Blessings of the Birds 2

The first edition of Blessings of the Birds has sold out, so I thought it would be good to make a second series. There are so many types of birds that I will be able to make a third and fourth series too!

I've used that same format to make the books, but with different paper. The covers are made using 270gsm Colourplan paper in Cobalt. I used a goose feather to 'paint' oil based printing ink and Indian ink loosely onto the surface. The title page is inkjet printed on tracing paper. After composing the eight blessings, I inkjet printed them onto copier paper, before cutting to fit the covers. Finally, the books were stitched using a Japanese style Ledger binding with wax coated thread.

I believe that if we think about the talents and beauty of all birds, our appreciation for them will grow and we will care to protect them in these challenging ecological times.

There are 12 copies of this book.

blessings of the birds 2

2024

14 x 3cm Inkjet printed on tracing paper 

and 90gsm copier paper

Cover: Hand painted on 270gsm Colourplan Cobalt. 

Here are three of the 8 blessings:

blessed are the red kites

for they rejoice in being saved from extinction

blessed are the pigeons

for although they were abandoned, they will be loved again

blessed are the owls

for their silent flight will carry wisdom through the night

 

Bristol Artists Book Event

It's been a week since the Bristol Artists Book Event (BABE) and I've been reflecting on the great time I had!

The event, at UWE Bower Ashton, had plenty of space for many artists and publishers to show their books and paper ephemera. There was a fantastic range of different types of book making and visitors and stall holders spent hours looking through the interesting work.

It was also a great opportunity to chat about handmade books, their concepts, processes and materials and I enjoyed catching up with a few familiar faces, as well as meeting new ones.

The event is a fantastic source of inspiration and I have come away with ideas for new handmade artists books.

I bought a small selection of books from other artists, which I have enjoyed looking through. See below:

'Uncoupled Derailed'

by Linda Parr

'Postcard No21'

 by Andrew Morrison

'The Teapot'

by Erin K Schmidt

'Pilgrimage: Communing with the Trees'

by Antoinette Moorby