Unlimited Salad and the Bookbinder/Book Artist.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

Recently I was asked for studio hacks, tips and tricks I use in Studio 5. I paused in my thought process, I mean there are so many hacks, tips and tricks that I employ in the studio, as I am sure there are for all of us who work in what could be called 'the creative world'.

Perhaps one of the most important tips I can give is to maximise the amount of time that one is able to be at the bench producing work, after all bills have to be paid.

In years of yore I, and I am sure many of us, would frequent Pizza Restaurants. Many of these establishments would tempt our patronage with an artful display of the unlimited salad bar in the window. Various lettuce leaves, cucumber and tomato slices, diced potato salad, peppers, bacon bits, onions, shaved carrot, celery, sunflower seeds, chunks and liquid blue cheese, hard boiled egg, potato sticks, croutons, 1000 island dressing, mayo, Ceaser salad, Kale, salad cream, coleslaw, sweat corn, cheddar cheese, cauliflower, broccoli, green beans, peas, onion rings...... the list went on. I am sure I have missed many options as different restaurants had different options etc etc.

The object of anyone who frequented the salad bar was to maximise the capacity of the rather small bowls provided. This would be achieved with the cunning use of lettuce leaves and cucumber slices in building up the rim of the bowl. I am sure that many architects and structural engineers unwittingly began their careers at the salad bar.

I am sure one is beginning to wonder what this has to do with hacks, tips and tricks for the studio in maximising time at the bench.

The key is rubbish. In most cases the act of making usually results in a certain amount of material that is waste/rubbish. I would like to cite the omelette as a point in case. Using the skills acquired at the salad bar, I maximise the capacity of my rubbish bins. I mean, why go to the industrial waste bin in the yard 2 times a day when you can go once a week?

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.

 

UNIQUE An Exhibition.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

I am very pleased to announce that I, perhaps it would be best to say OBLIQUEa and Réarrangement de Poupée will be participating in the Designer Bookbinders UNIQUE exhibition.

UNIQUE, an exhibition by Designer Bookbinders, features new work from the very finest UK based binders and artists from one of the world's foremost bookbinding societies.

The exhibition will take place at the Benjamin Spademan Gallery, 14 Masons Yard, London SW1Y 6BU.

Unique is free and open to the public 5th - 13th July 2024. Opening hours 11.00am - 5.00pm.

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.

Title. Réarrangement de Poupée
Author/Artist. Mark Cockram
Publisher and Date. Mark Cockram, Studio 5 London. 2024
Edition Number (if Applicable) 1 of 1
Dimensions. 274mm x 374mm x 34mm
Desc: (150 words Max)
Réarrangement de Poupée.
One distinct memory I have of things that scared me as a child was dolls and, to some degree, I am still disconcerted by Edwardian and Victorian adult like dolls. My dreamscapes were of malevolent dolls waking from their daytime sleep on the bookshelf. Clockwork, robotic stuttering movement, never still eyes with a scratched child like voice that crawled over my senses.

Intended to be a wall mounted book/assemblage, Réarrangement de Poupée offers a variety of formats in which the book work can be encountered and viewed. Perhaps in the conventional manner of the book in the hand or as a multi faceted, articulated book-assemblage.
Text Block. Drum Leaf Construction with applied hand cut, hand coloured collage with machine sewing and stencil work. All edges hand coloured.
Binding. Minimalist Tight Back Binding in leather and remboîtage boards. Blind tooled binders stamp to top right back board.
Frame. Hand coloured found frame with assemblage of antique end papers. Blind tooled binders stamp to bottom right of shelf.
..................................................................................................................................................................

Binders Name. Mark Cockram
Title. OBLIQUE a
Author/Artist. Mark Cockram
Publisher and Date. Mark Cockram, Studio 5 London. 2024
Edition Number (if Applicable) 1 of 5
Dimensions. 294mm x 186mm x 10mm
Desc: (150 words Max)

OBLIQUE a
I am always curious to see what is on the other side or to experience from different viewpoints.

By combining and manipulating the visual texture of bygone glass negatives with the stylistic nature of illustrations from Victorian publications, ‘OBLIQUE a’ is a series of 14 prints that explore altered states. Though we may think we understand what we see, on closer inspection, the altered frames of reference renders distorted, often grotesque hidden perspectives. With the nature of the printing technique employed each print is unique.

