Artists & Ideas
While we may or may not discuss all of these in class, they supplement your class experience. Artists are listed for you to explore. Letterpress resource sheet here.A. Expressionist Artists, Carvings (relief prints)
German Expressionist: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
Russian Expresssionist: Vassily Kandinsky (see the book Klange/Sounds)
Norwegian Expressionist: Edvard Munch, also considered Symbolist
American woodcut artist: Lynd Ward
Brazilian: José Francisco Borges, and here. See also Walking Words by Eduardo Galeano and "cordel"
Online Exhibitions
The Museum of Modern Art (NY), 2002: Artists of Brucke: Themes in German Expressionist PrintsB. Journals, Words, Cubism, Russian Avant Garde
Guillaume Appollinaire (Cubist poet)
Gertrude Stein (seeing one scene from many angles simultaneously, repetition in writing)
Robert Delaunay (Cubist painting with painted lettering)
Stéphane Mallarmé
Maira Kalman
Lynda Barry
1000 Journals Project
Jacob Lawrence African-American painter, illustrated a version of Aesop's Fables
Online Exhibitions
The Museum of Modern Art, 2002: The Russian Avant-Garde Book, 1910-1934
The Museum of Modern Art, 2006: Eye on Europe: Prints, Books & Multiples/1960 to NowC. Calligraphy, Handwriting, Scrolls: Eastern and Western
Son Man-Jin, Korean calligrapher
Hon-ami Koetsu, Japanese painter and calligrapher, artist
Saul Steinberg, artist, lettering artist, illustrator
Sheila Waters calligrapher
Julian Waters calligrapher
Thomas Ingmire artist and calligrapher
Dumisani Mabaso South African painter and printmaker who works with numbers
Asian art influenced artists
Joan Miró
Jackson Pollock
Franz Kline
Hanne Darboven calendars and numbers
Lee Krasner
Henri Matisse, JAZZ
Brice MardenD. Dada, Chance, Absurd
Tristan Tzara
Guillaume Apollinaire's "Calligrammes"
Marcel Duchamp
E.E. Cummings
Oulipo ("workshop of potential literature", applying formulas to writing
William Burroughs ("cut-up" novels)E. Stenciling, Propaganda, Pop Art, Packaging, Social Politics, War
Stuart Davies
Andy Warhol
Jasper Johns
Roy Lichtenstein
Sonia Delaunay-Terk
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Barbara Kruger
Chris Johanson etchings of his drawings
Georges Barbier (pochoir)
Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. African-American letterpress printer in Alabama. See the documentary Proceed and Be Bold or the trailer.F. Futurists and Street Art: Word and Image in Visual Form
The Art of Punk Posters: punk poster, collage from 1980s
Italian Futurists
Filipppo Tommaso Marinetti, poet
Carlo Carrá
Gino Severini
Umberto BoccioniG. Movable Books, Contemporary Book Art
Carol Barton pop-ups. movable
Ed Hutchins specializing in one-page books, movable
Diane Fine meditative work
Luz Marina Ruiz printmaker, sculptural prints made into books
Charles Hobson printmaker, form and content and materials connection, historical topics
Online Exhibition
National Museum of Women in the Arts: Art of the Book ExhibitH. Fluxus, Boxes as Art
Marcel Duchamp
George Maciunas
Dick Higgins
fluxus box
duchamp box
Joseph Cornell and work inspired by him
Julie Chen always integrates the packaging, the box, with the contents or the book inside
Online Exhibition
Museum of Modern Art, 2010: Experimental Women in FluxI. Visual Books, Site or Materials Specific, Conceptual
Cecilia Vicuña site specific, poetry
Anselm Kiefer huge books, heavy materials
Ed Ruscha books: Every Building on the Sunset Strip, TwentySix Gasoline Stations conceptual, photographic
Buzz Spector altered books
Olafur Eliasson one particular book Your House is an architectural book cut so that as you turn the pages you get a cross section of the rooms
Gego (Gertrude Goldschmidt, Venezuelan, German-born) made books out of wire, for one thingJ. Art New Wave, 1985: Chinese Artists Make Books (responding to collage of the Cultural Revolution)
Xu Bing
Huang Yong Ping "The History of Chinese Art" and "A Concise History of Modern Art" after Two Minutes in the Washing Machine
Zhang Xiaogang, Written Memories Series
Chen Xinmao History Book Series, Blurred Printing
Song Dong "books without words"K. Contemporary Book Artists Working in Korea and Japan
Narae Kim She brought book art back to Korea and continues to teach and lecture there.
