artist book

One simple way to use some of your gelatin prints as gifts is to make small notebooks. These can be very easy to make and super fun to give as a gift.

How to make small books – pamphlet stitch

1. Decide on a size. Size might be determined by the paper that you have available or the prints that you want to work with, or maybe the intended use.
2. Fold sheets in half. Crease with bone folder if desired.
3. Find 2 prints and cut the same size as your pages.
4. Place prints back to back and fold (this is the cover)
5. Make a sewing template – 3 evenly space holes
6. Pierce all folded pages – mark top, keep in order
7. Wax some embroidery thread by dragging it across bees wax candle several times. Or use already waxed thread.
8. Sew booklet together and tie knot in center.
9. Trim staggered edge with new fresh, sharp utility knife and several passes. This take patience and practice.
10. Sign, date and gift!!

Here’s a quick video summarizing the steps to make a pamphlet stitch book.

I hope you enjoy making some books for yourself and your friends.

If you are looking to use up some more of your prints in creative book making ways, then check out the Mixed Media Printmaker’s Retreat. It is an online class designed to support you in your art making habits.

Get support from an online class. Check out the current offerings on the printmaking workshop page.

I dug through some of my prints from this year and started making a mixed media book.

I like to work in a kind of layered spiral.

• I lay down a based coat
• Add some textured color
• Then some hand drawn marks
• A bit of collage
• More paint and around and around until it feels done

This book used two kids books as a the base for the pages.

And then I used a multi needle coptic stitch to put them together.

It took me a while to remember that stitch pattern. I am not sure it is truly correct, but it is working nicely to hold the boards together.

I love to add upside down text to the book. So I write on tea bags and glue them in upside down. I get to put my emotion into the piece and still keep it a secret.

Over the last few days I pulled out my box of rusty things, spritzed with with vinegar and water and set them on some paper. I am getting mixed results. It is a surprise each day when I uncover the stack.

Find time to play in your studio!!!

Get support from an online class. Check out the current offerings on the printmaking workshop page.

I just had a wonderful weekend at Maine Media Workshops in Rockport Maine.

I took a 2 day class with Todd Pattison on drum leaf binding.

The beauty of the drum leaf binding is that:

• quick and easy {relatively so :)}
• no sewing needed
• opens flat
• shows off a full page print

I was able to use gelatin prints that I had made on different paper weights.

The two prints on the top were made with a thicker paper and Akua inks, the one on the right edge was 90 lb. sulphite drawing paper and the one in the foreground was a mat photo paper.

I am off to the studio to make a few more books to really cement my learning into my muscles.

Using books as ART materials is a circular process for me.

First I am inspired by something about the book.

It could be inspired by the:

• cover design
• yellowed pages
• old notes or scribbles
• color, drawings or illustrations
• title or story
• kind of paper
• spine letters
• old pockets or labels

Then the next step is experimentation. How can I take what I love and use it in a new piece of art work? This can be the scary part, if I am really attached to the book part and afraid to wreck it or lose it. So I start with books and parts that I am not so attached to.

The experimentation can be:

• Cutting the book apart to use the covers
• Making a black out poem on a page
• Cutting and collaging pages
• painting pages
• folding pages into origami
• replicating pockets and labels
• Shredding pages into bits
• Photocopy and enlarge drawings
• Cutting words and making new meaning
• Anything that you could do with paper is possible

Then the final step is following my intuition. This would be different for every artist.

The things that inform my gut feelings and intuition are:

• the texture and feel of the paper
• the color and age of the page
• the strength of the material
• the intended purpose/viewer
• design elements/principles like texture, value and focus

It is a back and forth of building and covering, uncovering and revealing. I often don’t know where the process is going to take me.

I hope for a pleasing expression of materials that make the viewer want to get closer and interact with the piece.

I think layers of information can pull the viewer in. They want to know and understand. I think that will be different for everyone.

Join me – in the online class – Book as ART Materials – class starts soon. READ the details on the workshop pages and register today.