Chelsea Arts Club Charity Auction.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

Well hung. The Bookpecker. My offering for the Chelsea Arts Club charity auction-animal vegetable mineral. 22nd March-14thApril.

Please follow the link on how to bid. Bookpecker is lot 73. However there are many other fine works.

https://www.jumblebee.co.uk/chelseaartsclubcharityauction...

Please note.... there are other clubs and charity auctions along with book arts and 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.

Chelsea Arts Club Charity Aution.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

Time rushes by... This is the time of year for the Chelsea Arts Club charity auction. The canvas size is 12" x 12" with the theme being Animal Vegetable Mineral.

My offering is a Bookpecker. Animal- Mounted 'Pecker/leather binding. Vegetable-paper (pages of the book) with the Mineral being the metal cage.

I am pleased with the shadows cast.

Please note.... there are other ways of using a book with 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.

We reflect on what we have done over the four days.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

The last day of the 4 day course - Introduction to Flat Back Case Binding. http://bookbindingcourses.blogspot.com/.../studio-5-book...,

Did I mention the student had no bookbinding experience before? Never lifted a bone folder or understood the joy of grain direction...We reflect on what we have done over the four days. We have indeed learnt about paper and what wonderful stuff it is, grain direction and all. We have folded and cut paper to make sections. We have explored 3 variations of sewing a text block together (yes dear reader we are making 3 books!) In addition we have tipped on, applied adhesive where needed and learnt what spine lining is about... Worked with two methods of paper decoration, various covering techniques and materials. Hand foil work and much much more. Packed and intensive as we have also had some history and theory to put our work into context as it is so important to understand not just how we do things but why we do them.

Please note.... there are other ways of making a book and 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.

 

BASE. Book Arts SpacE.

 My biblionautic chums and friends.

Now on. Minimalist Flat Tight Back Binding. A book construction that explores the concept of the elimination of all that is extraneous. Concentrating on surface decoration. BASE exhibition number 8. Barnes SW London.

Please note.... there are other ways of making a book and studios/binderies/exhibition spaces 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.

 

Winter's Tale

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

Winter's Tale, a commission. Finished.

Please note.... there are other commissions and 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.

Parchment, leather dye and mixed media.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

Part the two of working on a maquette/model for a forthcoming commission. Parchment, leather dye and mixed media.

Please note.... there are other commissions and 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.

For Whom the Bell Tolls!

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

Starting work on a new commission. As is my normal way of working it all starts with a maquette. Things have to be worked out to ensure that the real thing turns out as I want it to.

Please note.... there are other commissions and 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 Flat-Tight Back Binding. Lecture/demonstration at the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

Flat Back Case Binding, Ethos of Making.

 

Fragments of pulp heroes, heroines and villians.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

For the last week or so I have what we call in the trade 'Creative Block' It happens to us all at some time or other. Hence the studio tidy up and xmas decorations (please see previous posts) Some of the best advice I was given on blocks and how to work with them was by a good friend of mine, now sadly in the great gallery in the sky ... Mel Gooding.. Mel Gooding He suggested that I should revisit the past anew. By this he indicated that one should re-look at, re-appraise past works or memories. To understand that we are always moving forward and what we did then we would, in all probability, do and understand differently. 

 

The past becomes a starting point. 

 

In this particular instance childhood memories of sci-fi comics scattered on the bedroom floor on rainy weekends. The deft strokes of the illustrator, the simple, bold colours and gripping dialogue taking me to strange and wonderful places. At night I would re-live the daring escapades of my pulp heroes and heroines during that twilight of wakefulness and sleep.

So a new book begins to take shape, fragments of pulp heroes, heroines and villians. 42cm x 30cm.

Please note.... there are other blocks and 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.

 

Christmas in Studio 5 Book Arts.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

A couple of things usually happen at this time of year in Studio 5. First is a tidy up, this year has been no different... 3 days and numerous dustbin bags have resulted in, well, in what can be only described as appearing to be no change from before.

Next is the Chrstmas decoration to the studio door. I thought I would opt for something a little less traditional. Odd, at this time of year I usually have any number of visitors!

Please note.... there are other Christmas decorations and 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.

 

Aspects of the Flat Back Case Bound Book.

My biblionautic chums and friends.

I thought I might share this short film thing.

Please note.... there are other films and 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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tNliTSkDm4

Teaching at Flatford Mill. Dates are available for 2023!

 

My biblionautic chums and friends. More dates are available for 2023!

Please note.... there are other courses, 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.