Sangmi Chun
Kyung Hee Kim
Young Kil Yim
Ryoko Adachi
Ryo Hamada
Kahoru Otani
Veronika Shäpers She is of German background, but she makes her home in Japan and is influenced by the culture and surroundings
Asian or Asian-American Book Artists Working in the USA
Heejung Kim tactile, wordless books primarily
Shu-Ju Wang painter and printmakerL. Altered Text or Assemblage, object books
Lisa Kokin
Dieter Roth MOMA, 2004: Roth Time, A Dieter Roth Retrospective
Robert Rauschenberg, look for "libro bruciato" (Burnt Book, 1973)
Ana Mendieta, look for her branded book of Mircea Eliade's The Sacred and the Profane
Max Ernst
Marcel Broodthaers text with objects
James Castle made books from found objects, sewed them, was deaf/mute
Tsang Kinwah, Taiwan-based artist using text to make patterns, make statements, made floral wallpaper with swear words
Susan Hiller
Online Exhibition
Tuttolibri: Galleria Milano, Milano ItalyM. Online Books or Booklike Experience Online, Books as Film
OK a pop-up book as a music video
Going West a pop-up book as part of narrativeOnline Resources
Audio Interviews with Book Artists
Some wonderful podcast interviews with book artists and poets may be found here. They are hosted by Steve Miller, coordinator of the MFA in the Book Arts Program at the University of Alabama. A partial list includes: Betsy Davids, Betty Bright, Julie Chen, Brad Freeman, Kitty Maryatt, Clifton Meador, Harry Reese, John Risseeuw, Special Collections Librarians: Bob Blesse, Janice Braun, Ruth Rogers & Judy Harvey Sahak; Kathleen Walkup, Barbara Tetenbaum, and projet Mobilivre among many others! Now available on iTunes as podcasts, too! Search in podcasts for "book artists and poets" with artist "Steve Miller". It's free and you can listen to book artists talk about book art for hours and hours.Print On Demand
You upload your files, either in pdf or using their software, to create an offset-printed, full-color book with color cover. This is great for cookbooks, exhibition catalogues, photo albums, personalized gifts, etc. The cost is inexpensive, the quality is really pretty good. I used Blurb for the ArtRead catalogue. The San Francisco Center for the Book used Lulu for our exhibition catalogue for Wings for Words. Create Space works through Amazon, is cheaper, and allows purchasers to add your book to their regular Amazon.com shopping cart.A pop-up book music video
Check it out on YouTube. Available on iTunes.Cool website with wonderful examples of contemporary books in the categories of: children's, comics, design, fine art, handmade, interviews, other, sketchbooks.
Secret Belgian Binding instructions.
Crossed Structure Binding instructions.
Bay Area Bookmaking and Art Supplies
The descriptions list some highlights. For mail order supplies, see main resource page.Caning Shop colored waxed linen threadPaper Source book cloth in a wide range of colors
Castle in the Air calligraphy pens, envelopes
Miki's Paper beautiful Japanese patterned papers
Scrapbook Territory corner rounders, rubber stamps, stuff
General Art Supplies
Artist & Craftsman SupplyArch art and drafting supplies
Other Local Cool Stuff for Bookmaking
Again, for mail order supplies, see main resource page.Stonemountain and Daughter Fabrics all the cloth and sewing supplies, including curved needles for Coptic binding, you'll ever wantTap Plastics clear plastic boxes, frames, panels, everything plastic
Stash Yarn yarn and ribbon
Arrow Glass clear or colored glass or mirrors can be purchased and cut to size for a book or box project
Bay Area Recycled Materials
East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse paper, containers, ribbons, corks, tins (your junk, my treasure) in OaklandSCRAP your junk, my treasure on a grand scale in SF
Urban Ore large things like doors, for example
El Cerrito Recycling Center free book exchange
Alameda County Libraries book sales lists from all over the east bay
Ohmega Salvage General Store & Omega Too large things
The Bone Room bones, fur, fossils
Books
Making Handmade Books: 100+ Bindings, Structures & Forms
(2011)
Creating Handmade Books
(1998)
Expressive Handmade Books
(2005)
Painted Paper: Techniques & Projects for Handmade Books & Cards (2008)
Speaking of Book Art: Interviews With British & American Book Artists
by Cathy Courtney
Anderson-Lovelace, 1999. Descriptive, in-depth, and illuminating interviews with Ron King, Ian Tyson, Joan Lyons, Betsy Davids, Sas Colby, Telfer Stokes, Kathy Walkup, Susan King, Helen Douglas, Johanna Drucker, Paul Coldwell, Susan Johanknecht, Alisa Golden, Julie Chen, and Karen Bleitz.Japanese Bookbinding: Instructions from a Master Craftsman by Kojiro Ikegami
