ARTISTS TALKING

# 6 [10 December 2011]

The book worked quite well for the workshop today. On the whole most people managed easily to get the folding right but I was suprised that the number of pages needed varied for a few people. This doesn't make sense to me as the amount of pages is determind by the the folding process and this is copied exactly from the template. But they all succeeded in making atleast one tree book each. The variations of books was interesting with different coloured/ patterned pages or covers being created. And then as an extension/alternative activity a few Christmas baubles where made.

There was no children at the workshop. I had made Christmas bauble templates because I didn't think they would manage the tree books, anyway after today I'm pretty sure they couldn't and the Arena artists agreed. Can't think of an easier way to make the folding stand bit on the bottom but I think that's the bit that really makes the book, so I'll have another think. I think the kids would like to make the tree book rather than the bauble book if I could just think of how to make an easier base!

# 5 [9 December 2011]

I made a new book for an Artist book Fair at the Bluecoat two months ago. I wanted something that could easily be re-created and would obviously be the same without to many complicated designs. I also wanted to use materials I already had or could easily get my hands on. Anyway I ended up with 'Back to your Roots' books which are very easy to re-produce and can be made in multiples by making many of the same parts at once.

Anyway after selling them all at the bookfair I decided that as they were so popular I could develop them as a workshop activity. The first test run is tomorrow at Arena studio and Galleries. I'm hoping they'll understand what I've done. I think it's fairly straight forward but it took some working out as what I do myself isn't always the logical way of working and I had to make templates and figure out how best to use them, how best to instruct and what to use instead of UHU glue.

I like everything the same, or with only slight variations, so it'll be interesting to see what others will do with the books. I've got various materials to work with, they could use any kind of paper for the book pages and the outer cover so long as they use cardboard first. They could write a story or poem, or what I thought might go down well would be to use it as a greetings card for Christmas with a message on the back page.

I think everything is in place now, I'll let you know how tomorrow goes.

# 4 [7 May 2011]

It's so long since I've written in this blog. I haven't had time to make books again until I had time off work for Easter.

The 'Home from Home' exhibition was very impressive. I feel very honoured to be part of it. The curator, Louise Atkinson did a fantasic job and the show seems to have been very well recieved.

This week I've been making notebooks/sketchbooks for a table tomorrow at the New Ferry Butterfly Park. http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/614513

If you want to see them take a look at my 'day to day life blog' http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/648002

# 3 [12 January 2011]

I submitted my book into a call out from 'Artists Book Collective' for a show that is in conjunction with the Leeds International Artist Book Fair. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=173220386050059

I have just recieved an email to say that they'd love to include my work. I'm so pleased, they plan to create an interactive installation responding to the theme of Home (the domestic, memory, family, nostalgia and space) and my work is going to be included in it, yay. It'll be on from 11th March until 18th March.

# 2 [10 January 2011]

I have been working on a project based on my family. I have recycled an old project about my family tree to make a family album. http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/569717 

I thought it would take a couple of weeks to complete but I have almost finished it already, in two days. Everything was already there for me though and I had it planned out in my head, so I suppose that's why.

Statement

Lots of old photographs have been kept by my family over the years and when I was a child I used to sit for hours looking through the albums, imagining what the characters in the photographs were like. I was told stories that were past down the generations and they brought the family members to life for me.
 
I wanted to record the elements of the stories and memories I hold on to, the snippets of information I can still remember in the form of a personal album. I'm not sure now what is accurate and what I have elaborated on and imagined, but that doesn't really interest me, it's about what the photogarphs mean to me, the connection I felt to my ancestors and how much pleasure and fulfilment I got spending time with my Granny and Mum when they retold family stories.

# 1 [8 January 2011]

I often talk about book making/altering projects in my blogs and as my book making is often very seperate to my installation work I thought I should keep a blog just for book projects. (If you haven't noticed already I like things ordered and I find life easier if I seperate things into different categories, not just my artwork but everything I do)

I became involved fairly recently in book art when I was in my second year of my degree course. I had chosen print as my elective subject and it was my print tutor who introduced us to book art. We started by being shown very simple but effective methods of bookmaking and later developed our skills to hardback book binding. Book making opened up a new world to me,  it's a very personal art for me which allows me to make books for myself, well they're not all for myself. I really regret selling early books that I made, although they probably weren't that well made I spent so long on them I couldn't reproduce them for myself.

My tutor also introduced us to book fairs which we took part on a few occasions as a group, which was very good practice before going it alone. (Although, I actually haven't done that yet, I go with my friend Carol). And my tutor also took us on a book project trip to Utah, which was a fantastic experience.

http://www.a-n.co.uk/degrees_unedited/projects/sin...

The book can be a different way to capture art, allowing the viewer to look at the art in a differently. And I often use this as to my advantage. My installation work is often tactile and I try to make my bookwork the same. I don't think books always need text or even pictures, often my books have become objects that are viewed sculpturally.