Artist's Book - THE EYE

I constructed the book from cardboard and made a concertina form of book. I took apart a book I purchased some time ago with blank pages, and copied how they had constructed the front cover.

The most important thing in making this book, I decided, was to understate rather than overdo. This required me to rein myself in quite a bit.

I found a number of old books from Savers. Some of the pages were so old that they feel easily apart between my fingers. This created different tones of newsprint which I thought more appealing than white newsprint. I purchased also a few editions of a Childrens' encyclopedia from Savers, dating back to the early 1900's. I used a few copies of pictures from these. I was indirectly inspired by the look of the old books, the way they smelt, felt and looked. In fact as a result I am now purchasing old books on a regular basis just for the look of them! The covers are often interesting and unusual.

The box is covered also in newsprint and painted with Shellac. I had not known of the existence of Shellac before this project. Mixed with methalyted spirits and left overnight, it creates a rather interesting yellow mixture which gives the look of aging when applied. Shellac is often used for french polishing but is to be found in art shops for other uses as well.

During the first semester Naomi, a fellow classmate, had a journal which she tied with white ribbon. The way the journal looked tied with this made it look cared for and important. So I think I will look for something similar to tie the box down.

The collaging of the back of the book must still happen. I will complete this during the next week.

Artist's Book Part III

Artist's Book Part II

artist's book

interesting blog site

www.theuglyearring.com/2007/12/

artist's book

I have been working on my second idea for an artist's book which has turned out quite well. I have yet to begin the folder - seen here in my blog.

Originally I wanted to use the idea of dreams - in fact I started out that way - then I saw a picture in a book which was titled "the knowing eye of the swan". This set off a different set of ideas. The book is now about the eye. Instead of falling into the trap of using sayings about eyes like "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", I have made up my own "sayings" about the eye and illustrated it accordingly.

The book is in a concertina form and is placed in a box. I have made six pages (stiff cardboard) so far and might make a seventh - hopefully the book will fit in the box. I might have to tie it down.

I hope to also complete the other book about my great uncle but somehow I can't get any immediate ideas. I think once I start the ideas will come.

I found it interesting how ideas develop i.e. you start off with one idea and end up doing something completely different.

quotable quotes

"Just living is not enough.....One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." - Hans Christian Anderson



"Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk." - Doug Larson



"People of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because they don't know when to quit. Most men succeed because they are determined to." - George Allen.