New York; Tokyo: John Weatherhill, Inc., 1986. xi, 127 pp. illustrated, hardbound. Photographs of each step of each binding structure. The best book describing traditional stab bound books, scrolls, and other Japanese structures.A Book of One's Own: Developing Literacy Through Making Books
by Paul Johnson
New Hampshire: Heinemann, 1992. Includes the accordion with tunnel structure that he designed and many books made out of single sheets of paper; bookmaking with kids, too.Creative Bookbinding
by Pauline Johnson
University of Washington Press, 1963. 263 pp. illustrated, oversized paper bound. 7 3/4" x 10 1/2". New edition: 272 pp. Uses more traditional methods, more complicated tools, distinctive 1960's patterns.Cover To Cover: Creative Techniques For Making Beautiful Books, Journals & Albums
by Shereen LaPlantz: North Carolina: Lark Books, 1995. illustrated, hardbound. 139 pp. Full color and glossy pages. Packed with photographs of book art made by many different people. Easy-to-follow directions and diagrams for making books at home. Inspirational structures.
Non-Adhesive Binding Books without Paste or Glue
by Keith A. Smith
New York Sigma Foundation, Inc., 1992. 320 pp. illustrated, paper bound (Smythe-sewn). Complex, good for the those who are good at reading and following intense directions. Describes variations. Also: Structure of the Visual Book (Expanded Fourth Edition); Text in the Book Format; Non Adhesive Binding, Vol. 3: Exposed Spine Sewings
Books, Boxes & Wraps: Bindings & Building Step-By-Step
by Marilyn Webberley
Washington: Bifocal Press, 1995. Illustrated with line drawings. Contains lots of good examples and diagrams, this book is helpful to teachers and others interested in learning some simple and non-traditional book structures.More Making Books by Hand: Exploring Miniature Books, Alternative Structures, and Found Objects
by Peter and Donna Thomas
Quarry Books, 2004. 144 pp.. Excellent reference for bookbinding techniques as well as unique structures.Books, Boxes & Portfolios: Binding, Construct and Design, Step-By-Step
by Franz Zeier: New York: Design Press, imprint of TAB books, division of McGraw-Hill Inc., 1990 304 pp. illustrated, hardbound. Meticulous and clear, contains mostly traditional structures. Chapter on 3-D shapes.
The Penland Book of Handmade Books: Master Classes in Bookmaking Techniques (Master Classes in Bookmaking)
Lark Books, 2004. 232 pp. In-depth look at master bookmakers and their techniques. Gorgeous photographs. Recommended for Intermediate/Advanced bookmakers. Inspiration for all.Design of Books
by Adrian Wilson
Chronicle Books, 1994 (reprint).Writing with Pictures: How to Write and Illustrate Children's Books
by Uri Shulevitz
Watson Guptill (reprint 1997), 272 pp. Many of his suggestions and examples for children's books are absolutely applicable to making book art: sequence, suspense, layout, variation on a page. All make for a tremendous resource.Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels
by Scott McCloud
HarperCollins, 2006: NY. 264 pp.. Great information on pacing, narrative drawing, word and image combinations. See also Understanding Comics: The Invisible ArtHandwritten: Expressive Lettering in the Digital Age
Thames & Hudson, 2006: NY. 192 pp.. How hand lettering is used boldly in posters, packaging, and design.The Pocket Paper Engineer, Volume I: Basic Forms: How to Make Pop-Ups Step-by-Step
Instructions for making pop-ups from a master at the craft.Dieter Roth Books + Multiples: Catalogue Raisonne
Edition Hansjorg Mayer, London, 2004. 351 pp.. Huge and inspiring catalogue/collection of Roth's work. Includes a CD of his music.500 Handmade Books: Inspiring Interpretations of a Timeless Form (500 Series)
Lark, 2008. 420 pp. Juried by Steve Miller. Mammoth book that is what it says it is. All photographs.CREATIVE WRITING & JOURNALS
What It Isby Lynda Barry
Drawn & Quarterly, 2008. Fantastic, wild, helpful, touching, and wonderful collection of ideas about writing, art, teaching, and the creative process. She spins it with her childhood stories, comics, and collages, as well as drawing from a stash of children's homework from the 1950s. Worth re-reading many times.Wild Mind: Living the Writer's Life
by Natalie Goldberg (author of Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
).
