled us to pursue ambitious philanthropic goals.

While few members are now involved in The Company’s root trade, we continue to support textiles by funding technical education, skills development, innovative design, the conservation of textiles heritage and craft skills, and much more.

Please do visit their site so, so interesting.... https://www.clothworkers.co.uk/about/about-us/#

 

The Company have asked me to document all the various stages of the making of this binding... so here is the starting point. I am working on a full size maquette. The aim is to take inspiration from the wonderful wood cuts to create a layered, sculptured binding. 3D, yes I know a book is 3D but with emphasis on the spaces between layers, the nooks and crannies of London.

From a preliminary design I begin to work with form, shape and space. In the images one see the first steps in the journey.

 

 

Please note there are other ways of doing things, binding styles and opinions..... 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.....

Duende, the final images.

                                                                      The binding.

                                                                         Front board.

                                                                  Front board detail.

                                                                       Back board.

Back board detail.

Drum Leaf text block.

                                                                   Text block detail.

                                                                           Detail.
 

20th Century Icon number 3. A homage to Picasso.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

A busy weekend resulted in the complete or artists book commission I have been working on being finished, bar a few tweaks here and there and, of course, the box.

40cm x 28cm x 2cm when closed. Materials used are many and diverse, including leather, book cloth, sacking, paper, packing boxes to name a few. Techniques include hand printing, collage, oil and acrylic hand painting (other ways of applying paint are available) bri-collage and applied mixed media.

A drum leaf text block, laminated board attachment with a fixed back board binding. Full 'Coppered' edge decoration.

Please note there are other ways of doing things and opinions..... 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.

 

A couple of recent podcasts!...........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUnFyGOVuYo

 

 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzPreEm6GQo

The Complete Book

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

WIP. A complete book (Artists' Book) commission. Having spent a long... long time on the text block I now progress to the binding.

A 'Fixed Back Board' Structure. This structure will allow for a far more sculptural platform to work on... The image gives us a view of the first steps, as I say, work in progress.

Please note there are other ways of doing things and opinions..... 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

 

A B C The Designer Bookbinders Online Summer Show 2020

 

Welcome to the Designer Bookbinders online 2020 summer exhibition, Art Book Craft (ABC). ABC showcases some of the finest work in contemporary bookbinding and book arts in the world today. All produced by Fellows and Licentiates of Designer Bookbinders, each bringing their unique interpretation of contemporary bookbinding and book arts to the fore. 

We hope ABC will not only be of interest to established, discerning bibliophiles and collectors, reaffirming the allure of the contemporary book as art but also to allow a new, wider audience the opportunity to engage with and delight in unique and exceptional bookbinding and book arts.

The e-catalogue can be viewed on the DB website by following the link below:
http://www.designerbookbinders.org.uk/exhib/ABC/ABC_2020/ABC_2020.html

On Line and Exhibiting...... British Bookbinding Today. Art and Craft of Beautiful Books.

I gives me great pleasure to announce  the open of 'British Bookbinding Today... The Art and Craft of Beautiful Books' Curated by Haiyao Zheng and Mark Cockram.

https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_8461986

The Exhibitors.

Mark Cockram

Interview.

An Introduction to Book-Cloth.... A Little Less Ordinary.

My biblionautic chums and friends.

An introduction, very simple, to some book-cloths. There are many and much ways to decorate book-cloth.. here is a couple.

 Please remember this was live, no edits.... so, well you know what I mean.

A few glitches, sorry. I hope it does not ruin your viewing pleasure!

For the movie of how they were made... Please follow this link;  Book-Cloth.

Please note there are other ways of doing things and opinions..... spelling and grammar plus book cloth suppliers. Please further note, the opinion of the author may change at any moment. This is due to having an open mind... of sorts.

The Studio 5 Summer Exhibition. The last day. Two Diptychs, past and present.

The Studio 5 Summer Exhibition. The last day. Two Diptychs, past and present.

I have enjoyed the opportunity to share some of the different work I do. Thank you for your time, comments etc. If there is anything of interest or you would like more information please do not hesitate to contact me.

Each book has their own voice.

Two Diptychs, hand made.

First, a Romano-British facsimile. Wood, bee's wax and leather.
13.7cm x 9.8cm x 8mm when closed.

Second, a contemporary, miniature (using the North American guide of 3" and under) Hand prints, hand coloured papers, leather, collage text.
2 7/8" x 2 7/8" x 3/16"

 My biblionautic chums and friends, I had planned a summer exhibition. However, as with nearly all things this has been put on hold. But have no fear, if you cannot come to the exhibition.. the exhibition comes to you. Featuring work from my personal collection and new works.

 Please forgive the one or two blips and the odd shake! Please note, if there are days missing in your group it is because I only post to groups that I feel may find the post of interest or keep in line with the ethos or criteria of the group. For example this Studio 5 going live has not been shared with the 'Ring Road Truckers' as there are no trucks, truckers or indeed ring roads featured.

For a short film please follow the link below the images.

 Two Diptychs.

The Studio 5 Summer Exhibition. Day 20. Mayflies of the Driftless Region

The Studio 5 Summer Exhibition. Day 20. Mayflies of the Driftless Region. NFS.

Each book has an individual voice.

A beautifully example of the printers art and craft.

With kind permission of the DeWilde Collection.

Text block. Wood engravings by Gaylord Shanilec, identifications by Clarke Garry. Midnight Paper Sales 2005. Text in Bembo Monotype composed by Gaylord Shanilec, additional machine composition by Michael Bixler..

Limited edition 400 with 50 in sheets of which this is signed and numbered 3 of 13.... Part of a special inner edition of 50 with the engravings printed on Gampi Torinoko.

Hand tooled (free hand printing with a period decorative tool) in ink leather binding. Un-trimmed edges, hand sewn end bands, hand decorated (Flottage) made end papers - leather jointed to edge to edge doublers (doublures) . Full linen board attachment, ¾ hollow with skirting, manhattening to tail.

A simple binding treatment reflecting the flight path of the Mayfly hand tooled in ink (not as easy as it sounds). The end papers and doublers (doublures) the swarm of courtship over water.

26.9cm x 18.8cm x 1.9cm when closed.

My biblionautic chums and friends, I had planned a summer exhibition. However, as with nearly all things this has been put on hold. But have no fear, if you cannot come to the exhibition.. the exhibition comes to you. Featuring work from my personal collection and new works. Further live posts will be at 11.00 hrs BST, everyday, give or take. Please forgive the one or two blips and the odd shake! Please note, if there are days missing in your group it is because I only post to groups that I feel may find the post of interest or keep in line with the ethos or criteria of the group. For example this Studio 5 going live has not been shared with the 'Ring Road Truckers' as there are no trucks, truckers or indeed ring roads featured.

For a short film please follow the link below the images.

Mayflies of the Driftless Region.

 Mayflies of the Driftless Region.