Studio 5 in Japan, the tour continues.

After a couple of days rest an other train journey to Osaka.
Two days of work shops with students making some four books. Lots work in keeping the pace up, making sure that everyone understands and is able to complete the work. A few of the students from Tokyo have joined the work shop as the books made are different. It is welcoming to see familiar faces but a little strange to have them with us. By that I mean that they must have had enough of me in Tokyo, it may be something else and I may be missing something of course.

The evenings are spent walking around and eating (no change there then)


A Korean restaurant, a table top, charcoal pot with marinaded meats gently burning. The perfect antidote to a cold Autumn night.



The damp evening and a side street, well away from the garish tourist drag, illuminated by a plethora of street signs. Well, what could I could not resist the charms of a small, local eatery.

From Osaka it is a short train journey to Nagoya, the next city on the Studio 5 tour. However, never let it be said that I am completely blind to culture.
An even shorter, local train jolly from Osaka and I found myself at one of the most famous World Heritage sites..


... Himeji Castle.








As I am sure you can imagine, I took a lot of images and will do my best to slip a few more in when time permits.

Back to the train station and train spotters.

Signs and Arcades.

There are many sights in our shopping areas, some of the every day. Others, well perhaps I will let you make up your own mind.

Bond, shopping Bond.


Not all of my spare time has been spent shopping. No, some of it has been spent just looking at stuff. From the balcony of the hotel room this morning lots of movement in the bay.


The ferry that docked just out side the room. The fog horn became my alarm clock, both in the morning and at 11.30 at night. Ah, the romance of the sea.



A Tall Ship. If you look closely you may be able to see lots of small white specks on the rigging, masts and yards. Sea Scouts, I would imagine that the average age would be 15. Instead of children playing on a computer, these young men are a live.



Um, well, a crane of sorts. Not the sort of thing to argue with.

The joy of being a tourist.

A chance to do nothing in particular, take photos of places and things that catch the eye. Happy memories for the long, dark nights in the U K. An alley way to the artisans quarter perhaps ?

With the colours and unfamiliar architecture, the Med or some sleepy village in the south of France.



Wrong, this series of buildings are just a facade on the end of one of a series of very long shopping arcades in the port city of Kobe in Japan.

Shopping arcades around the world are funny places. Local shops competing with the chain stores, people just being there, meeting places for the young and old and a boon for the person with not much to do for a day or two (like me)


Much to my surprise I quite like doing nothing once in a while.

Time to relax for while at least.

The work shops are going well. The students are as keen as mustard, intelligent questions, all take notes and all listen. The schedule is PUNISHING. Full concentration for the whole day, remembering that though some of the students have a very good understanding of the English language, the language of book binding is not in common use. Also that many of the terms and language used is either foreign, antiquated or just plain barmy. Every thing I say has to be translated thus adding time to the overall time. To be centre stage for six to seven hours a day is not as much fun as some would imagine.

But and it is a big BUT, I enjoy the work, enjoy being able to share with others what I little I know and in turn always to have the chance to learn from others.

Time to unwind, without having to mind my P's and Q's is important. Moments of solitude, of inner relaxation give me the chance to clear the mind. To refresh and replenish. I suppose it is what everyone needs from time to time.


The eye never rests, I am beginning to work on ideas for my next book. I really must get out more.

The mini studio 5 work shops begin.

Tokyo, great place to be and a great place to have work shops.

Hard work but good fun, the students work hard and produce some excellent work.

Back in Japan.

After the rush to finish all the work on the bench in the U K and a flight with B A (coffee in paper cups... how naff is that ?) it was good to be able to sit down and have a beer with friends.


And good food. Sorry, I had started to eat before I took the image.


A short time after these images were taken I was fast asleep, the joy of jet lag is a thing to be-hold.

The last couple of days have been spent preparing kits for 10 work shops. There was some 200 kits to make. I am looking forward to tomorrow as the first work shop begins at 10.30 in the morning, a very civilised time I must say.
With this in mind ............ Time for bed ........... good night.

Back to the Binders Block.

A few weeks ago I had a bit of a block with boxes. There is much to be said for the two tray drop back box, but they can be a bit on the dull side.

