Book Arts: Databases & References

"This splendid celebration of the illustrated book as an art form begins with remarkable works produced in France by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Paul Gauguin at the end of the 19th century, and traces the international development of the modern illustrated book to the last decade of the 20th century. Major artists of the modern movement, among them Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso, turned to the "illumination" of poems, classical literature, and their own writings to make books that are now collectors' objects, luxuriously produced. Such limited editions have continued to be produced alongside other types of artists' books aimed at a much larger audience. The more available artists' books have served a different purpose, often expressing aesthetic and political principles, in the hands of such artists as Kasimir Malevich, Marcel Duchamp, Ed Ruscha, Joseph Beuys, and Barbara Kruger. Accompanying texts consider the historical background, complex relationships between artists and book manufacturers, technical constraints, and recent changes."

At the turn of the century, book design was more than a craft; it was a labor of love. Readers accustomed to today's more utilitarian book covers will find breathtaking images here. The diversity and ingenuity of the artwork will capture the imagination of book lovers and collectors alike--and anyone who enjoys engaging design.

Every year Penland, the innovative school where crafters from around the world come to hone their skills, offers a master class in the art of bookmaking that’s simply without equal. Now it’s available to everyone, in a technical and inspirational guide that showcases 10 contemporary book artists who have taught at the institution. Four hundred illuminating photographs highlight the crafters as each one demonstrates all the details of his or her particular expertise. Marvel at the beauty of Dolph Smith’s sculptural books, the exquisite structure of Jim Croft’s carved wood covers and metal closures, the intricacies of Barbara Mauriello’s handmade boxes and slipcases, and the secrets of Carol Barton’s playful pop-ups. Reflective essays by all the artists add to the creative excitement visible on every page and in every spectacular project.

Discover what happens when you add artmaking and bookbinding together. With Book + Art, explore the basics of surfaces, images and words in order to create provocative works of art with layers of meaning. Whether you're altering a pre-made book or creating your own, here you'll find both the instruction and the inspiration to get it done. In addition to learning mixed-media techniques--such as how to age paper, transfer images and make your own monoprints--you'll be given step-by-step instruction for numerous book structures including: Single-fold and bi-fold books Simple and extended accordions Perfect bindings Side-sewn books Single- and multiple-signature books Boxes Unbound collections Add the art of the book and the book as art to your own artmaking repertoire today and start making your own meaningful artists' books. Foreword by Judith A. Hoffberg, Editor and Publisher of Umbrella.

Women have been pioneers in the field of book arts, crafting intimate and insightful works that blend word, image, and media together in exciting and unique ways. Whether produced as one-offs or manufactured in serial form, these volumes share a wonderful craft aspect that has broad appeal to fellow artists, collectors, and ordinary readers alike. Often highly conceptual in form, they stretch the boundaries of what constitutes a 'book.' This illustrated volume presents over 100 artistsbooks held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C. The publication of this trade book corresponds with the institution's twentieth anniversary celebration. With an engaging introduction by acclaimed fiction-writer Audrey Niffenegger and essays by curator Krystyna Wasserman and renown book arts scholar Johanna Drucker, the text compliments the highly engaging profiles of each work, which will be illustrated in multiple views. Artist biographies, and a comprehensive bibliography round out the offerings.

Destined to go down as one of the era's most astonishing global art projects, the Brooklyn Art Library's Sketchbook Project has, in less than a decade, amassed more than thirty thousand sketchbooks submitted by people of all ages and artistic abilities from more than 130 countries. Bursting with color, vivid imagery, and bouts of whimsy mixed with deeply intimate insights, the sketchbooks capture the texture of personal experience in a dizzying variety of illustrative styles and layouts that run the gamut from street portraits to stream-of-consciousness doodles, comics, and pop-ups. The Sketchbook Project World Tour presents the most compelling, surprising, and visually stunning examples from this one-of-a-kind artistic treasury.

Bind a book beautifully, with these whimsical and stylish projects from bookbinder extraordinaire Erica Ekrem.With her novel approach to traditional techniques, and the use of repurposed materials, Ekrem has devised creative fun for book artists of all levels. Choose from three categories: Vintage, Nature, and Leather. Make books from mason jars and seashells, a classic leather-bound photo album, and other works of art.

Re-Bound is a beautiful book on bookbinding with a fun green twist-all the projects use recycled and upcycled materials. This book shows you how to take everyday materials from around the house, flea markets, thrift stores, and hardware stores and turn them into clever and eye-catching hand-made books.

“LaPlantz has created another whammo release.”—RubberStampMadness. “More than 25 patterns...focus on seven different types of books, from a simple...accordion fold to the complicated recessed skewer binding. Everything is here...as well as explanations of such techniques as embossing.”—Booklist.