Change of direction

I thought I’d got it all sorted, collagraph images, two prints to a page, working through the colour wheel and assembled in a stab bound book.

I did print the first plates. 

I like the grid structure and the size and style of lettering but the areas of flat colour are boring.

So I’ve had a rethink. I started with some of the grids and I’ve been playing with paint, palette knifes, bubble wrap, polystyrene... exploring textures, making tiny abstract paintings. 

While I was sorting out the paints I discovered a tube of Prussian blue, it works well with phthalo green and deep violet, so the colour scheme has changed.

And I haven’t a clue how I’m going to put it together!

More letters

I'm still experimenting with letters.

 I thought I might print the first alphabet so I've been experimenting by making simple collagraph blocks using acetate, silver card and different types of tape. Hope to hope to have time to print them later in the week.

Starting a new project

At the moment I'm experimenting, trying to work out a starting point for ALAW.

Playing with letter forms,

with structure,

and with text.

I like the textures that I'm generating using the computer but I'm concerned about copyright on some of the quotations that I originally thought of using. I think I'll leave the peace alphabet until later in the year and begin with a simpler, hand rendered one.

New Year’s Resolutions

I’m not good at keeping resolutions so last year I didn’t make any.

Instead I joined BAO edition 4 and started this blog to record the process. I thought this would give me the impetus to sustain (and if necessary fight) a project through to its conclusion. It did, and more. 

I’ve made books, received and exchanged books and had kind, encouraging comments from people I’d never have met any other way (thank you all).

This year I’m not going to make resolutions either. But I’ve joined ALAW (and if BOA moves onto edition 5 I hope to be part of that too). And I’ll definitely keep blogging.

Happy New Year to everyone out there and may it bring all that you wish for

An electronic sketchbook?

I’m not a sketchbook person.

Or rather, I’m not good at keeping a sketchbook going, although I do keep trying. I love the idea of them.  I collect all manner of shapes and types of them. But think I suffer from a strange book phobia. At first I’m frightened of starting the book, all that clean potential, in case I spoil it. Then if the first few pages are successful I get even worse - what if I spoil it now!

I tend to work best on bits of paper that I can spread out so it doesn’t matter what I do to the separate pieces. Then, when a project is finished, I keep one or two bits that I think I might find useful in future and bin the rest.  The problem with this approach is that there’s no record left at the end of how I got there, and ideas for future developments get lost.

Looking back over this year’s posts I’m finding things I’d forgotten I’d done and it’s jogging my memory about things I thought I’d like to revisit. I wasn’t sure about blogging when I started but I think it might be filling a gap in the way I work.

(Except, strangely enough for life drawing, for that I’m quite happy to work away in a sketchbook until the end then just start a new one.)

Finally Finished!

Well nearly.

I managed to solve the problem of how to assemble "Where the dead live" a couple of weeks ago.

Earlier this week spurred on by Sara's post on BAO, I finished two copies of "Dead" to parcel up and send to her, along with two copies of Rapunzel, hoping to meet the January deadline.

I have now finished assembling the rest of the edition. I can't quite believe it. These two books have occupied me on and off for a year now. I’ve learned a lot through the process and am looking forward to the next challenge.

 I am going to wait until the New Year to send out the rest of the books. I think they’ve more chance of not getting lost and arriving undamaged if I send them after the Christmas post (so more detailed images will have to wait)

Its behind you

Just a quick note to say that I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. A combination of work (which I won't go into) and Panto have meant that the book making has had to be slotted into the odd half hour here and there.(Although I have solved the problem of how to assemble 'Where the dead live' I have not photographed it yet. And poor old Rapunzel is still sitting here waiting to be wrapped and put into the post.)

There was particularly heavy family involvement in all aspects of Panto this year. My daughter and husband wrote it, my 'adopted' daughter and my husband co-directed it, she also produced it, and all three of them were in it. I painted sets and scenery like a mad woman. (This makes it seem like just a family affair, it wasn't. Its amazing how much work and how many people it take to put on something like this)

However it was the last night last night which means we all get our lives back until we forget the pain and volunteer for the next production.

In the meantime in the absence of book related images I give you "Wind in the Willows - The Panto"

 

 

One down, just one more to go

At last  'Rapunzel' is finally finished. Books editioned and ready for wrapping.

Nearly there?

Did I say 'Rapunzel' was ready to print?

3 more tweaks, two more dummies and the artwork is finally finished! Happily the printer likes this version and has given me sets of prints that match, whose colours I like and without any banding.

Not only that but I've almost finished another page for 'Where the dead live'. They only need the layers putting together, although burning the edges has made the whole house smell like I lit a bonfire in my workroom.

Now all I need to do is work out how to put this book together!

Earlier this month I received a great concertina book from Estelle in South Africa. I'll post pictures when she reveals all on Book Art Object

Time to catch up

Its half way through half term and I've had chance to put some sustained effort into my books.

I've almost finished two more sets of pages for 'Where the Dead Live'.  Joe's Cup is done, and I've only got one and a half of Alice Harrison to do.

This means just two more pages to go. For one of them I want to use the idea of seed pods and the blue commemorative plaques that we put up on buildings in the UK for interesting or famous people associated with them, but I haven't decided yet how to do this yet. Nor have I worked out how I'm going to put the pages together in the final structure.

Rapunzel is changing again. I originally thought it would be hand printed in black and white, responding to Beardsley and Arts and Crafts woodcuts/early book illustrations. When I decided to print digitally I tried to include the textures and colours of old paper and faded inks. These worked well on screen but either wouldn't output as I wanted (inkjet printer) or flaked when I folded the the print (laser printer). This week I started playing with the colours and altering the way the layers blend. It has resulted in a much more colourful image than I intended, and its more complicated than the original drawing, but I like it. However I still have to get the printer to give me at least ten uniform versions!)