For Salambo I wanted to make a box that reflected the design and I wanted to use up the paper I had printed.

The result is a posh chocolate box.


A touch of gold tooling to the lid.



The outer lid is removed to to reveal the inner lid. This is removed with a small leather tab.



The inner lid is removed to allow access to the book, which is removed via an other leather tab. I wanted to make a box that had an architectural feel.




Book and box detail.

Recent Bindings.

Recent Bindings.

SALAMBO.


A hand dyed, full leather binding with gold and black line tooling.


Front end paper and doublure. The paper has been hand coloured using various oil based printers inks. This results in a viscous, heavy looking paper. I wanted it to look like bronze, I think I got close.


Back end paper and doublure.


End band and edge decoration.


Front board detail. Gold tooling and black line tooling.

Back to normal.

The last month or so has been rather hectic and now that the Man Booker has finished, I can get back to a more normal life and work.

Though I have a number of exhibitions already lined up for next year I have to start work on the various projects now. One of the problems of doing work for exhibitions is the fact that I also have to earn a living. Exhibition work can and does sell but the selection of items to exhibit can be months in advance of the event, so there is a huge period of time when the work is out of the loop, as it were.
This is where commission work is so important, there are a growing number of collectors who realise that they can ask me and of course, other binders, to produce work specifically for their collections. These collectors are very important to the studio as it tis them who keep the wheels turning.
Another aspect to the studio is that I am lucky enough to be able to teach. I find teaching very worth while. It also helps to keep me fresh, working with other creative and for the main gifted people.


The challenge of finding solutions and sharing what I can with the students can be a very humbling experience.

Finishing tools for India.

A week of stuff, so far, good stuff.

A week or so ago, I had the pleasure of working with a new studio guest, a Mr Tom McEwan. A Bookbinder from the wonderful city of Glasgow.

Part of his work is to make hand tools for finishing (brass tools that are used in the decoration of books) during the week we were together the conversation got onto my work in India. To cut a short story even shorter, Tom said that he would let me have some of his tools to take to India. This morning our genial postman gave me a package that contained six superb hand tools from Tom.


The tools are have open designs that are perfect for work with foil, I think that gold leaf is out of our reach at the moment. The work of the hand tool maker requires a lot of skill, I for one am in awe of Toms work and look forward to being able to share his tools with the students in Anandwan.

I would like to thank Tom for his very beautiful and useful donation.

For a more in-depth look at the work of Tom, please visit his web site on www.mcewan.co.uk . It is under construction at the moment but his contact details are available.

An other Sunday in the studio.

It has been raining.

Thank you Thea for the image.

Boxes and mental blocks part two.

With the Man Booker binding and the studio members work taking up so much of my time, I have had so little time to do my own work. But, after much thought and a few pints of beer I was able to come up with a cunning box. Once it has been made I will tell all.

The days are becoming longer with the studio open longer so that the books for the Designer Bookbinders competition can be completed, I am so cheesed off with the organisers..... why leave everyone in the dark the for the hand in date ?. It is so unprofessional.

Boxes and mental blocks.

Work on the Man Booker binding is going well (for those of you not following the progress reports.... tut, tut) However, that is not the only project on the go.

A little while ago I finished binding a commission, the next phase is to make the box. The box is important, not only does it protect the book it also identifies the book inside. As you may have noticed, a lot of bindings do not have the title on them, hence the title on the box being important.

It has been commented that I should have the title on the book as people like to know the contents. I refer to the box again and in any case with the sort of work I do, the collectors usually know exactly what is on their shelves.

My normal practise is to make a two tray drop back box ( Clam Shell ) However, it has been known for me to make box frames for wall display, boxes that are integrated with the book and other variations. I am bored with the two tray drop back box, there must be another way.

To be able to display and protect.............. the old gray cells are asleep.................... BOOKBINDERS BLOCK.

New students. Designer Bookbinders.....

Busy, busy. new students who may become studio members, exhibitions and prep work for forth coming work shops in Japan.

