Category: subject Year 2

This project, under all the circumstances faces with moving home, lack of Equipment and corona virus this project has been challenging. My focus of this project moved to the technique and I found learning directly form book resources and by watching other people, although I have found the lack of face to face help challenging, for example if I had queries regarding my work I would have gone directly to tom at uni and seek his advice. Instead I have opted to email and find the solutions myself through experimentation, which has also been an interesting aspect to this project because as a result of having to do this I have become a lot more resilient to failure.

Overall I have loved exploring this project and have discovered aspect of the book binding community that i probably would have never have found. I am also pleased with the work itself and feel my final outcome is a rewarding way to finishing a project that I had to self teach.

Moving Forward from this project and second year, going into my third year I am exited that I have now found something I am passionate about and enjoy. i am going into third year with a plan of widening my knowledge and skill set regarding book making and I am keen to progress the professional side, maybe advancing this with the help of the entrepreneurial team at uni.  i am considering ways of progressing my skills weather it be during uni or considering projects, workshops, work experience and apprenticeship so that i become a competent maker and have ambitions for the future.

I chose to pre record my project as a way of making my project flow and allow me to have the content to the presentation required to explain the project in more depth.

link to powerpoint presentation

I’ve built up a collection of three books that explore my interests in the book making process. the humble handmade book chapters 1: the process, chapter 2: the inspiration, chapter 3 the outcome.

If I were at uni I would have made the collection of books into one hand sewn and printed book using the letter press. I have enjoyed expressing myself through writing, I don’t get to do this very often.  have not managed to complete this book to the standard I wanted but the plan for this book if I had the resources is to print the pages of the book using the letter press onto handmade paper, bound into a hardback book with an embossed cover.

The Humble Handmade Book writing for books

The humble book content

Designer bookbinders  contemporary book arts is an organisation dedicated to bookbinding. its website Designerbookbinders.com

The society evolved from The Hampstead Guild of Scribes and Bookbinders which was founded in 1951. Its name was changed in 1955 to The Guild of Contemporary Bookbinders.

this is a good resource for me to find inspiration as its fellow members are showcased on the website. the company exhibit at london craft week as well as collect.

bookbinder

I have been following the work of Khan on instagram and have used many of her techniques she has shared through her tutorials.

Her work is inspired by her travels to india and pakistan’s as well as nature, she uses traditional had bound techniques. Website lotusblubookart.com

Is a bookbinder from Finland. Her website Paperiaarre.com is where she showcases her work alongside her shop.

fine binding by Kaija Rantakari, 2009

Yann Andréa Steiner by Marguerite Duras

Her work has also featured in competitions around the world. her love of mixed media, book binding and science is really identifiable in her work. she also creates artist books and poetry.

fine binding by Kaija Rantakari, 2006

Pieni lintukirja

 

From his website owlbarnstudios.com

he has won a multitude of competitions, as well as runs courses and lectures around the world.

“Pyramus And Thisbe”

Winner of the first prize, the Sir Paul Getty Award, in the DB International Competition, 2013. Winning binding was acquired by the Bodleian Library in Oxford.

“Water”

One of the Distinguished Winners in the DB International Competition 2009

His work focuses on leather work and inlays

 

This competition runs most years and was set up by the late Elizabeth Soutar and is run by the national library of Scotland, The winner announced at National Library’s George IV Bridge building in Edinburgh. The theme this year is the 1980s. Although I won’t be entering this competition it is nice to get inspiration from other binders around the UK and EU.

“the competition aims to encourage the practice and development of both creative and craft binding skills which display individual expression and originality. Judges look for a best creative binding and a best craft binding. Each category carries two prizes — a main prize and a student prize.” website link here

Having a look through the 2018 winners.. with the theme of Muriel Spark inspired by the library’s exhibition collection.

One of the winners for this competition is Eduardo Giménez,

this work above taken from Herringbonebinary.com won another competition at the 2009 Designer bookbinders international competition.

 

I have been exploring what opportunities and options that are available for me to be able to further my education and skills after uni as a book binder, As a craft trade that preserves and uses a traditional skill I feel I have a real interest in keeping book binding alive and using and by furthering my learning and knowledge I can really master this skill. I came across a few workshops, bursaries, diplomas and apprenticeships that I should be considering as I become more serious about this craft and as a Maker.

The Stationers’ Company provides charity grants for craftsmen who work within the paper, print, publishing, packaging, office products, newspaper, broadcasting and online media industries. as well as providing post graduate bursary schemes for Ma students designed to further their knowledge and bring them into the company.

They also provide scholarship fund provides a smaller and more flexible prize aiding the university student in their graduation and studies.

The Queens Binary apprenticeship is the only one of its kind in the UK and offers the opportunity to gain experience working at the Royal Binary at Windsor and external workshops. This would be a great chance to gain wider knowledge of bookbinding skills including fine leather binding, edge-gilding and gold finishing.( which I am very keen to learn but is extremely specialist).

Shepherds Binary, London and Wiltshire also hold bookbinding workshops and courses that I could consider to widen my skill set. The Wiltshire barn offers level 1, 2 and 3 diploma City and Guild courses. the short course range is vast and is an interesting thing for me to consider to further my education and knowledge on basic binding skills.

 

 

 

 

I wanted to use this zine to uncover the process of making a book to the viewer, by just using imagery I wanted to show the basic stages of the bookbinding process.

Front cover: This is one of the eco prints that I have covered a handmade book with, a blue ribbon and a brown leather spine.

Page 1 and 2: the start of the paper making process blending and forming the handmade sheets, using pressed flowers.

Page 3 and 4: The pressing of the paper and a sheet of handmade paper including dried pressed flowers that are used to make the end papers.

pages 5 and 6: This is part of the binding process, the head bands and scrim used to decorate and reinforce the spine. As Well as the greybeard cover with an eco print.

Back Cover: showing the reverse of the eco print book. made using walnut leaves steamed between an iron.