I have been interested in altered books for a few years now.I even contemplated making one as part of a project at University, but I never got round to it.There is something magical about transforming the written word into a work of art.The making of such a book incorporates the use of collage, mixed media, paper, fabric and all the media I like working in.I started this book about 3 years ago.I did one page and then forgot all about it until I found it again recently.
In one day I managed to do 4 pages: the next day I did 2.Work on it was very sporadic and I hadn’t been going long before I realised that the print was quite small and was being overwhelmed by the images.It was important to me that some of the original text was retained.This could be a word or a sentence of my own choosing.So I went through the first few pages choosing the text.
I had absolutely no idea of how the page would look in advance, I responded in an instinctual way: the way the words spoke to me!After I had chosen my words, I then went through the book adding colour to pages (including those I hadn’t chosen the text of yet) and employed different media, like oil pastel, acrylics, pen and ink.I ripped, punched and clipped pages wherever I wanted with no thought to how the end product would look, I just knew that I didn’t want it to be ‘pretty’ or like a scrapbook.
These are the first pages I did...before I worked out what I was doing
Eureka!I have found it! Again.It was hidden in a box of papers in the cellar.I have turned the house upside down for it.Every time I find it and manage to do a couple of pages, it disappears again.This time, I actually started 2 more books last week.The first one, I soon started to realise wasn’t going to work as it wasn’t descriptive enough and the narrative was too ordinary.The next one may or may not have turned out alright, but the pages were very thin for a hardback book.
So I have my old ‘Five Gates of Hell’ back now.Already, I can see where I’ve gone wrong and ways of rectifying it.One of the mistakes on the first couple of pages is that each page is a different colour and texture.Although the narrative or the ‘story’ follows on logically (for me), the pages come across as separate entities.Plus, a lot of information is being crammed into a relatively small space.To rectify this, each page must consist of 2, giving a bigger page to work on.
I have been through the first dozen or so pages, marking down the sentences I am going to use.Another mistake is to stick these sentences onto the page, before the background is done.I have been writing in a journal which sentences I want to print out and which page they appear on.I am using different fonts in various sizes.This is yet another reason for preparing the background first.When this is down, the text can be printed in a complimentary colour and appropriate size.Very happy for now…but let’s see if it lasts or the book disappears yet again.
If you dig deep enough, you will always find a hidden reserve of strength (or words). These words were written 3 years ago and still hold true today;
Lynda realises that its grossly unfair on others for her to have ALL the gorgeousness, so she is compensating them by being a pratt.How’s she doing?
Lynda has been told recently to get over herself..she would, if she didn’t have to climb over SO much gorgeousness to do it! Give that girl a break!!!!
It’s jolly hard work being THIS gorgeous you know!And it gets harder and harder and harder……..
I’ll never be able to climb down from my pedestal now!Not in these shoes I won’t!Sorry….
Goddess Im afraid...get over it
OK, I concede, perhaps this works better without the picture: use your imagination.
I was watching a programme today which featured the Bowes Museum in County Durham. The exhibition was about Sugarcraft as a sculptural medium. I never realised that this craft was so old. Apparently it was featured in the household of Princesse de Lamballe, Marie Therese Louise de Savoie-Carignan (1749-92) who was a favourite of the famous Marie Antoinette. The collection featured moulds and tools which the curator used to demonstrate.
Basket moulds
The paste is pressed into the mould, then scraped round with a small brass tool and assembled. These were used for table decorations and even deserts.
Cucumber basket
I love miniatures: my daughter and I used to have a lot of fun making miniature food with Fimo.
Butcher meat
There has always been debate between Art and Craft and craft as an art form. The Tate was founded by industrialist Henry Tate who made his fortune as a Sugar Refiner.
More information about the exhibition can be foound here;
Can’t believe Woolworths will soon be going!I and millions and millions and zillions of other will miss it terribly.It was part of my childhood, well everyones childhood.As a child I would stand outside pointing to the toys in the window, whilst I waited for the bus.It was the scene of my first childhood public tantrum.Kicking and screaming I threw the doll with rubberised hair across the store as I lay threshing and sobbing in disgust on the floor!I wanted a doll with rooted hair, but Mum couldn’t afford it, so I had to settle for the rubber one.It was a hard lesson to learn (kicking and stropping doesn’t get you anywhere…) As it turned out, I grew to love that doll (Jennifer) I called her.A relative drew string underwear on her (most weird when you think about it: a bit of a strange relative).Jennifer was given to my younger sister as I grew older.The first thing she did was poke poor dolls eyes out.That doll really went through the mill, what with her faded biro penned stringed underwear and no eyes.One of Woolies rejects.Poor old Woolworths: part of everyone’s past and destined to not be part of the future.99 years old.Sure, it will be bought by someone or divided up, but it will never be Woolworths as we know it. Still, at least we’ve got our memories…and they’re precious NOT cheap.
My website ‘Echostains’ was born on11th August 2003. It was a personal project I began for my Visual Arts degree. It lasted for 2years and is about to be resurrected. It is ongoing. Digging around the cellar recently, we unearthed the old ‘Echostains’ website, which fortunately we had put on disc before it disappeared into the ether. The original concept explored visual communication through abstract art. Whilst Googling what was left of my Echostains links, I came across a band called ‘Echostain’! Now I don’t know when they started, but project name and I intend keeping it as it describes succinctly my work – that’s how I came up with it!
Here’s the blurb that accompanied it;
‘Echo Stains’ is a personal project that I completed in the second year of my Visual Arts BA Hons Degree. (1Ith August 2003). I have split the project into three parts because the process was ongoing and progressive and each part inevitably merged seamlessly into the other, culminating in the final piece – the large painting ‘Echo Stain’. The work is about communication – on all different levels.
Hi! Now I don’t know what sort of a Blog this will turn out to be yet. It will probably be a mixture of Art, Life, Ramblings, Witterings and Mutterings…with occasional Rantings. I had an Art Blog before and used to post most days, but it disappeared. It was more a collection of writings than a real internet Blog: a diary about my art: a blow by blow account. The intention was to publish it in a Blog. If I find it, I will put it on here, but for the time being I will take time out to survey all the wonderful snowy white scenery in my new ‘land’
Bored already with the white space. Think the black background looks much better. In effect I have eliminated the positive, accentuated the negative..now for Mr Inbetween.
Echostains Blog 