Gold Leaf and Leather Tesserae.

My biblionautic chums and friends.

Now that I find myself back in Studio 5 after a few weeks lecturing and the like in Australia and the Philippines, I am able to complete a two day course in leather and cold gold techniques. The first day was fun, bags of leather and stuff, today was the gold and whatnot.

We looked at three variations on a theme.

 Ending with wonderful gold and leather tesserae.

 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 Workshop Day 2.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

Day 2 of the two day workshop in Minimalist Tight Flat Back Binding (MTFB). 

 

Concentrating on leather and board work the MTFB comes together. During the moments when our books were being pressed we looked at Parchment, variations in use and a method of making corners. Never a dull moment....

 

Please note.... there are other books 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.

Minimalist Workshop.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

End of the first day of the two day workshop in Minimalist Tight Flat Back Binding.

An interesting morning, first we looked at the origins of the Minimalist Tight Flat Back (MTFB). Then we folded sections, always a good place to start, worked with a variation in end-papers, pressing, trimming and of course sewing. Lunch gives time for the first application of adhesive to dry with the text block being pressed.

 

In the afternoon we worked with the initial spine material, additional sewing withe the final spine linning of split being applied in prep for tomorrow morning.

 

We have talked about design, material use and the need to be open in experimentation and our approach to working with the book.

 

Tomorrow we will concentrate on leather work, manipulation of book cloth... this is the 21st century!

 

Please note.... there are other books 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.

Ease but no Wobble. Bookbinding at Flatford Mill.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

The first week workshop at the wonderful Flatford Mill of the year.

A little information about the location and venue....Flatford Mill is the first and original field studies centre https://www.field-studies-council.org/about-us/which was set up in the UK during the 1940’s. It is the centre for Constable Country, set amidst the quintessentially English countryside of the Dedham Vale in Suffolk and sitting on the banks of the River Stour. Flatford Mill runs residential field study visits for school students and provides a very wide range of natural history along with art and craft courses, which include... of course.... Bookbinding. https://www.field-studies-council.org/courses-and-experiences/static-courses/bookbinding-for-beginners-and-improvers/

Residential students stay in internationally important buildings such as Willy Lotts’ House, (built in the 1500’s and made famous by John Constable’s ‘Haywain’ painting), Valley Farm (a medieval great hall built in the 1450’s) and of course the Mill itself that was owned and renovated by the Constable family in the 1700’s.

 

As usual, a mixture of complete beginners and those with experience. When I say complete beginners... never picked up a bone folder etc.

 Our first book is a Multi sectional flat back case binding, section folding, sewing, cutting and binding all by hand. Quarter Cloth with Flottage papers that the students made in the morning of the first day... A great loosener - clears the cobwebs. Though there is control with the colours used and one can manipulate the pattern to a degree, the technique is, by and large, serendipitous..... There is no 'wrong' Flottage!....

We learn so much, the nature of paper, making our own adhesives, thread and wax, folding sections and so forth. And, if I may, I would like to answer a question that I am often asked... That is why do I start with a multisectional case bound book... My thoughts are that so much is learnt with the Multisectional Case Bound book that when the student looks at simpler binding styles such as the single single section, the student is able to look at the single section (for example) understand how it is made by being able to reverse engineer, as it were. The concertina book and the other structures that beginners are often subject to become childs play.....

In addition, nothing is in kit form, I feel that all kits do is to teach the student how to assemble kits. My students learn how to measure, cut board by hand (how many beginners have a board chopper?), manipulate and manage the various materials to maximise use. We learn not just how but why, we follow, where we can, the Arts and Crafts ethos. Examples of the period back up the practical experience. For example.. To wean the student of the machine cut edge (if you want a book to look machine made, buy a machine made book) to appreciate the beauty of the uncut- untrimmed text block... To embrace the allure of the handmade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The teaching/learning is immersive, full on, and, as so many of the students have said in the past..... intensive (by intensive they mean that they are tired at the end of the day, indeed as I am after some 9 hours of tuition a day).

Along with the quarter cloth we make a full buckram flat back and slip case. The 2nd flat back reinforces what we have learnt with the addition of new aspects... A variation in sewing for example.

The slip case, again we use the students Flottage papers, with emphasis given to the fact that the book must be able to both enter and leave the slip case with ease but no wobble!

Having a mixed class of both beginners and those with experience is wonderful. The beginner is exposed to further aspects of bookbinding such as restoration, advanced structures, different materials - leather bindings etc etc. For those with experience, well, it never hurts have have the basics reinforced or re-remembered and, of course, there is always more than one way of doing things... even the humble slip case as a number of those with experience commented on!

Please note.... there are other books and other studios/binderies/learning centers 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 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/