Bantam Books, 1990. 238 pp. Softcover. Anecdotes regarding how a writer thinks, what exercises she uses. Inspiring stories that relate to writing.A Life In Hand: Creating the Illuminated Journal
by Hannah Hinchman
Utah: Gibbs M. Smith, Inc., Peregrine Smith Books, 1991. 144 pp. Softcover, one edition comes with blank book. With beautiful black and white drawings and some color illustrations. Good writing exercises, encourages you to experiment with letterforms and design, nice examples of merging words and images on a page.Writing the Natural Way
by Gabriele Lusser Rico
J.P. Tarcher, Inc. distributed by St. Martin's Press, 1983. 287 pp. Softcover. Writing techniques, especially focussing on "clustering", a way to generate words without worrying if they are the "right" ones.Poemcrazy: Freeing Your Life with Words
by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge
New York: Three Rivers Press (member of the Crown publishing group. www.randomhouse.com), 1996. 210 pp. Softcover. Inspiring and entertaining anecdotes and stories about the process of writing. Ideas for exercises and things to try at the end of each chapter. Also samples of some excellent student writing.Zen in the Art of Writing: Releasing the Creative Genius Within You
by Ray Bradbury
Bantam Books, 1992. 176 pp. Inspiration and insights into the mind of a terrific writer. He shares secrets for getting started, and how to think about writing stories. A book of engaging essays.Drawing From Life: The Journal as Art
Princeton Architectural Press, 2005. 192 pp. Actual journal pages created by Maira Kalman, Christopher Leitch, Jenny Keller, Rick Hoblitt, Hannah Hinchman, Martin Wilner, Lynda Barry, David Byrne and more are reproduced with commentary. Appealing book design with gridded pages, rounded corners.COOL ILLUSTRATED BOOKS
Arm in Arm: A Collection of Connections, Endless Tales, Reiterations, and Other Echolaliaby Remy Charlip
Tricycle Press, 1997, from an earlier edition published by Parents Press, 1969. This was my absolute favorite book when I was a kid. I loved the puns, the humor, the intricate drawings and watercolors. Very inspiring and funny.Riceboy Sleeps
by Jon Birgisson and Alex Somers
Moss Stories, 2008. Second edition. Expressive drawings, debossed birds on the cover and the rounded corners give this small book a handmade feel. Go to the website after you look at the book for the first time and find links to a poem and two short impressionistic loop videos that slightly alter your next reading experience. Also at Moss Stories, check out the digital books based on heartfelt installations by Marguerite Keyes.Postal Seance: A Scientific Investigation into the Possibility of a Postlife Postal Existence
by Henrik Drescher
Chronicle Books, 2004. 80 pages. Softcover. Drescher mailed creative cards and to famous people, long gone, at their last known addresses. The resulting book is a compilation of those letters, many marked "return to sender," some with several postmarks. He assumed that those not returned were able to reach their destination. Afterlife anyone?The Principles of Uncertainty
by Maira Kalman
The Penguin Press, 2007. 327 pages. A wonderful book with handwritten text and paintings on every page. Ms. Kalman describes it on the front flap as "This is a Year in My Life Profusely Illustrated. Abounding with Anguish, Confusion. Bits of Wisdom. Musings, Meanderings, Buckets of Joie de Vivre and Restful Sojourns." She likes packaging and food, cloth and people, hats and many other things.The Crocodile Blues
by Coleman Polhemus
Candlewick Press, 2007. Marketed as a children's book, but amusing to all ages, this book also shows how the architecture of a book structure can advance the story. It has fold-outs for going around a corner, fold-ups for going upstairs. The forty words, scattered throughout, are there to clarify the action. A brilliant example of form and content working together in a mass-market book. Even if you don't care about any of that, it's a really fun book.The Invention of Hugo Cabret
by Brian Selznick
Scholastic, 2007. 544 pages. A magical tale, marketed for children, with a wonderful story and detailed drawings for everyone. The text is interspersed with a sequence of rich black and white pictures that tell that part of the story visually, like movie with dialogue, then with scenes. Selznick, in an online note on the Amazon website, confesses that his drawings of the older man were based on Remy Charlip (see Arm in Arm, above).
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