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.

Link to site on Artists books

http://artistsbooks.slq.qld.gov.au/home/find_artists_books

Artist Book

As part of our Digital Studio subject at NMIT we are required to make a book. This will be an exciting exercise. I would like to make two books. The first will be using an old leather folder/book cover I found in an Op shop in Holland. Here are a few photos of the cover and the key which I will include in the book.

The book contents will appear as though from the 1940's - old letters, an old key. I had a great Uncle (my grandmother's brother) who disappeared somewhere in the U.S.A. It was assumed that because of his drinking problem, he had died destitute and alone. However for the purposes of the book I am re-creating another life for him. This book will have been owned by him and will contain details of his life. I will to some extent romanticize his life story. The contents will consist of "old" letters using copies of letters I have in a family file and perhaps other items which will indicate what he was doing with his life.

The second book I will do in a more painterly fashion about dreams. I will use dreams either of family members and illustrate them. I am still thinking of a good way to present the book i.e. what format of book to use.

Frank Auerbach

http://http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mylearning.org/learning/20th-century-artists-in-the-graves-art-gallery/Frank%2520Auerbachsam_9_med.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mylearning.org/jpage.asp%3Fjpageid%3D727%26journeyid%3D202&h=271&w=243&sz=14&hl=en&start=7&um=1&tbnid=k44XmavQWbV3cM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=101&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfrank%2Bauerbach%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den

Photograph of Frances Landsberg

Here is a photo of my mother at age 26. I managed to do a bit of the background on photoshop but Dominique (my daughter) couldn't bear my slowness so she took over and completed the rest. The original photo is black and white so we went wild filling in all the other colours. I will try some more versions at another time.

My mother turns 90 in September.

Who owns this mansion?

Imagine who would live in such opulence. An American Billionaire? A Saudi Prince? Louis XIV of France? Scroll down for the answer;

The President of Zimbabwe

Robert Mugabe.

A Maniac, mass-murderer whose people are starving while he siphons millions into his own pockets and the world stands by and watches, including closet neighbour South Africa

Movie stars of the 1920s - Clara Bow and Loretta Young

1925 Lady in Hat

flapper photo

I think this is a lovely photo. I would like to set my book in this era - just before the second world war. I will search the web for a few more.

Paul Wright

Recently watched a T.V. programme - Star Potraits with Rolf Harris. One of the artists - Paul Wright - painted really well - very much like Lucien Freud. He can be viewed on http://www.modernartistsgallery.com/. They represent a number of artists - go to "artists" and they are listed alphabetically.

He has a very immediate, direct style - using impasto paint (which I love). There were two other artists on the show. One of them was only 20. She uses a computer grid, photographs the sitter and then transfers the image to a grided canvas. Her style was precise and detailed. The result is very good but the paint is applied to thinly for my liking. However what she did do which I liked was to use beading sewed to the canvas. Such a good idea. She uses words as part of the composition. So although very precise she is still quite creative.

The other artist did the potrait in watercolour. Also very well done.

botanical paintings

These are the 12 paintings I did for the student exhibition at NMIT.

justine

I am busy doing a potrait of justine, my niece. I am waiting for her to come by so I can fix her mouth as it is not quite right yet. I have bought some coloured papers from a scrapbooking shop which I am going to stick onto the clothing area to make a sort of mixed media painting.

Frieda Khalo still life

This is a painting I did some months ago before leaving Holland. I gave it to my sister, Annabel and she has it hanging in her bedroom in South Africa.

Mirka Mora

During the two week break from NMIT I went to the William Mora Gallery. I am doing a powerpoint presentation on three Melbourne artists. I needed to ask them a question. I was sitting waiting for the receptionist to finish her phone call when Mirka walked in. At first I was a bit stunned because I hadn't expected to see her at all. I had been reading about her and collecting information so it was quite something to actually see her in the flesh. I approached her and mentioned that I was doing a small presentation and she said "oh, I am so honoured!". This really took me by surprise - Mirka Mora is honoured that little-old-me is doing a presentation on her?!

We chatted for a while but I can't remember most of what she said because my brain was saying "You are talking to Mirka Mora" over and over again. So I guess I was a little bit star-struck.

I asked her to sign the folder of an old exhibition for Tiara (another student in my class).

She is really just the most charming person.

Botanical Gardens

Yesterday our visual arts group went to Botanical Gardens to sketch. I took a few photos which I will use to make more sketches. Here are two of he photos I took. I really like the big trees. They look so statuesque/monumental. Whilst in the bark two Dutch people asked me to take a photo of them sitting on a bench. I told them (in Dutch) that I had lived in Holland for 11 years. They seemed quite disinterested!

Still life painting, losing weight and other comments

I was pleased to see two comments on my site! Wow that really creates a connection with the outside world.

I was looking at the top painting of the sunflower, statuette still life and realised that I had not created enough contrast between light and dark. A mistake I quite often make. I think over the easter week holiday I will correct that. I will post two more paintings once I can borrow Dominique's camera.

I am still finishing the photomontage painting John gave us to do. He is not going to take us for painting as they have changed the timetable around.

I have decided to record my weight loss here every week. It has been a big struggle since I arrived in Australia in October 2007, to lose weight. I have kept eating through all the stress. All the girls in my family have decided (four weeks ago) to set up a "No Fat Club". So far we are doing well. I have lost 4.l kgs. Just another 20 odd kilos to go! This year is all about self-improvement.

Here are three paintings I did last year. For quite some time I have been painting in a very smooth way, blending etc. I am trying to find a more expressive way of painting using thicker paint. Now I realise I would like to use paint both thickly and thinly. I hope this year to make a good deal of progress.

Life Drawing Class

I was really pleased with my drawings I did in the life drawing class yesterday.
I attend an untutored life drawing class given by Emmy Mavroidis (Nyora Studio Gallery). The model was really involved and considers his posing "performance art". I felt a connection with him in that he exuded a certain "drama" which I think has come through in my drawing. I will attempt to put this on my blog site. Here goes.....

The Dove

The Dove (now named Jenny) is in fact a Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis) also known as the Spotted Turtle Dove. It is common and widespread. They build a stick nest in a tree and lay two white, glossy eggs. Well Jenny managed only one. In southern Australia they breed mostly from September to January.

Mirka Mora Book

Hi George (somewhere out there - in cyberspace),

I left a book, belonging to Tiara, in the scanner!! Did you find it??

Joanne

painting my mirka mora

Dove

The dove is still looking after her egg. I tried to take a photo but it just wasn't clear enough through all the branches and leaves. I still need to get my brother Greg to take a good photo.

Dove on her nest

Two days ago I looked out of my bedroom window and saw in the branches a small nest with a little white egg. A little later I checked again and the mother dove was sitting on her egg. She has been there ever since keeping the egg warm.

Last night it was really windy and rainy and I thought the nest would never be able to withstand all that movement. This morning all is well and she is still sitting there.

I will try and find out exactly what type of bird it is. Greg, my brother, is coming over later to take a photo so I can post it here.

joanne opens a blog page