Category Archives: Artist books

Sooo tired

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Last night, about 8:30, I gave up and got ready for bed. I never do this. I slept until 7 this morning, more than 10 hours in bed. I had a busy day, yesterday, but it wasn't that bad. This is one reason I'm willing to have the cath, as they call it. I want my energy back. The doctor wouldn't promise me anything, he's very cautious about what he says, but I keep hoping.

I'm still having issues with my Adobe software, but nothing that keeps me from working. I sent them an email–hope to get an answer soon. I really don't want to call again. I probably spent 3 hours on the phone with them on two calls. I'm sure they have a support document that would help me. I found one, but it's not entirely clear. In the meantime I can live without Acrobat 8 Pro. I'm still working on the Japanese Garden book.

Beautiful, sunny morning

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I got in a good walk. It's supposed to snow again later, and maybe tomorrow. I've been spending a lot of time working on that Gigapan. Sometimes it's extremely frustrating, but then equally satisfying when something works out. Learned lots more about Photoshop. I don't own the latest and greatest, which is what I'm using at the university, but help files for several versions are online. Very satisfying to learn all the new stuff.

Back at home I'm working on the Japanese Garden Book. Decided on format and layout design. For the most part content will be my photos and info from the Internet; layout is very important to me. I've decided to make it 8.5 x 14, with the width being 14". I've completely the pages for the gardens I visited in Tokyo, about 50 pages. I'm very nostalgic about it all and contemplating another trip. Stay tuned!

Many of the photos I took never got published, in the blog or in the book. So this is my opportunity to published most more of them. On many occasions I took what I hoped were multiple, overlapping pics. I've been sorting them out and putting them together in Photoshop. 

East-Garden-collage

Kyu-collage3

Tokyo-National-Museum-Garde

 
 
 

New project

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The next book I make will be about Japanese Gardens, at least the ones I've visited. I'm still enchanted with the gardens. I would like to return to Japan and remain from October through April or May so I could see the gardens at the most interesting times. It probably won't happen, but working on another book lets me enjoy the photos and memories all over again. Here are three collages using some of the photos from Rikugien, the Tokyo garden where I met the origami lady. Most of these photos were not posted before.

Rikugien-base-4

Rikugien-base3

Rikugien-collage

I never took multiple Gigapan-like photos as I did in my backyard, so I can't make that kind of collage. Only the one immediately above comes anywhere close to it. I want to immerse you in my view of the garden. I don't think any of these are really successful; I'll keep trying.

New York Wednesday

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Metropolitan Museum day. We looked at Japanese and Chinese art, missed a show about Chinese lacquerware, and left with aching legs. Because of all the slush I've been constantly wearing a pair of Merrell fleece-lined boots. They keep my feet warm and dry and the gummy cleats on the soles keep me from sliding, but they're nowhere near as comfortable as the Merrells I usually wear. Sitting on the bus and subway to get to Columbus Circle was a treat.

Lunch at Whole Foods, more crowded than usual, then on to the Museum of Art and Design. This has always been one of my favorites, and I loved it even with aching legs. Their show Slash: Paper Under the Knife, is filled with wonderful cut paper creations. Take a look at the Teacher Resource for good photos of the conceptually most interesting works. We finished with Madeleine Albright's pin collection and then dragged ourselves back to the apartment to rest up before dinner, going to a place nearby that didn't require crossing a street so I could wear real shoes instead of the boots.

Japan artist book FINISHED

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If you think it's the greatest bit of prose ever written, get rid of it. That's common advice to writers and probably should be given to artists also. I fell in love with the idea of embroidering this tree on a piece of obi silk, and using it as a book cover. I spent all summer working on it. I should have just tacked it on the wall; the book would be better bound with something else.

DSC04097

So I'm not happy. Actually, I'm never happy with my finished work. Sometimes after it sits for months or years I like it better. We'll see about this one. 

So that I remember, and you learn, I'll tell you what's in my head. First, putting a photo transfer on silk is not a great idea. I said that before, but now I have another reason: making it into book cloth didn't work. The fusible interfacing never fused properly. I had lots of trouble with glue coming through and you can see the lumps and bumps because of the lack of proper fusing. 

Second the silk cloth is really too
thick, even though the glue came right through it. Folding it under to
make sure it didn't ravel made it too thick. I probably should have
just cut it and used some kind of fabric stablizer. This fabric was machine
embroidered on what would have been the right side of the obi and the
threads are carried loosely along the back as the color and pattern
changes.

DSC04099

I used archival foam board instead of the more commonly used davey board. It's much easier to cut. I made a mistake there also. Instead of cutting that 1/4" piece for the binding edge, and moving it 1/4" away from the large piece, I left it attached on one side just cutting away the inside foam and the other side. After I finished the binding it was still too stiff. It doesn't open as nicely as my earlier books.

I had trouble finding a good, heavy binding cord. My preferred cord is waxed, linen carpet thread; not beautiful enough for all that embroidered silk. I tried several other kinds of cords, none of which worked. In desperation I went to Michael's (not a lot of choice here in Pittsburgh) and got this silvery stuff. It pulled tight and did the job, but I don't like it. Finally, I had trouble drilling the holes and the back holes don't line up properly. The whole thing was too thick, but probably would have been better if I had used that 1/4" space technique.

DSC04100