By Leaves We Live

pamphlet binding

Last Saturday I exhibited with the Artist Book Group at the poetry library and did a workshop on pamphlet binding and japanese binding.  I had Fintan and Stephen on hand in case no-one came, but all the workshops were fully booked with waiting lists, yay!

 It was a really busy day and we got lots of interest and some sales as well.

For me it was a good learning experience, I saw what people were drawn to and also got an idea of what sold and how much people were willing to spend.

And of course lots of inspiration looking at what everyone else has been making.

I really enjoyed the workshop and will be doing  

pamphlet and japanese binding

 the same structures next Saturday and Sunday at WASPS Open Studios on a drop in basis.

Ellen who shares the same studio will be offering a heart-shaped lavender bag workshop too so come along to our lovely studio and get creative!

Body book, Small exhibition, poetry library Sept-Nov 2010

Artist's book group tables

Confidence

With the Scottish Poetry Library artist's book fair coming up soon (next Saturday) I have been considering how I feel about showing my work, something I've not done for a long time.

It's scary to show something you've created, what if people don't like it?  What if you don't sell anything and everyone else does?

And if someone does like your work, it can give you confidence to continue, but if I secretly think it's not good enough it doesn't really matter what they think.

I guess its self-confidence that's most important, something that no-one else can really give you.

Soul Purpose

I'm new to blogging and unsure how personal to make it, but I think the blogs I've read and liked the best are ones that are pretty personal.

Well, I'll try it and see how it feels.

I've been stuck for ages struggling with my soul purpose, finding what it is that really makes me happy, that I can do well and share with other people.  Oh and not to mention makes me very rich!!! 

I've been working as a manager in a bistro and doing some art work and courses in my spare time, of which there never seems to be enough.  I've been unhappy with this situation for ages, but seem to be in a rut and unable to climb out!

I think my soul purpose is being creative, possibly being an artist and writer, but there is always a lot of fear and doubt around it.  Which leads to procrastination.

self portrait (detail), pencil,  2007

If this blog could be a record of my journey from being stuck to being unstuck, from fear to freedom, that would be amazing!

WASPS Open Studios weekend, October 2nd and 3rd

Come and visit any or all of the WASPS buildings, Open Studios in October.  There will be lots of artists around to chat to and if you want to buy work there will be lots of beautiful things!  I'm at West Park Place, just off Dalry Road.   Then you could go across to First Coast for lunch or dinner, the food is amazing.

I'm going to vet school...

I'm excited about a new course I've just booked at eca called art and veterinary science!  It starts next month and we have three hours a week at the Dick Vet School, to investigate, draw and basically fill sketchbooks with ideas from the collection of animal skeletons, equipment etc.  This opportunity has come about because the school is closing, and I believe relocating.  So eca has negotiated this class.

Spine, Pen drawing, 2007

I find skeletons fascinating.  Here is a drawing of one of the (faux) human ones from eca.  I did a project where I was wrapping thread around the bones, using the thread like a drawn line to create a pattern determined by the sequence of the bones.

I forgot to mention, my parents both trained as vets in Glasgow, so it feels like an interesting family connection to do an art project in a vet school.

Some more pictures

Here are some images of recent books.  The little black one is a flutter book made up of photographs I took 2007-08.  For a year I took a photograph every morning of my body, in different postures.  I wanted to make a record over a period of time, but I was more interested in looking at my body as a landscape, with different shapes, textures, shadows, lines and spaces.

I cropped the images so that they became more abstract, but still recognisable as the human form.  The images fit well in this structure, as you have to open and unfold each one to see it clearly, so it has an intimate or secret feel to it.

I also covered it with fabric from some clothing rather than book cloth,
and used ribbons to tie it to further suggest undressing something or someone; a sense of intimacy and I guess femininity.
This book is only about 5x5cm, so really tiny.







The next one is also small,
it fits inside a soap box.  I liked the kitsch design of the
soap box and wanted to make a book that would seem
really cute and delicate in this pretty soap box, but then have something darker or surprising inside.

Well, I haven't decided what that darker thing will be, so its unfinished at the moment.  I want to finish it tomorrow, so any ideas would be amazing!

I was thinking along the lines of maybe something erotic or suggestive that you wouldn't expect in a soap box?  The pages are just cream and it is really tiny, so it has to be something that I can fit in.  It could be text or drawings.  Hmmm.  There are all those beautiful drawings in the kama sutra and other old eastern books on sex....maybe something along those lines....

Just as well my gran won't read this, why can't I be the kind of artist who just makes pretty things that I can show my gran?

First ever post!

It's a rainy Tuesday afternoon and after a good discussion with my partner I have finally taken the first step towards getting myself a web presence.  So here is my very first blogspot.

Right now I'm an artist making artist's books, which vary greatly in structure and content.  I just completed an illustration course which I loved, and I also write short stories.  So I hope this blogspot can be a place where I share whatever it is that I'm creating!

I'm just about to exhibit at my first artist's book fair at the Poetry Library in Edinburgh, on Saturday 25th September, called By Leaves We Live.