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.
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.
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