Happy Christmas....

Happy Christmas and a good to new year from Studio 5.

The Art of Gilbert and George by Wolf Jahn.

A fantastic book, full of colour, full of some of the most influential work produced in the 20th century and beyond. A signed edition that charts the work and life of G and G.



The boards have been attached with aero linen, skirting and 3/4 hollow are evident. I have created a recess in both of the boards, this is to create an area for the design and a new material, more about that later.



G and G with water colour paper to the boards and the spine piece in place, all sanded and ready for the leather.

Ally Cold gold...

Ally, the gold leaf was applied with a mix of PVA and a rice starch paste... simple.

LYSISTRATA is finished, now the images.

LYSISTRATA is finished....

Images coming very soon.

LYSISTRATA very nearly finished...

Lysistrata is very nearly finished, just the box to finish...
Hope to have images up very soon.

LYSISTRATA the final stages of the binding.

So yesterday I was in Studio 2 printing the Doublers for Lysitrata. The print technique is soft plate off-set and is fun if a little unpredictable.



However, I love the results with the line, texture etc.



The client had wished for a few details to be printed on the front doubler so here they are, minus the clients name of course. So all is set for the binding and the box to be finished well before Christmas, well I would hope with a week to spare...

LYSISTRATA and snow.

Snow, wonderful stuff.




Lysistrata, now that the outside is completed work can begin on the inside. The leather joints are down just in-fill and the doublers to do... not long to go!

Lysistrata,the Lady disappears then shows her charms

As the gold leaf is removed the lady begins to come through. The dynamic pose, the gesture. I really like this look, the gold looks worn, similar to an ancient mural. Covered in the dust of time only to be found by an archaeologist.

LYSISTRATA, Gold Leaf...

Not the perfect day for laying down the gold leaf but I want to crack on with the job. Finding all the gold leaf cushions in the studio and cutting the gold so that I can work with a momentum. For the last few weeks Julie (Work experience from Paris) has been helping. Today Julie will be keeping the gold leaf cushions charged and who knows Julie may be helping to lay the gold leaf down, it is work experience after all.

LYSISTRATA, final touching up of the dyes.

Once the blue dye had dried out I was able to continue with the other areas.



Quick brush strokes to give movement and energy.



Next will be the gold work, I have to have a day with no students to be able to lay out the gold leaf...... we shall see.

LYSISTRATA, the first colour is on.....

With all the blind tooling done and Black Line work finished the first of the dyes are applied to the cover. In this case a touch of red and a lot of vibrant blue.



I am aiming for a very dynamic look, almost like the posters for WW 1. This along with the painterly quality of the dye gives movement. I hope to be able to capture a little of the pop Art style.



As I was taking the images my camera went into automatic portrait mode !

Early Morning outside the studio.

Simple hand made tools.

With Lysistrata I am making my own tools. They are simple and not so expensive so i am not worried about altering them to create new shapes.
I start with drilling a hole into one end of a handy length of dowel to fit a length of brass rod. The brass rod should be snug and fixed with evo stick or a similar strong adhesive. The blank is then held in a bench vice to keep it secure and save my hands from damage.


Using a model makers hand held drill with an abrasive fitting I start to create the tool face. Once the main shape has been prepared I then use needle files to get to the final shape.


Emery Paper is then used to get rid of any burrs and refine the face.


Then I Emery Paper the face to get any marks from the saw or files out. This can take a few minutes but is worth the effort.


The last stage is to polish off with a strop with jewelers rouge to make sure that every thing is clean and top.

I am careful to clean up and always wear safety glasses.

LYSISTRATA, the design.

Now that the fair goat is on the book the application of the design begins.

I have transferred the out line of the design to the book and am blind tooling where I want the gold to go. All of this sounds easy but it requires a lot of concentration.

I have made 7 new tools and will have to modify them as the tooling continues. The tools are simple brass rods that are shaped by grinding them with a model makers drill, working them smooth with emery paper and finally polishing them with jewelers rouge on a strop.

When Mini cooper met Fiat 500....

Okay, I've shown you mine, now show me yours...

Man Booker Binding, Parrot and Olivier in America, Peter Carey, Champagne and Mark.

©Janie Airey
The night of the Man Booker presentation, the author, the book and the binder.

All of the Man Booker Bindings for 2010 are now on exhibition in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

LYSISTRATA Covering...

Now that the Man Booker is out of the way (I have a cracking image that I hope to post soon) I can resume work on Lyistrata.

The whole is bound in fair goat and will be worked on the book. A large thin book.. lots of fun covering!

Hello Korean Bookbinders and book artists.

안녕하세요 한국에 있는 모든 예술제본가와 북아티스트.

The New Press.

My new single screw laying press. Based on my old one but improved. The woods used are reclaimed so a low carbon footprint there. The backing boards locate on the cheeks with aluminium studs (my originals being located with old bits of dowel)
A thing of joy and beauty.



I always edge the backing boards with masking tape as this helps to keep things clean and I can see when a student has hit the backing boards and not the book!



I have a favourite plough, Jim (the guy who made the press) ensured that the plough and press work together....



I LOVE this press.... The press was made by Jim at Olive and Oak. www.oliveandoak.com

Comments.

Thanks, comments are important, it is all too easy to be working in a vacuum.
I have feed back with the students and studio members, as I offer feed back. Outside views and opinions are part of the life blood.

Today my new backing/Laying press arrived.

I am so happy, images to follow soon.

Why does no one leave any comments?

Man Booker Binding, the morning after....

Having managed to traverse London, I arrived at the Guildhall. As usual I faced the now normal routine of the door men not believing I was a not a guest and that I had to get a book on display before the big names arrived...... Why.
In any case I was 'Allowed' in and got my book set up along with the other bindings. All good.

I was introduced to Peter Carey, a nice bloke, very relaxed and fun. Met some people from the Australian Embassy or Consulate, again very nice people. I had Champagne.... all night.......



The winner was announced .... drum roll .. Howard Jacobson for his book 'The Finkler Question' His first time on the short list.
The cameras were primed, the journalists at the typewriters, all that was needed was Howard Jacobson, then I could go home.


The man himself... winner of the 2010 Man Booker Prize.

Man Booker Binding, Parrot and Olivier in America plus Mark go to the Guildhall.

Shaken and stirred !

Man Booker Binding, Parrot and Olivier in America. Dusting down the old Dinner Jacket.

Having found my Dinner Jacket (tucked away in the darkest region of my wardrobe) and all the other bits and bobs that go with a Black Tie event, I begin to plan for the presentation tomorrow evening (Tuesday, 12th of October)

The evening starts with a reception at 6.30pm (Champagne) Where my binding along with the five others will be on display. We then move on to the Dinner at 7.30pm (Food with red and white wine) I will have to be on my best behaviour as I will be on the same table as Peter Carey, the author of Parrot and Olivier in America, thus I may be seen on the television! During the meal the 6 finalists are introduced to the gathering and their specially bound book is presented to them.

The winner will be announced at 9.45pm, this will be broadcast on BBC News across television, radio and online.

After that there is a post award reception sort of thing with more wine....


Carriages at 11.30pm... Wish me luck.

I will try to take some pictures of the evening...

Man Booker Binding, Parrot and Olivier in America. Finished.

One week ahead of the presentation!

On to the next book......

My Biggest Critic.

Man Booker Binding, Parrot and Olivier in America. Front board finished..

Instead of a label on the front board I opted to do create a pallet. One of the characters is a painter... logical. Plus Pallet and Parrot are not too dis-similar.

The Gold tooling has been distressed with wire wool and a cocktail stick, I want it to appear a little singed (fire damage)