A number of the studio members are busy working on various competitions. First there is the Designer Bookbinders competition, an annual event. The problem this year is that the submission date was not know until after September the first..... The hand in date is the 11th of October, crazy, a full two weeks before last years date. I am sure the studio members will do their best. But why keep the closing date secret, surly it would have been in every one's interest to have the date available as soon as possible. Oh well....

The other competition is also organised by Designer Bookbinders and is international in nature. much hard work is being done by many, with some nice stuff being produced.

The Man Booker bindings are coming on. For up-dates on those bindings please refer to 'Diary of a Man Booker Binder'

Travel arrangements have been made for our next work shop in Anandwan, box making and some binding work. I would like to thank everyone who has made a contribution and will make a series of posts later on.

Waiting for Man Booker.

The Man Booker short list came out yesterday, for an update please log on to The diary of a Man Booker Binder (please see web sites below) So, while waiting for the sheets I continue with work on the bench. The book that has featured in a number of posts is now under-going gold tooling and black line work. Deep concentration and a steady hand.



Good natural light and time to rest the eyes are just two of the factors to be taken in to account. Not easy when the studio is full of members working on various projects of their own. Such is life. I would not have it any other way, the atmosphere is charged, the tea breaks are fun and new thoughts, ideas and concepts are batted around the studio like a cricket ball in a 20-twenty match.

On the Bench

Time is not on my side.
The Man Booker is creeping up and I still have work to do.....



Remember the spine cleaning entry from a few weeks ago ? Well this the same book being covered, all hand dyed with spirit dyes. I intend to have this finished by the end of the month.

An exhibition opens in a few days time at the SDC gallery ( please see links ) a top place and well worth a visit. More work shops in Japan at the end of next month and Anandwan in December. Time is not on my side.

The Joy of Shed.

It has been noted by some members of Studio 5 that I should get out more. It would appear that I spend too much time in the studio, surrounded by books, paper, leather, print stuff and the like.

On the very rare occasion that I do venture into the unknown, I am usually to be found in my local pub THE RED LION. It has the usual sprinkling of celebs (this is London after all) and a stream of musical people from the recording studio over the road. The Red Lion or RION as we call it has the benefit of only being some four minutes from the studio and only two roads to cross, plus there is a bus stop outside that has a top service, the bus journey home takes some four minutes with an additional six minutes walking to my front door. All of this makes it ideal.

A new addition to the services that the Rion provides is one that will appeal to many.



Yes, the Rion has opened the Beer and Barbie Shed in one of the beer gardens. I am most happy.

Water book and other stuff.

As mentioned in a previous post I have been working on a number of separate projects, one of which 'water' is very nearly finished. Water is the title of the Designer Bookbinders international competition book. I do wish I could show you pictures but I fear that may be against the rules of the competition.


However, the rules say nothing about work in progress. Hand dieing the leather.


One of the other books on the bench is a commission, great stuff and fun to work on.



First business of the day is to remove the old binding, a full cloth case binding with lots of wear and tear and sun damage. This must be done with lots of care. Any of the spine linings that can be removed dry are done so.



Next is the messy bit. The various mulls, paper and old adhesive, animal or hot glue are removed. I do this by applying a small amount of paste to the spine area and encapsulate in cling film. I retire to a safe distance for a few minutes..... have a cup of tea or something.



After a few minutes I return to the book to see if the layers of stuff have become soft and are able to be removed with the minimum of effort. This is not because I am lazy, more it is to ensure that when I do remove the mull etc, I will be causing the minimum of damage to the spine or the outer folds of the sections.



I gently remove the loose material with the flat end of one of my bone folders. As soon as I encounter an area that is not loose I re-apply some more paste, cover with cling film and repeat until the spine is clear of all the spine linings.



All of this can take sometime, it can not be rushed. A lot depends on the choice of materials the original binder used, how old was the glue, was he or she having a bad hair day, was it done late on a Friday afternoon, that sort of thing. The secret is to take your time, do not let it get to you, time spent doing this aspect of any re-binding work work is time well spent as it will make life much easier for the next processes.


One of the pleasures of being able to teach is when a student is able to realise a goal or ambition. During my last visit to Japan I had the great pleasure of being invited to the studio bindery of AYA NISHIO. Aya's work is fantastic and I hope to be able to include her contact details on the Studio 5 blog. Her place is very her, very correct, tidy with lots of different stuff happening. Her needle cushions are very note worthy.

