Livre d' Heures. Stubs on, ready for trimming.

A wonderful Book of Hours.

Studio 5 Masterclass.

The aim of the one day course is to introduce at least 4 techniques of paper decoration for bookbinders, book artists .. in short anyone who works with paper. The course has been developed with the beginner in mind but is open to those wishing to have a refresher. The 4 key decorative techniques explored will be; Sunago, a Chinese/Japanese method of applying real gold leaf on paper. Flottage, Flottage is floating colour on water and transferring the colour to paper, generally used by experimental artists and is a combination of traditional marbling and Suminagashi. Paste Paper. Paste Paper is a traditional method of decorating papers using.... paste. The last key technique will be Coulage, the application of colour by dripping. From those 4, depending on the time left we will be moving onto Reverse Transfer, Abrasive Frottage, simple stencil work and the like. There will be demonstrations on stretching paper and simple equipment making. I am a great believer in workshop participants being able to further develop without having to purchase expensive, specialist equipment. The day will be intensive. We will start at 10, breaking for lunch at 1. There are a number of fine eating places within a few minutes of the studio, suitable for all budgets. We resume at 2 finishing at between 4.30 and 5. There will be a maximum of 4 participants each day. The fee is £100. This includes all materials, use of the studio equipment dodgy coffee and biscuits. Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions, would like payment details etc etc.

Kintsugi 2... Finished.

Now complete with plinth and case. I think it is wonderful.

Busy weeks ahead.

One of the aspects of doing what I do is being asked to give lectures, talks and demonstrations in various places, both at home and further afield. Special Studio 5 workshops also lend a new view and introduction to the Studio for new people. It also keeps me on my toes.

Kinstugi 2. Completed work.

After 2 or so months buried in New Zealand, going through 2 earthquakes and being stabbed with a garden fork.....

Kinstugi Number 2.

Various aspects of the new Kinstugi book..... Now for the gold.

After a run of a few months the 'collection' begins to take shape. What one has to remember is that for each book there has to be a container. .... but what container....

What a Waste

Nightmare. The finished binding.

 From the finished large sheet 6 spreads were created, Each spread was further worked on by tearing away parts of the top surface.

 Each spread is unique. Inspired by the urban environment... layered posters and other advertising material. Layer upon layer, repeatedly ripped off and replaced... over painted and re-used. The  results are fantastic.

The binding follows a similar path... layers, many layers. Then peeled back to revel the underlying surfaces.

Nightmare. A new book.

 Nightmare, the new book. More layers and more colour. As the layers are added the image disappears to be replaced with a new image. More layers are required before I can begin to recover what was lost.

 A series of collages, layered and painted.

Nearing the end.. Time to sit back and look. First as a whole then as individual spreads then the small stuff. The details fascinate me. The physical textures dance over the finger tip.

A total of 6 spreads in all. The texture is amazing. I cannot wait to get this made.