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