e x 13 complete

Sometimes projects take on their own momentum .... this was one of them.  When the idea was conceived I think I had quite different ideas in mind for what each envelope could/would contain.  I wrote none of this down which was remiss and I could recall none of those ideas when I tried. 

As the time came close for completion, I decided I just had to start the work and let come what may.  As I began gathering bits and pieces around the studio, papers, small copper etching plates, embossings and so forth a storyline began to emerge and once I was into the first few envelopes, the creative energy just seemed to take over.  In the end the thoughts all came rather quickly and spontaneously.

I think I will title my project  'Searching'  - a very loose title which I think encapsulates the random thoughts I had along the way, mapping part of that search knowing inside that in fact I need no longer look.  That I belong just where I am.

the thirteen envelopes

first - etching seen in last post

second - etchings, writing drawings

second - envelope and internal details

third envelope - etching, embossing and markmaking

fourth envelope - etching, embossing and marks

fifth envelope - etching, embossing and marks

details of envelope six  - embossings on leather, stained and marked papers

luminous graphite markings

seventh - etching on rusted paper, scratchings on envelope

envelope eight - leather embossing and rusted detail with marks

envelope nine - sewn together, suggestions of something inbetween layers

detail of envelope nine

envelope ten - sewn envelope, embossing and etching, markmaking

detail of envelope ten 

envelope eleven is a bound folio - thread supplied by generous Jennifer

envelope eleven - embossings on sublime fine paper, and etchings, marks

more details of envelope eleven

eleven - details

envelope twelve - etching, drawings, marks and scratchings on transparent paper

details of envelope twelve

details - envelope twelve

the twelfth  envelope has two etchings on its flap

thirteenth envelope - etchings on envelope and one page, staining, marks and writing drawings

details of envelope seven - (the search is over)

I smile often when I look back over the collaborative work Fiona and I have made in the latter part of this year.  I think I like it as much as any of the work I have ever done.  I am not sure why that is but I suggest it is something to do with such a lovely energy between us, the encouragement we give each other and the profound respect and liking we have for each other's work. It is more than this I am sure .... Fiona brings out the quieter side of my creativity I think, or at least the timing of this collaboration with the fact that I am in a happy place in my life, seems to make my work my thoughtful and quieter.

I count myself fortunate indeed :-)

two bundles meet .....

Our two bundles met on Wednesday.  Fiona and I spent such a lovely couple of hours together each opening and enjoying the surprise of each others' envelopes.  The sense of anticipation was enormous actually and surprised us both and yet we both lingered over the contents spending time looking on both sides, peeking back into the envelopes to see if more treasures were within.  When I think upon it now, I think there is often a wonderful sense of anticipation when I receive 'snail mail' now ..... when the envelope is not a bill but something handwritten and unexpected.  The sense of wonder was very evident - both of us letting out exclamations of delight. 

It was a strange experience really as we had both worked with the same envelopes and hence were very familiar with them - yet inside the interpretations we had made were quite different.  Both interpretations felt very like 'us' which was not at all surprising.  I found that the work we had done echoed many of the thoughts we have been having during the year - visual thoughts.  Fiona actually used her envelopes in a manner that mapped her time away with Barry in New Zealand.  To me they expressed a quiet gentleness, a sense of peaceful exploration.  In her  beautiful artistic manner nothing was overdone.  Just simply exquisite.

Fiona will show you the details of her work in a post soon, as will I.  We both decided to post on our twin bundles together so I imagine much of what we have said will be similar too.

bundled - not yet boxed ....

Envelopes - tick.  Such a good feeling to be finished. I am not sharing much of the design yet as Fiona's and my books have yet to meet.  Here is a peek of the bundle though .....

We are still going to house these in some manner - at this point all we know is they will be the same.  The same envelopes and packaging, our own thoughts however have interpreted this project.

finding the storyline .....

Although I felt a little like 'the doggy in the window' over the weekend at the Maleny Celebration of Books, I did find it worth while being there - especially on the Saturday when more people were out and about.  I sat outside Maleny Additions who were featuring my artist's books and journals.  The display was beautiful and I was delighted by many comments. Because most of my books in the shop were not opened up, only the covers were visible.  Even so, they still were of interest to a number of visitors which was pleasing.  It was good to be there speaking with passersby about the book as a vehicle for artists' work.  Most of the people with whom I spoke were not artists but were very interested in learning how to make journals, books, for their own purposes ... photography, design portfolios, poetry etc.  I had my new mini moo cards ready to hand out with my blog and email details so I hope to hear from some of those who professed interest.

