I have my favorite resources on book arts in print and on the Web that I refer to consistently. I’ll add titles and sites from time to time. There are always new finds to peruse and share. That is, of course, one of the purposes of this blog. I’ve been waiting for months for Alisa Golden’s latest treasure, Painted Paper: Techniques & Projects for Handmade Books and Cards. If creating your own handmade books isn’t enough, she’s taken it up a notch by sharing her techniques, suggestions, and projects for painting your own paper while relating to the message or theme of your piece. As a lways Alisa Golden, book artist and author, gives her audience another must-have book. Her work has appeal to the person new to book arts as well as the experienced artist. Esther K. Smith, book artist and Purgatory Pie Press founder among her credits, has written How to Make Books: Fold, Cut & Stitch Your Way to a One-of-a-Kind Book. With easy-to-follow illustrations by Lindsay Smith and photos by David Michael Zimmerman this book with its unusual format makes you want to grab it off of the bookstore shelf. One perusal and I was hooked. I had to take it home. Sections on instant books, zines, accordions, and mutant books give a new attitude to the bookmaking process. Get ready to be inspired! With that said, here are some of my other favorites:
1000 Artist Trading Cards: Innovative and Inspired Mixed Media ATCs by Patricia Bolton, ISBN 1592533345
Art and Craft of Handmade Books: New Ideas and Innovative Techniques by Shereen LaPlantz, ISBN 1579904386
Art of the Scrapbook: A Guide to Handbinding, and Decorating Memory Books, Albums, and Art Journals by Diane Mauer-Mathison, ISBN 0823010198
Artist Trading Card Workshop: Create, Collect, Swap by Bernie Berlin, ISBN 1581808488
Artists’ Journals & Sketchbooks: Exploring and Creating Personal Pages by Lynne Perrella, ISBN 1592530192
Bookworks: Books, Memory and Photo Albums, Journals, and Diaries Made by Hand by Sue Doggett, ISBN 0823004910
Bookworks: Making Books by Hand by Gwenyth Swain, ISBN 1575050730
Books Unbound by Michael Jacobs, ISBN 158180718X
Cover to Cover: Creative Techniques for Making Beautiful Books, Journals & Albums by Shereen LaPlantz, ISBN 0937274879
Crafting Personal Shrines: Using Photos, Mementos & Treasures to Create Artful Displays by Carol Oweny Paul, ISBN 157990811X
Creating Handmade Books by Alisa Golden, ISBN 0806988258
The Decorated Page: Journals, Scrapbooks & Albums Made Simply Beautiful by Gwen Diehn, ISBN 1579905129 The Decorated Journal: Creating Beautifully Expressive Journal Pages by Gwen Diehn, ISBN 1579909566The Essential Guide to Making Handmade Books by Gabrielle Fox, ISBN 1581800193
Drawing from Life: The Journal As Art by Jennifer New, ISBN 1568984456
The Encyclopedia of Papermaking & Bookbinding: The Definitive Guide to Making, Embellishing, and Repairing Paper, Books, and Scrapbooks by Heidi Reimer-Epp & Mary Reimer
Expressive Handmade Books by Alisa Golden, ISBN 1402751818
Handcrafted Journals, Albums, Scrapbooks & More by Marie Browning, ISBN 0806922672
How to Make Books: Fold, Cut & Stitch Your Way to a One-of-a-Kind Book by Esther K. Smith, ISBN 0307353362
Literacy Through the Book Arts by Paul Johnson, ISBN 0435087665
Making Books & Journals: 20 Great Weekend Projects by Constance E. Richards, ISBN 1579900925
Making Books That Fly, Fold, Wrap, Hide, Pop Up, Twist and Turn: Books for Kids to Make by Gwen Diehn, ISBN 1579903266
Making Memory Books and Journals by Hand by Kristina Feliciano, Jason Thompson, & Barbara Mauriello, ISBN 1571456244
Mixed-Media Nature Journals: New Techniques for Exploring Nature, Life, and Memories by L.K. Ludwig, ISBN 1592533671
More Making Books by Hand: Exploring Miniature Books, Alternative Structures, and Found Objects by Peter and Donna Thomas, ISBN 1592530745
Paper by Jeanette Bakker et al, ISBN 1740457455
Paper Making and Bookbinding by Joanne B. Kaar, ISBN 186108286X
Unique Handmade Books by Alisa Golden, ISBN 1402706146
Visual Chronicles: The No-Fear Guide to Creating Art Journals, Creative Manifestos & Altered Books by Linda Woods & Karen Dinino, ISBN 1581807708
So, What About Those Altered Books?
There are several books that have a lot to offer for the altered book artist (new or seasoned).
Altered Book Collage by Barbara Matthiessen Altered Book Scrapbook by Susan Ure
Altered Books Workshop by Bev Brazelton
AlterThis! Radical Ideas for Transforming Books into Art by Alena Hennessy
Art of Fabric Books: Innovative Ways to Use Fabrics in Scrapbooks, Altered Books and More by Jane Bode Smiley
Montage Memories: Creating Altered Scrapbook Pages by Erika Ghum & Pamela Frye Hauer
Here are a few sites the have good information, interesting projects, and visuals on altered books.
Creative Art Space for Kids Foundation
Creativity Portal: Altered Books
Text, Image, and Form: The Altered Book Project
International Society of Altered Book Artists
Art Centers/Organizations
Organizations, museums, and centers for the book that promote book arts and the vital role that the arts have in the development of children, literacy, and learning. These sources offer curriculum ideas, proactive efforts for change, and research that supports this current area of concern.
Minnesota Center for Book Arts
National Museum of Women in the Artsabc: art, books, & creativity: arts learning in the classroom
San Diego Museum of Art: Education
San Francisco Center for the Book
Publications that have unlimited ideas for when you have that creative block and just need some inspiration or when you just want to know what’s new in the field.
Somerset Studio Gallery – Special issue packed with 800 photos of of artwork as well as instructions on a variety of projects.
Somerset Studio: The Art of Paper and Mixed-Media – Meant to inspire as well as inform, this is a must-read for those interested in paper arts, techniques, materials and innovations.
Cloth Paper Scissors
The Bonefolder: an e-journal for the bookbinder and book artist
And Let’s Not Forget the Blogs…
Teacher Features: Thoughts on Bookmaking with Kids San Francisco Center for the Book’s blog. SFCB is a wonderful kid-centered place with a great website filled with project ideas and lots of creativity.
Making Books with Children – Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord
Wonderful blog from Constance Wong (children’s librarian) that contains all the news and events straight from the Children’s Department, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Link to it to read and see video and photos from my latest Handmade Books program focusing on altered books. I’ll continue with more on altered books and children next time. Thanks for reading…
