BOOK ART COURSE - BIRMINGHAM

When my blog friend Bernice told me she was booked on a Book Art
course I said 'lucky you'.  Then she wrote back and said 'Why don't you come too, and stay here?'

So I did!!

I travelled up the day before the course started and this gave us time to chat and chill and to think about what we might want to make. The course offered opportunity to learn printing techniques, book structures, and to combine these to make an Art Book. This was something that really excited me and I planned to go with the flow and see what ideas presented. Our tutor, Paul Hipkiss, is a very talented artist and printer and I was very inspired by his work and the examples that he showed us. And as I have been hankering to do some lino cuts I went home the first day with ideas bouncing! I sat throughout the evening and early hours sketching designs and making notes. I was going to make a book based on my trip to Barcelona.

But then next day I started to cut into the lino and I began to see a problem. Paul uses traditional lino tile and it was difficult to cut into! I did not want to spend all my time carving and missing other opportunities to learn, so I needed to rethink fast! My appreciation of the time and skill involved in making intricate lino prints escalated!  

So, I have bought my sketch book home and I will cut the designs into my soft linocut blocks. Paul showed us how to make prints with more than one colour so it will be fun to experiment when I have more time. Meantime, I used the printing press to dry emboss one of Bernice's stencils.  My original idea was changing shape!  These will be an integral part of the books design and I hope it all comes together. I also made several sample books so that I could remember the construction and make these at home - I was so inspired I needed 3 weeks not 3 days!! 

So, determined to come home with at least one finished project I spent my time playing, bouncing from one idea to another. I was inspired by other students work, resource material provided by Paul and by ideas thrown around between Bernice and myself. 

I did Dry-Point printing, which is something I have never heard of before. But first I had to make my plate by etching into a piece or styrene (type of Perspex). I used a simple design as my sample piece and a printing press to make the print. I hope my Big Shot will be capable of doing this at home. More experimenting planned! 

Here is a video that shows dry point. It is a print method I plan to experiment more with as it gives a fine detailed effect similar to an etching without the use of chemicals and specialist equipment. 

And finally here is some of my work made over the three days. A neat little stitched book, a pop up book which is a practice for a larger project I have in mind, a book sculpture, two accordion style books, and at the back, my dry-point prints.  What fun I had! 





Thank you Bernice, I'm so glad you asked me! 
And I'll be back soon to tell you about other things I did during my stay. 

5 in 5 - July 2015 - EMBRACING THE EMBANKMENT

Welcome to '5 in 5' where on the 5th of

each month I post 5 photos that I have

taken in 5 minutes. 

 

By the time you read this I will be in Birmingham on a print and  book art workshop with my blog friend Bernice.  So while I was in London last week I took photos for this months '5 in 5' because sometimes you need to plan ahead.  As it happens I was in London to meet another friend who I met on line.  On another book making course.  But before I meet Bernice I am sneaking in a trip to Stonehenge and meeting Eileen  while I am there.  Another blog friend. Isn't the internet wonderful! 

 

But back to London.  As I walked along the South Bank there was so much to see, so I grabbed my camera and set my alarm.  These photos were all taken within a few paces and I even managed a photo for my Summertime Scavenger Hunt. So let's get started:

 

I loved this hand on the side of a building.  I have ideas of ways I can use this in art journaling...

 

Not two people but four wearing the same clothes or uniform.  This photo completes my Summertime Scavenger Hunt. Yay!
I tried to sneak photos of two policeman when I was in London the week before, but decided I could get arrested on suspicion so gave up that idea!

A coffee bar.  I love quirky vehicles.  This might make an interesting campervan.  Just a thought....

 
By now I was looking for red things because without planning I seemed  had a theme going on!

 

Not so much red but it is there for the looking.

 



And that was my brief encounter.  Of course I saw lots of other interesting things, including a man creating sand art.  The tide was fast approaching and he just completed it before the water started to wash it away.  I admire people who can spend hours creating transient art. 

 

Thank you for popping by, your company and comments are always appreciated and special thanks to Maggie, Joy, Eileen, Helena, Melanie and Barbara, who took part last month.
 

If you would like to join in this monthly photo challenge please link in below so I can come and see your photos. Here's the plan:

 

  1.  Choose a location.

2.  Have your camera ready.

3.  Set a timer for 5 minutes (I use my mobile phone).

4.  Take as many photos you can until the time is up.

5.  Choose 5 photos to download and share by using the link tool below. 

   Please note: 

You can take  your photos any time, they do not have to be taken on 5th!
And you have until the 25th of the month to add your photos to the link.

 

There are more details here.