Sheila and Diedre who own the shop were in and out, crossing over as they attended various talks and also the Big Book Club.  Many smaller book groups held discussions and then they all came together as one huge book group.  Apparently this and the talks were very, very interesting.  I am sorry I missed out and next year will be way more interested in being in attendance that sitting on the street talking about artist's books.  I do think the exposure was wonderful, not just for me but for sharing an understanding with the public about what makes an artist's book - and the potential one can reach when you are able to create a book from scratch.

In between people coming to chat, I sat there working on my latest little book and seeing if it could tell me what it wanted to say. I found a story line that suits me beautifully.  It is about the journey I have taken over the last six years, looking for and finding my home.  Somewhere to belong.  There are some images below, my favourite is the one of the hill with my 'home' on the top.  This is the last page of the story.  I am actually contemplating writing in this book seeing it is a book to keep.  I am not yet sure if I will write around the edges of the bordering white paper or if I will scratch my writing onto the transparent paper. Uncertain about being that brave - words seem so ...... revealing!  I usually like my work to be more enigmatic. 

black to white .....

Sometimes when in the studio, you just have to laugh out loud. Creative work can sometimes have a completely different result from the one you had in mind.  Over the last couple of days I have been preparing an artist's book - not complete it,  but have it there over the weekend in Maleny to show passersby the processes involved in putting together an artist's book.

I had in mind to do a black book as I had these yummy 'bits' of happenstance into which I thought I would work.  Keep it all black and white, black covers, black ink overlaying the images - dictating what they should be, or at least suggesting to the viewer a storyline.

The more I prepared this book, the more obvious it was to me that in fact it is a white book and that I would be using white ink, graphite and transparent paper into which I could scratch.  Quite a gentle book in fact.  It will be interesting to see if it stays that way!  Once again it is about my sense of place, or belonging.  I seem to have that in the forefront of many of my ideas of late and I think it is because I am now so happily settled in this new home and have been carving out of it a sense of belonging ........  

This will be familiar to those who saw my post on our land and our STEEP stairs and tracks!

Have not really decided on a direction for these images .... hope to be inspired tomorrow.

landscape meditations .....

I am a great fan of the unbound book and employ it very often in my making.  I would go so far as to say it is my 'thing' - leaving a story unbound so that it can be rearranged to say something else.  Much of my past work has focussed on our ability to say, to interpret and reinterpret work.  Story telling is all the more exciting when the viewer is able to rearrange some of the visual ideas to show a different thought sequence. Or so I think.  Maybe it is that I don't like to reveal my cards, that I like to be able to present things in different lights ..... who knows what the basis is for this proclivity, I just like it this way! I have a propensity for ambiguity.  Let's leave it at that.

This book has been over to New York in an exhibition this year - not a book exhibition, one more to do with paintings.  Many people stopped at the booth Galleria Bacchus ran in this event and asked about the couple of books I had in their exhibition.  Both were unbound and for those unfamiliar with book based artworks, the concept was quite challenging.  Of course when you are at an Artist's Book exhibition you imagine people who attend have a solid understanding of the concept.

The front cover of this book uses one of my 'sugar lift' prints - very abstract.  This box is not a Solander box, as it only has sides from its base and the lid closes over flatly and ties.  I have used leather for the spine.

The box has been partitioned into two, but when open the cover can be used to hold one of the etchings and so three elements are visible simultaneously.  I love watching as people view the book and shuffle the etchings around, leaving the book reading in a way that is visually pleasing to them.

Each of the partitions houses 6 or 7 etchings and/or embossings printed on Arches Vellum.  The title of this book is 'Landscape Meditations'.

I have another of these book boxes prepared this time with three partitions.  Hopefully that is not over doing it - will try and keep the images simple to there is no visual overload!  As yet I have not played around with ideas but imagine they will be in the same vein as these above, and there may even be some overlap.