As part of my creative exploration I joined an artist book-making one-day course with Carolyn Trant at the weekend. Carolyn has her hand-printed artists' books in private and university collections worldwide and in public collections in the UK at the National Library (V&A) and the British Library. A couple of examples are shown here of her skill and versatility in this exciting medium. A collaboration with poet, Judith Kazantzis called Garden of Earthly Delights which is in a current exhibition in Maine, USA and my favourite Beauty and the Beast which incorporates little drawers and shelves with a covering made of old leather biking jackets -bringing to life our idea of what a 'book' can be. As an avid reader of fiction I find this art form quite fascinating.
There was a strong temptation to ooh and arrgh over Carolyn's work knowing it was impossible to emulate but thereby avoiding getting down to some creative work oneself. However, she gently encouraged us to get stuck in and try something. Folding, scoring, cutting, refolding varying qualities and thicknesses of paper. Thinking through concepts in design and shape of covers including ideas for book covers, (I loved a book in which Carolyn had chopped up bits of her old garden fence and used it as the cover of a handprinted poem), wool, paper, leather. We worked through a few ideas and ended up with many more inspired by books with examples from book artists like Nina Judin. I can't wait to go on the next on-day course to explore some more ideas. For source material to make your own books visit Falkiners in Southampton Row, London and on their blog is great little video about making a simple notebook.This blog doesn't seem to be getting updated but the video is still on there. For inspiration for book art projects the next Artist's Book Fair will be BABE held at the Arnolfini in Bristol and taking place 30th April and 1st May 2011 - looks like a great day to send the bank holiday weekend.
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