Text Block. 14 Hand printed off set illustrations of manipulated Victorian illustrations. 145gsm Liber Charta acid free paper. Hand sewn with secondary sewing. Solid coloured edge decoration to head.
Binding. Minimalist Tight Back Binding in leather and hand dyed palimpsest parchment. Full Linen laminated board attachment. Hand printed leather jointed end papers with hand printed edge to edge to edge paper doublures/doublers. Blind tooled binders stamp to bottom right corner back doublure/doubler.

 

Songs and Poems of John Dryden. Finished.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

'Songs and Poems of John Dryden'. 384mm x 277mm x 20mm.

An update, again.

For the last couple of days Bob has done his thing. This morning I was able to finish the 'Colour Field' doublures/doublers. So... I guess Songs is now finished, bar a little titivation here and there. The book will go back in to the press, like all good cheeses, it has to mature. Then it will be box making.

Thank you Bob!

The design concept is simple, the staffs give us the Songs and the letter the Poems. The rendering of the final design is simple, not complicated.

Sometimes, when looking at work (my own included before I start getting hate posts) and others I think 'Why?" Why so complicated? It is a if the maker has thrown every technique that have at it. Perhaps to bask in the glow of bling? or for others to go "wow look at all of that!"

Any way... Simple for Songs and Poems I think.

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.

 

 

4 Days in July.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

4 Days in July.

Due to an unfortunate cancellation I find my self free for a few days in July. I did a little thinking..... If I am unable to teach where I was going to teach then perhaps I could offer a fantastic Four Day Intensive for Beginners... from Studio 5. Suitable for improvers too!

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.

 

Songs and Poems by Dryden.

My biblionautic chums and friends.

Yesterday, Monday, I started to free hand tool the design for Songs and Poems. Today, Tuesday, finds all the free hand tooling is finished, which is nice.

 

Stylised Staffs (I did check up on wikipedia and yes, I do donate) float across the palimpsest boards in thin drawn, almost sketched out lines of gold. 

 

The main tooling is inspired by one of the delicious illustrations, the maiden and letter. I am wanting to capture the liveliness of the illustrations. So after a little practise to warm up I got on with the job in hand. What I did not want is for the 'sketched' lines to be static or heavy and solid. Movement and freedom is the key for this style of work. 

The design concept is simple, the staffs give us the Songs and the letter the Poems. The rendering of the final design is simple, not complicated.

Sometimes, when looking at work (my own included before I start getting hate posts) and others I think 'Why?" Why so complicated? It is a if the maker has thrown every technique that have at it. Perhaps to bask in the glow of bling? or for others to go "wow look at all of that!"

Any way... Simple for Songs and Poems I think.

Again, I just thought I would share work in progress.

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.

 

Foxes and Books.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

A sunny Thursday lunch time. For some a chance to relax, go for a stroll, for others perhaps a lazy glass glass of something with ice in it.

Not for me though. This lunch finds me liberating a box (of wood), drilling whole holes in bits of it in preparation for another bout of burying a book.

This time a full leather binding, sewn end bands, flottage end papers. A posh book!

So, you may ask, why a box of wood?... Well, dear reader, I can answer that in one word. Foxes. On a previous occasion I buried a full leather bound book, the last I saw of the book was of it being carried of by a couple of foxes intent on each having a mouthful of leather.

Lid secured with nails. I would like to see them try this time!

Once again, the book is mine, I bound it etc, etc,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.

 

Interior Sunshine

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

One of those days, sun is out, so I thought I would have a few minutes stroll to clear my head, a current project is taking up a lot of head space.

As it happened, I only managed to walk 20 or so meters from the studio before a shop window caught my eye... I had to pop in. A delightfully eclectic interior awaited. From iconic furniture to modern sculpture, prints and lights.

Wonderful. So, if you are in the area, well worth a visit.

Hayles......... 60 Church Rd, Barnes SW130AD

info@hayleshop.com

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.

 

 

Creative Chaos Cold Gold.

 My biblionautic chums and friends.

A Studio 5 Master Class.
𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱. 𝗔 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘆.

Yesterday, the 9th of June 2024. Venue... Studio 5, S W London.
A one day introduction to using Gold Leaf without heat.
The benches were cleared, some of the prep work was done... I do not like just handing out kits... In this class the students learnt how to make from the beginning, not assemble bits and bobs.
It was full on, fun and a busy day.

From the serene calm before the doors opened to the culmination of what I think of as 'creative chaos', the attendees made, produced, manipulated stuff to create individual works.
We made equipment, yes!, they got to keep the equipment so they can continue with the techniques learnt during the day.

