In preparation for the upcoming Christmas holidays, I
checked out a few books from the library to kindle new year’s projects. The best one I came home with is ‘1000 Artists’ Books – Exploring the Book as Art’ by Sandra Salamony with Peter and Donna Thomas. (Quarry Books, 2012)
Peter
Thomas’s thoughtful introduction makes the claim that ‘the book is clearly the
most complex and versatile art medium that exists’, and the pages which follow,
featuring a treasure trove of work of artists from around the globe, proves this
assertion.
I
grabbed my sketchbook as ideas for projects of my own were ignited by these
hundreds of examples of the very best in contemporary artists’ books.
A
great companion to this volume of inspiration is Alisa Golden’s ‘Making Handmade Books – 100+ Bindings, Structures and Forms’ which I purchased and
began working my way through earlier this year.
Alisa is one of the artists whose work is to be found in ‘1000 Artists’ Books’.
Her clearly written directions along with additional
examples of exciting artists’ books have me all fired up to get back into the
creative flow of studio work.
Another few days of vacation are on the agenda but these
two volumes are fine for keeping my thinking cap filled to the brim. What are you reading for inspiration?
