Work-In-Progress: The Sketchbook Project

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I started working on my Sketchbook Project at the end of last week and things have been going very well. I decided I wanted to experiment and keep things loose with this and so far it’s working wonderfully well.

I’ve chosen to do a mix of paper cuts and collage on alternating pages, exploring the theme of Thread and Surface (one of the ten you have to choose for the Project). The paper cut pages will overlay the collage pages and create an additional layer. I’ve been concentrating on the paper cut designs first and have been creating them free hand with an xacto knife. These are three of the seven I’ve completed so far.

Sketchbook project work-in-progress

Sketchbook Project

Sketchbook Project

I’ve been choosing a different shape to focus on for each one and just letting the design flow from there. It’s an addictive process to work with – creating designs from cutting paper – and all sorts of additional ideas have grown out of it.

I’ll share more as the project progresses. I can’t wait to get started on the collage pieces next.

Guest Workshop at Blim

In February I will be sharing my book altering techniques as a guest teacher at Blim. The workshop is a short introduction to making altered books, with a focus on paper folding.

To get an idea of some of the work you can make in this class, check out the set on Flickr of work made by students from previous workshops.

Altered book workshop - Student work

For further details and to register for the class, please visit the Blim website.

Altered Book Workshop at Blim
Date: Saturday, February 25th, 2012
Time: 2 to 5pm
Cost: $74.80 ($65 + tax + $2 service charge)
Location: 115 Pender St. E, Vancouver

Inspiration: Altered Book Artists Round Up Part 2

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The round up continues with more of artists working in altered books that I’ve come across over the years. Be sure to follow the links to their websites to learn more about each artist.

Guy Laramee

Guy Laramee carves stunningly detailed landscapes from stacks of books.

Isaac Salazar

Isaac Salazar uses math and an exacto knife to create intricate text-based designs.

Robert The

Robert The “lovingly vandalises books back to life” by precision cutting shapes such as guns, and insects from books.

Thomas Allen

Thomas Allen cuts and creases the covers of vintage paperbacks to create three-dimensional tableaux, which he then photographs.

Veronika Anita Teuber

Veronika Anita Teuber takes the books she has read and seals them in paint and beeswax.

Casey Curran

Casey Curran creates amazing kinetic sculpture from books, wire, wood, and rope.

There are more artists working in altered books beyond the ones I’ve listed here, but these are some of my favorites. If you’ve come across book-related art you’d like to share, please do leave a comment.

Inspiration: Altered Book Artists Round Up

As an artist working with books to create my work, I often get asked if there are many other artists who create altered books. The answer is, yes there are. I’ve made a point of seeking them out and even have a google alert for “altered books” to see what comes up daily.

Since I often get sent links to the work of artists I’m already familiar with, I thought I’d highlight some of them here. It’s amazing to see the variety of ideas and styles of work each artist has developed in working with old books as their medium.

Brian Dettmer

Brian Dettmer describes his work as “book autopsies” as he seals the book and carefully cuts away page by page to reveal interesting elements of the book.

Health and Longevity

Saturation Will Result

Su Blackwell

Su Blackwell uses books to create beautifully detailed diorama’s inspired by fairy tales and folklore.

Mike Stilkey

Mike Stilkey is a painter and illustrator who uses stacks of books as a canvas for his whimsical cast of characters.

Kylie Stillman

Kylie Stillman creates much of her work by cutting into stacks of books or paper, and focuses on imagery of birds and nature.

Cara Barer

Cara Barer is a photographer who documents the sculptural pieces she creates from soaking and manipulating discarded books.

More to come in part 2 of the altered book artist round up…

The Sketchbook Project 2012

I was very excited to finally receive my package from The Sketchbook Project yesterday. I can’t wait to get started on this because I have so many ideas.

If you’ve never heard of The Sketchbook Project, it’s a collaborative series of art books created by 5000 artists from around the world. Each person signs up to receive a blank sketchbook, which they fill with whatever they choose in any medium, and then send it back to the organizers. The collected works becomes a travelling show, and eventually a printed catalogue.

If you’re interested in participating, the deadline for sign-up is tomorrow.

Cape Roger Curtis, Bowen Island

Over the Christmas holidays we drove to the Cape Roger Curtis area of Bowen Island, and I was sad to see how much it’s changed. It was once a remote area of the island with a dense second growth forest that could only be navigated through on foot. Now visitors can drive on a paved road through the area and count the plots of land marked for future houses.

Lone Arbutus Tree

Arbutus Tree Spiral

Cape Roger Curtis

These photos were taken near the lighthouse, which on previous visits took about an hour or so to hike in to see. I suppose it was too much to hope that this part of the island would be left as it was and not end up as yet another subdivision.

One View, Two Days

A break in the rain with sun on the North Shore.

Twilight walk along the Causeway on Bowen Island

Boris and I spent a week on Bowen Island over the Christmas holidays, as we’ve done for the past few years. It was a very rainy Christmas but I still managed to get out for a walk each day. This is the same view of the North Shore mountains taken about twenty-four hours apart. It’s one of my favorite views on Bowen.

Transforming The Book at Place des Arts

2012 begins with a show of my altered books at Place des Arts in Coquitlam, called Transforming The Book.

Please join me for the opening reception this Thursday January 5th, from 7 to 9pm. As part of the evening’s events I will be giving a short artist talk about my work in the Atrium at 7:30pm. Public speaking isn’t my favorite thing to do, so your moral support would be greatly appreciated.

Also opening on January 5th at Place des Arts, Expansions by Karin Vengshoel, and When Imagination Meets Clay… by Kwai Sang Wong.

Directions to Place des Arts:
Drivers can use exit 40B on Highway #1 then proceed east on Brunette Avenue.

Transit users can get to Place des Arts by taking bus 153 or 156 from Braid Skytrain Station or bus 157 from Lougheed Town Centre.

Opening Reception: January 5th, 7pm to 9pm
Dates: January 5th to January 28th, 2012
Location: Place des Arts
Address: 1120 Brunette Avenue (Google Maps Link), Coquitlam BC V3K 1G2

2011: A Year End Review in Twelve Photos

One photo chosen from each month of 2011 – excluding ones of artwork. Doing this made me realise how little I’ve been using Flickr this year, and how much I use Instagram. I’ve also come to rely on my iPhone as a primary camera rather than my DSLR.

Walking along Robson Street with Boris.

Pretty in Pink

Yuuki napping

Tiny bird skull on a half shell

Snuggle fish

Day 2: A moment in the sun

Floating into the sky

Pender Island - Brooks Point Park

Crow in silhouette

Mushroom

Underneath the plum tree

Awaken

It was a year filled with lovely moments, which these photos only hint at.

Here’s to a good year in 2012!