photographic flattery .....

This was the very first artist's book I made as long ago as 1998.  It is not well made, but whilst sorting the studio today I came across it and decided to take some photographs.  Truth is, the photographs flatter the book which is poorly made and was never really completed. I called it 'Forest Floor' and it is made from a number of different papers including transparent paper - all rusted.  Yes, even back then I was rusting papers.

I am way more delighted with the photographs than the book itself and in light of my last post, think I must have been interested in the same forms and textures as Richard Serra way back!  I have sourced some very large sheets of rusted metal and hope one day to make a book which can sit outside amongst the trees .....

the dance continues with starry starry night .....

Fiona and I met this morning to exchange the books we had been working into the last couple of weeks. The theme is Starry Starry Night and I am delighted with the marks and additions Fiona has made to my book.  Mine is quite a large book and I focussed primarily on large star filled skies - that sense of the enormity of our universe.  Fiona's book started with the sense of starburst and even though I took it in a different direction, that sense still remains prominent.

Now we both have our pages back and need to finish our own work before binding the books ready for their bookmeet next week.  Each stage of this is a challenge I must say.  Here are some of the images so far ....... 

Fiona's addition of tiny cutouts and metallic bits that add lustre

Fiona giving specificity to my two page starscape

a closer look

one of my transparent pages - Fiona has worked a constellation of stars into it

I love the addition of these subtle marks

same marks carried through onto the edge of one of my transparencies

not sure how I will tie in this page to the back of the previous page!

these marks of Fiona's are imprinted/embossed

part of my mica sky with another of the constellations.

I don't want to talk too much about the book as yet as I will save that for next week once we have completed the project.  In amongst our get togethers we have planned our next three collaborations - how thrilling is that :-)

As I said, I am delighted and a little challenged about the work ahead in this book.  Unfortunately, it is not going to be an easy book to photograph.  Fiona seems pleased with the direction I took her work and is now working out her next steps too.  This is the fun part.  Waiting until next week to see how we have each pulled the books together.  

ps:  whilst taking this set of photographs, I found out my new little Lumix TZ30 takes square photographs.  How cool is that!

rust and standing stones .....

It is December and the silly season is upon us ... and once again I am completely disorganised.  At present I would rather be working in the studio but have been so weary from hard work on the land, that I drag my feet a little there too. I think for the next month at least I will be happy to post once a week.

It was wonderful having Fiona as my blogging initiator - but boy, what an act to follow.  I think I have only just worked out that it is okay if I don't get round to posting as often as she and Barry do ....... Maybe once we have finished clearing our land and are in the 'maintenance only' stage of living here, I will spend more time in the studio and have more of interest to show and tell.

I wanted to make some more of my 'standing stones' stories.  There are a couple in the shop over in Maleny but I haven't had any around at home to play with.   I cut and folded these yesterday and now that they are up and standing, I can see what else they need.  Some need stitching, some need piercing and so on.  It will happen over the next few weeks but this week and next I really must concentrate on Fiona's and my next collaborative piece - our thirteen envelopes.  We gave ourselves till before Christmas and that is approaching at a rate of knots.  I really wish I had worked on mine when we made the envelopes together as my inspiration was running high.  I am just not sure where I tucked it.

Fiona and I have a play day at the end of this week and we were going to head to Brisbane to see a couple of exhibitions.  We are however, going to spend the day making a solid start on our project.  I am sure that once we start, the ideas will return.  At least I hope so.

Here below are some of the photos I took of the second state of some of my 'standing stories' - still work to be done but I am liking the way the rusted papers work in with them.  I want to print some black and white ones next.

 

rust and remnants .....

I spent most of Monday in the studio rusting large sheets of paper to print on and make some more Standing Stories.  Once the papers have gone through their various solutions, they dry on pieces of butchers paper or packing paper which is thicker has has a shiny smooth finish.

The marks left behind on the paper backings are often more gorgeous than the rusted papers themselves though I did manage to get some lovely results.  I have a couple of days ahead in the studio and I will start using the large sheets.  It will be fun as mostly I am used to rusting A3 size or smaller.  These sheets are A1 and A2 size and I think the rusting will add interest to some of my 'stories'.  I have not yet decided whether to leave them as they are or use layers of ink wash to add interest and tone down the rusty palette.  I find rusting is often my starting point - not the end point.

The first five images below are of the remnants and the remaining photos are snippets of the full sheets. I hope I don't mess them up tomorrow once I start working with them as they are quite beautiful already with the happenstance of the rusting process.

Oh - and I decided to keep the back papers for wrapping paper!  There are many more of them than those I photographed. Really rather exquisite.

rust lust - next step

 Just a quick peek at what has happened with the rusting I did a couple of days ago.  It has dried with some lovely rich colour and some gorgeous patterns ready to be worked.  The first couple of photos are of fairly large sheets - 55cms x 19cms.  The folded sheets are half the width and then folded, forming the beginnings of a lovely book shape.  Looking forward to working into them soon.

rust lust ....

I have been having a play with rust in the studio ...... now I have to be patient and see what the result will be.  Usually I would wash my papers, but I am going to leave that for the moment and see what happens in the morning.

Some lovely things are happening here but I doubt they will dry the same way.  It is always a thrill to see what happens overnight.

Once the papers are dry the decisions must be made as to how to work the paper, what shall be made from it and so forth.  I imagine books ........... but what to make of them will have to wait.  Fun.