Tea break chat

During one of the few tea breaks in the studio (we like to work) we embarked on a topic that is very close to my heart.

Technique over Art. The general opinion was that many of the established fine designer bookbinders, in the Uk at least, was that some are perhaps not able understand the art of the book.
By this I mean that though good technique is important, the function of the book (within the realm of fine, designed bindings) is not compromised. That the manipulation of the materials, surface decoration and over all impression of the book works as a whole.

Where this can fall down is when the technique becomes the important thing. I am sure that we have all looked at a fine binding, perhaps by a 'Master' that is a self masturbatory exercise in technique. The sort of work that the viewers look at the work and say something like ' oh he/she is so good at...........' what the viewer is saying is key. That the technique has overtaken and suppresses the art. The 'master' on hearing this sticks out their chest, and with a smug look thinks themselves to be the best. It is easy to see how they can start to believe their own press, to produce work that is a series of banal exercises. In the end creating wall paper. As this 'master' begins to get a gather a sycophantic and vocal clique, more and more people are beguiled into believing the press and aping the 'master' thus propagating the myth.

One of the potential problems is that when this 'master is then paraded as being the best, it can stifle true creativity within the genre. For the binder who acknowledges the technical skill and strives to perfect their own but also balances this with the art of the book, life can be difficult. It would seam that this binder is going against the norm, being a bad boy/girl of the bookbinding world.
The banal has become the expected norm, anything that bucks that norm is castigated, derided as being non bookbinding, as not respecting the craft of the genre - not being true to the tradition. The banal 'master' is safe in the knowledge that his or her status is safe, that their individual approach to the art and craft of the book is the only one of any merit.

This is surely bad for any binder who wants to move forward, to be able to express what they are able to draw from the text, to be able to share with others the art of the book. The banal sycophant is unable to understand the work as it is not what they have been told is correct, therefore, in their eyes, it is not correct. There is also the case of the of the sycophant rejecting the work as worthless, as their work apes the 'master' and must be the correct form.

The general opinion in the studio was that there has to be a healthy balance between the trad and the contemporary, that the 'master' should recognise and applaud the new work as should the young bloods recognise the contribution that the 'master' has made in the past. The sycophants should get their faces out of the 'masters' arse and get a life.

Thus the rest period ended and work resumed.

9th of September

The 9th of September is the announcement of the man Booker short list, be sure to visit my Diary of a Man Booker Binder.

Coming Soon to a Blog Near You.

It is fast coming up to the time of year when the book world, in the U K at least, becomes Man Booker mad.

The Man Booker award is a celebration of the last years literary out-put and ends with a huge slap up meal, complete with the BBC, interviews, winners and not so winners.

Each one of the six finalists is presented with a cheque for a few grand ( the winner gets a huge cheque ) and a presentation copy of their book.
It is my pleasure to have been selected to be one of the Man Booker binders for this year. I have created a blog site
'Diary of a Man Booker Binder' and will keep you up to date with all the highs and lows in the four or so weeks I have in which to do the binding.

I hope that it will offer an insight in to a little known part of the Man Booker awards and for those who are interested in the art and craft of book binding and arts a glimpse of what it takes to make a Designed Binding.

Sunday at home.

The first day off. No work and no meetings to attend, bliss. The last few days have been busy with teaching a wonderful group of students.



Language is a funny thing, most of the class could sort of understand me and I could sort of understand them.



Simple things such as threading and locking a needle can be a theatre piece in the round. As with many art and design courses, the students have only limited access to the world of book arts and bookbinding. However, in very few days we were able to make three books. Each book exploring different construction details, fusion binding, print and page layout.



All of this was done with only rudimentary studio tools and a few bone folders and brushes from Studio 5. Great fun, hard work and I hope to be able to show you some of the work at a later date. A lot of the images and text was worked by hand with only a few of the students electing to use the computer.

In Japan

At last, a free couple of hours.

A couple of images to keep you going. They include a number of my favorite things.

Liver and chicken in my top pub in Tokyo.


At the counter in my fave Sushi restaurant.