The the day was not just about learning and doing, we delved into the world of art and design, looked at and discussed examples of other creatives outside the world of bookbinding and book arts. How do others create, what do they create and how we can bring elements to our own work bench to be creative with the book (in all of its' genres) to be expressive, gestural, spontaneous, considered and/or deliberate with our out put.

Often the whisper is heard clearer and resonates longer than the bellowed shout. So it is with art and design, why throw everything on the cover of a book when the subtle or truly considered touch is more than enough? I guess it is having the confidence and conviction to know when enough is enough and too much is ...too much.

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 Exhumation of Buried Books.

 My biblionautic chums and friends.

The Buried/Decayed book project. After some four weeks it is time to exhume the buried books on the patio outside Studio 5.

I know that you are all as fascinated with this particular project as I am....... Perhaps not. Please follow the links below.......

 

Exhumation of Buried Books

 

And for the back story previous posts on my youtube channel may help to clear things up!

 

Studio 5 youtube 

 

 

As with my previous posts........ what could possibly go wrong?

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.

Minimalist, Rounded and Backed, Tight Back, Remboîtage Binding

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

Songs and Poems by Dryden is beginning to take shape and as I wait for things to dry I busy myself with other things...

Now, my dear chum, it may come as something as a bit of a surprise to learn that I have a number of interests that are out of the book binding/book art umbrella. One is archaeology/history, an other is architecture and yet another is making the most of what is available. Bliss, for me at least is when my interests collide... perhaps...come together would be a better description.

So, yesterday evening found me sewing up a text block and doing stuff. Today finding time to finish ............

.........a minimalist, rounded and backed, tight back, remboîtage binding. I realise there is nothing particularly new in all these things........

I love it. The archaeology/history bit; well the boards, from about 1850ish, I think that counts as history. But there is more. The boards have had to have been treated with a number of ointments and stuff to stabilise the calf in preparation for re-use. So there is a little bit of restoration/conservation stuff happening. The structure is simple but one has to know how to do it. You know all those little things like understanding paper, what thread to use to achieve the correct swell, rounding and backing etc etc etc. Then there is leather paring, I could go on. I realise that to all of the experts out there it is simple, and I see you yawning at the back of the room, stuff. However, as an introduction to aspects of book binding, restoration/conservation etc... I feel it ticks a number of boxes. I feel a workshop coming on!

Please note, for those of you with sharp eyes and a keen set of fingers ready to scorn... I know the book does not look square, 10 out of 10 - it is not square. There is not one right angle on either board. Again, yes there are lumps on the spine. Well done... it is the sewing, if I may refer you back to what could be thought of as the name of the book......'a minimalist, rounded and backed, tight back, remboîtage binding'. A key word is minimalist, very little in the way of spine linings, nothing is hidden. And, may draw your attention to the Centre national d'art et de culture Georges-Pompidou. A building in Paris, designed by Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Gianfranco Franchini. The building, and others of its' ilk are known for having elements of the structure, services etc very much on view. As for making the most of what is available, well I guess that would be time and materials in this case.

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.

 

𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱. 𝗔 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘆. Only 2 Places left!!!!!!!

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

ONLY 2 SPACES NOW AVAILABLE

A Studio 5 Master Class.

𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱. 𝗔 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘆.

9th of June 2024. Venue... Studio 5, S W London.

A one day introduction to using Gold Leaf without heat. Traditionally gold leaf is used in the titling of tooling of designs on books using glare, heat and expensive hand tools. The Cold Gold workshop opens up an intriguing number of ways to use gold leaf to create any number of design possibilities.

The day starts with preparing 3 leather covered plaquettes in preparation for 3 variations in Cold Gold techniques. Following a demonstration of a number of leather manipulation techniques, including ‘Maril’, a technique of creating a multitude of shapes and forms with leather, pioneered by Philip Smith. One of the plaquettes will be prepared using any number of the techniques demonstrated. The two remaining plaquettes with flat leather (non manipulated leather).

As the day progresses, mini demonstrations will introduce the participants to ‘Sunago’; a Japanese form of using flaked gold leaf, this will include how to make a sieve tube to achieve the desired effect, press and cut work and direct ‘Form’ pressing. Following the mini demonstrations the participants will have the opportunity to create and synthesise the techniques to create distinctive plaquettes that offer a number of design solutions and pathways.

Only 2 places available. For further information, times, fees etc please email .... 

 

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.