 

https://www.field-studies-council.org/2022/05/26/learn-the-traditional-art-of-bookbinding-at-flatford-mill/ 

G H I. Gaudium Hora Inceptum. Gaudium = Joy/Happiness Hora = Time/Season Inceptum = Beginning

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

So, after Barbados I was in London. A day to clear the jet lag and get use to the weather found me at Maggs Bros https://www.maggs.com/ setting up the DesignerBookbinders winter exhibition. https://designerbookbinders.org.uk/

G H I. Gaudium Hora Inceptum. Gaudium = Joy/Happiness. Hora = Time/Season. Inceptum = Beginning.

As with all things the set up was a team effort and my thanks goes to all that helped. With the set up done it was time to relax for a day as the private view, the following evening beckoned.

 Marvelling over each book, reflecting on the dexterity and artistry of the makers, mince pie in hand, chatting with friends old and new, GHI actually reinforced my notion that if there is no other option things online are okay… but nothing can replace actually being there.

26 books/bindings by 21 Fellow and Licentiates of Designer Bookbinders makes for a rather wonderful show. What I really like about exhibiting at Maggs is the fact that the books are not behind glass. One can get up close and personal. The books are in the 'Front Room' of Maggs, arranged in a modern book case. Subtle lighting and decorated tree make for an environment that is more akin to how I see the modern library or collection.

 Lester Capon (President of Designer Bookbinders, right) with Ben Maggs, who, along with Sophie Schneideman was awarded Honorary Fellowship during the private view of GHI, in recognition of services to bookbinding and/or Designer Bookbinders.

 

For more information please visit Maggs https://www.maggs.com/  

To view the catalogue https://www.maggs.com/media/5570916/ghi-catalogue.pdf

Better still..... Go there in person if you can.

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.

 

Investment... Study the past, if you would divine the future.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends, please forgive the lack of posts over the last two or so weeks. I have been a little busy teaching/sharing various things with the Department of Archievs and Library Services - Barbados.

Before anything, the first image I have posted is as close to a beach as I have come and it was raining. I am not a beach person.

Recently the Department of Archives (DoA) has been on the receiving end of government investment that has resulted in the refurbishment of premises and equipment. In addition funds have been made available for training etc... 'Wait a moment' I hear you say....'A government that is investing in archives, training etc?' I know... it is hard to beleive, but it is true.

Mia Amor Mottley, SC, MP is a Barbadian politician and attorney who has served as prime minister of Barbados since 2018 and her government are investing in the preservation of the past to ensure that the history of Barbados and it's people is kept alive and available for now and the future. As Confucius said..."Study the past, if you would divine the future."

With a new main workshop, wet room, fumigation room, cold room, the dirty room ( a room for doing all those messy jobs that may make dust) and plenty of storage. It is like a new begining, though there are some materials I realise that further investment is required to up-date key equipment such as board chopper, presses etc. But what is important is the fact (from my perspective) that there is an investment in the conservation/restoration members of staff in further training.

More posts to follow.

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 sort.

 

Barbados. Books and a Hippo.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

Barbados, the bearded ones. For those of us who may required a little more information on this intriguing Island Republic I would suggest a quick visit to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbados

For some of us Barbados is a holiday destination, perhaps for more it is a 'one day' holiday destination. But it is always the home for near 300,000 people.

So, you may ask, why am I posting about Barbados? Well chums, it is not about beaches and cliff top walks. It is work. I am teaching stuff at the Department of Archives, Bridgetown. In addition I will be giving an illustrated talk at the Barbados Community College: Division Of Fine Arts on the 14th of November on aspects of my work that include design binding, book arts and a hippo.

Image by Quinzell Dawson.

Please notethere 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.

Romeo and Juliet.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

A binding that I had finished forwarding, sorting out the pagination and stuff a little while ago.

I halted, sat on it for a while. I wanted to think about the design. The one thing I did know was that I did not want it to look like some cheesy, 1920's/30's hollywood B movie poster. This book did not need the bling of gold and everything else thrown at it.

Romeo and Juliet, perhaps the best know and performed of Shakespeare’s work. This particular edition has had a life. Many annotations, underscoring, stage directions and notes litter the pages. One can imagine the actors learning their lines, adding to previous notes, marking their lines and so forth. These squiggles have informed the design of the tooling to the front board, squiggles and lines creating a stylised balcony.

A simple treatment.

Full Palimpsest Parchment binding. Leather jointed end papers to edge to edge paper doublers. Single needle sewn end bands.

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.

La Ville, box and all.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

Finally... La Ville is completed.

Please note.... there are other boxes and 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

Monday Morning... What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

Ah, Monday morning, what could possibly go wrong?

When the person who borrowed your electric saw "forgets" to tell you that they have broken it when they return it.....

Push-hate, pull-hate, push-hate, pull-hate etc etc....

Though I am a little happy that I am still able to saw in a straightish line.

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