Wednesday 11 April 2012

Artist's Book or Journal?

Don't you just love having friends who are 'on the same page' as you.  Friends with whom you can discuss your work, dilemmas with your work or ideas that are slowly unravelling.  I have such friends in Fiona Dempster and Barry Smith who very often say EXACTLY the right thing to me when I most need it.

I had been planning to make this book into an artist's book but realised that I didn't really want to invest an inordinate amount of time into bringing it to completion.  Barry (or was it Fiona) suggested that some books really beg for partnership in their creation.  I have made the book and put in a certain amount of content - certainly enough for someone to be inspired enough to take it to the next level with writing or imagery.  Someone else will the book from being a unique journal, to a completed art piece.

The concept of partnership in creation is a delightful one - and one I hadn't really considered.  I have made many unique journals, most of them quite large, all incorporating beautiful French or Italian papers and usually embossed, often boxed, sometimes leather bound and strapped.  I have been thinking about what Barry and Fiona said about a work you have made taking on another life and am intrigued to know, or see, what those journals that I have sold, now look like - what have their owners added to them.


















9 comments:

  1. Oh wow - what a wonderful resolution! I must give credit where due - it was Barry who started that conversation and idea; and look how well it worked out! What a team. I really love those top two photos - you could tumblr them!

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    1. Fiona, it may have been Barry but so often it is you imparting your wise words and coining delicious phrases for me like surface art ...... I can see a blog there perhaps!

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  2. Such a gorgeous book... I'd hate to add anything.

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    1. Jo, I have given so many hand made journals to friends over the years and they very often say it is too beautiful to work into. Such a shame really as I think Barry is right - these books become a collaborative work once the owner adds their marks to those of the creator.

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  3. Gorgeous images here of your book. And having been part of many collaborations in the book arts, I can definitely say that the experience has been inspiring!

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    1. Seth, have had a very quick dip into your blog and am looking forward to spending time there. Thank you for dropping by mine. As a virtual newby to blogging, it is lovely to see strangers drop in and look. Then through common interest, strangers becoming blogging friends.

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  5. i think it's up to you...but i like the idea of serendipity in the partnership, too.

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