Exhibition runs until 20th February 2018
Altered Books
What is an altered book? Altered books have been defined as "any book, old or new that has been recycled by creative means into a work of art." It is a form of mixed media artwork that changes a book from its original form into a different form, altering its meaning. Altered books may be as simple as adding a drawing or text to a page, or as complex as creating an intricate book sculpture. They can be ... rebound, painted, cut, burned, folded, added to, collaged in, gold-leafed, rubber stamped, drilled or otherwise adorned ...
Every year, the library withdraws dozens of books that are worn out, damaged, or that contain out-of-date information. Rather than having these books end up in a landfill, why not make them into art?
It didn't take me long to get over my anxiety about "defacing" a book. So many books are tossed into landfills, that I believe I'm actually saving a book by rescuing it from obscurity and using it to create a piece of art.
Creating altered books is something anyone can do because there are no rules and your only limitation is your own imagination. So have a go….it’s great fun and the end result can be very satisfying!
Every year, the library withdraws dozens of books that are worn out, damaged, or that contain out-of-date information. Rather than having these books end up in a landfill, why not make them into art?
It didn't take me long to get over my anxiety about "defacing" a book. So many books are tossed into landfills, that I believe I'm actually saving a book by rescuing it from obscurity and using it to create a piece of art.
Creating altered books is something anyone can do because there are no rules and your only limitation is your own imagination. So have a go….it’s great fun and the end result can be very satisfying!
Series of Readers Digest Books
This book is a take on decoupage. The pages of the book were first painted and then the finest layer of 'serviette' applied over the top.
The book is enclosed in a hard box which has
been decorated with images that appear on the pages within
been decorated with images that appear on the pages within
My very first altered book, 'Green Shades' by Elizabeth Jane Howard, contained anecdotes and information about gardening of all styles and sizes from Italian statuary gardens to English cottage gardens. I used the theme of butterflies as the unifying icon and filled the book with paintings and images of my own.
My second altered book 'A glimpse into the world of Geisha' was based on three books about the subject and the film 'Memoirs of a Geisha'
The third book is an old book re-utilised to make a diary of One Year in my garden illustrated with the flowers and plants that grow there. Below is a small selection taken from a total of 52 images.
Butterfly World. Not so much an altered book, but the salvaged remains of previously used resources. The unused pages, spare butterflies, my own ink work on small canvases were all put to good use, along with poetry by various writers to make a visual record of the life cycle of moths and butterflies.
My second altered book 'A glimpse into the world of Geisha' was based on three books about the subject and the film 'Memoirs of a Geisha'
The third book is an old book re-utilised to make a diary of One Year in my garden illustrated with the flowers and plants that grow there. Below is a small selection taken from a total of 52 images.
Butterfly World. Not so much an altered book, but the salvaged remains of previously used resources. The unused pages, spare butterflies, my own ink work on small canvases were all put to good use, along with poetry by various writers to make a visual record of the life cycle of moths and butterflies.
Green shades and Geisha
'One Year'
Butterfly World
LOVERS AND OTHER STRANGERS
THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF CREEPY CRAWLIES
WATERHOUSE MYTHS AND LEGENDS
