Altered Books Resources

My daughters' artists books have become a place to express their thoughts, dreams, and creations.

The sites on this list are a selection of places and artists that will help to present altered books to young people.  For the most part, the focus is to convey the basics of altered books to a younger audience, to get them excited about the format, and to say to the adults, “Yes, you can guide the kids on this creative journey.”   As to the site or two that doesn’t fit into this category, I’ve included pages of artists’ work for examples, inspiration, and the “I can do that” response.   Some altered books are masterpieces of engineering and extreme detail.  Those art pieces are amazing, but not for this list.  It’s more appropriate to highlight those works that look spontaneous, as though they came into being in a creative moment inspired by the soul.  I love it when kids dive into the book that they are about to alter and as they proceed they are completely unaware of the chaotic environment of the library program, stopping only to share with the artist next to them about a newly discovered technique.

Altered Books
www.logolalia.com/alteredbooks/
The images of artwork on this site will help to eliminate any intimidation factor dealing with the altered book format.  I really think that after viewing this page the first thing you will want to do is grab the nearest discarded book to alter.  Just go with the impulse.

art-e-zine
www.art-e-zine.co.uk/
This page will work well for teens who appreciate a more edgy look.  Artists share their work, ideas, resources, and free images.  
 
Creativity Portal
www.creativity-portal.com/howto/artscrafts/altered.books.html
This site is exactly what its name implies.  You’ll have links to tutorials, ideas, examples and more!

Incredible@rtDepartment
www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/Linda-books.htm
Jump in and plan to stay a while to explore ideas, formats, supplies, resources, advice, and if you like standards and rubrics, they are there too.

Jenny’s Altered Books
www.jennysartspace.com/alteredbooks/
This site show’s the artist’s work (including her first attempt at altering), shares her favorite books on the topic, and has a brief how-to on getting started.

Karen’s Whimsy
http://karenswhimsy.com/altered-books/ 

There is quite a bit to explore on Karen’s site: altered books, collage, her thoughts about the creative process, and something we all love, public domain images.

Lemura Writing Sanctuary
Shoe-string Publishing
www.dailywriting.net/Renovate.htm
Given the current economic situation affecting our libraries, this is very appropriate and inspiring.   

Rosemont Ridge Art Classroom Studio – Linda Kieling
www.rrms.wlwv.k12.or.us/kielingl/Altered_Books/index.htm
This ward-winning lesson plan has a multitude of basic and well-organized material.  Also, check out the rest of this site for other information and resources about altered books for kids.

 

BOOKS

Altered Book Collage by Barbara Matthiessen

Altered Book Scrapbook by Susan Ure 

Altered Books Workshop by  Bev Brazelton

Altered Books, Collaborative Journals, and Other Adventures in Bookmaking by Holly Harrison

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

Artists’ Journals and Sketchbooks: Exploring and Creating Personal Pages by Lynne Perella

The Decorated Page: Journals, Scrapbooks & Albums Made Simply Beautiful  by Gwen Diehn

The Decorated Journal: Creating Beautifully Expressive Journal Pages by Gwen Diehn

Montage Memories: Creating Altered Scrapbook Pages by Erika Ghum & Pamela Frye

Paint on Paper: Over 130 Quick and Easy Techniques to Decorate Paper by Angie Franke and Monique Day-Wilde

Pockets, Pullouts, and Hiding Places: Interactive Elements for Altered Books, Memory Art and Collage by Jenn Mason

New Directions in Altered Books by Gabe Cyr  She has a wonderful section, pages 126 – 129, on “Working with Kids.”  There’s a great quote from Gabe Cyr, “What they don’t need from you are any rules for making art.”
 
True Vision: Authentic Art Journaling  by L.K. Ludwig

 

Also, for inspiration on creating journal pages check out the inaugural issue of Art Journaling by Somerset Studios.

If you have any favorite sites that you think are missing from this list, I would love to here from you!  I will update resources as I come across new finds and treasures.

Some of my favorite resources…

                    

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 

New Directions in Altered Books by Gabe Cyr  (I’m especially drawn to this book because of the artist’s approach to the subject and obvious respect for the book form.)  

 

 

   

Here are a few sites the have good information, interesting projects, and visuals on altered books. 

Altered Books

art-e-zine

Creative Art Space for Kids Foundation

Creativity Portal: Altered Books

Text, Image, and Form: The Altered Book Project

International Society of Altered Book Artists

Karen’s Whimsy

Make a Mini Altered Book

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.  

 

Arts Education Partnership

The Book Art Project

Book Arts Web

Booklyn Artists Alliance

the imagine nation 

Minnesota Center for Book Arts 

National Museum of Women in the Artsabc: art, books, & creativity: arts learning in the classroom 

Pyramid Atlantic

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… 

Artful Journeys

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  

Storypockets

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…