I found this article extremely interesting for a multitude of reasons. For one, exploring how artists are combining literature and art in a different way. Instead of having one painting for people to view at a time, artists are producing multiple forms of content with different materials to modernize the common conception of the book. To be quite honest, I’m not quite sure how it differs from a portfolio (since it seems like a lot of these are just collections of art) or a ‘zine (which are normally smaller form magazines with text and art). I like the combining of text and art, though. For my book, I would hope to focus on more human concepts. As a psychology major who is hoping to work in clinical therapy, I am constantly thinking about how we all think. Like Batey and Bodman in the interview, I think I would like to explore human nature and its intrinsic value. I’m hoping I’ll be able to explore monumental points in everyone’s lives like going to college, having their first relationship, and exploring independence.
The idea of the artist’s book has interested me greatly. I feel this is one of many art forms that work well together like media and music- I love movies and one thing I always note is the score. Was the music happy or sad? Was there any music to make the scene more tense? Was it loud to create a sense of anxiety? Movies and music work together well to convey emotions that may be harder or less interesting to simply show audiences.
I really liked the idea that artists books can be used to hold whatever topic you want, and give off whatever feeling you want it to. It doesn’t need to fall into a specific category nor does it need to try and strike everyone’s interest. It can be whatever you want it to be. On that subject, I liked what Sarah Bodman said about how she tries to make the books appealing so that people pick them up, despite what could be on the inside, especially if it’s something people don’t want to see. Saying that there are “little surprises” in them is super cute and intriguing.
The idea of being able to use different techniques depending on the type of book you’re creating is really cool to me because everyone sees things differently and has specific techniques or ideas, they’ll want to use that may not correspond with everyone else, and that’s okay. You should be able to make the type of art you want and that you think works the best with your book/ story. Artists books help people to engage with the material and your writing in a new way. I also think that trying to connect materials and techniques to the theme of your story so that it all translates is a really good idea. By relating the way, the book is created to what you want your story to be about is a great way to help build interest and allow the reader to really feel the emotions of the story.
For my artists book, I’m thinking of something that can relate my story to the pages of the book. When we created our individual artists books in Sarah Gorham’s class, I painted each page to match some of the words or phrases used in my poem. This helped create connection, and was something I really enjoyed, so I want to do it again. I also want it to be more of a handmade book where I paint, color, and write in it myself. I have nothing against digital work, but I prefer more hand-made things.
Having two different genres of art together (art and writing) is really good because it allows the readers or onlookers to have two different arts to look see at once. When the art matches or correlates to the writing, it can help bring out the written story. It can also help to move the story along and intrigue the reader into going further in the work. If everything works together well, it’s a brilliant piece of art.
I find the whole concept of artists’ books to be interesting, mainly because it is something that I’ve never truly looked into before. I am typically more drawn to actual words rather than visual art, but this has caused me to further admire the messages behind physical pieces. I’m still not entirely sure of what I am thinking an artists’ book is. After reading the interviews I feel as though they are simply a compilation of an artist’s work in which each piece has something in common, or tells a common story/message to go with its visuals. Being an environmental science major, I enjoyed reading about the one artist that focused on the dark parts of nature. I began to explore that further and started to be fascinated by the idea of someone painting beautiful parts of nature in really dark colors with really aggressive movements, while also painting the bad parts of nature in really light and welcoming colors. I feel like that would create a contrast, but also a message while having the two art forms harmonize in ways they shouldn’t.
I find many things interesting throughout various disciplines and genres. From the Earth and its systems and the impacts humans have on it to athletics and gaming, all this and in between make up the pieces of who I am. I believe that my major, Environmental Studies, provides an interesting topic for fiction writing and a possible theme for an artist’s book. Using short fiction stories as a way to develop an understanding of climate change or spread awareness/warning about global warming is something I have thought about. The impact of a story like this could be grand if written and conveyed correctly. I would think that an artist’s book about this subject would convey not only my passion for it but also my desire to make a change. An artist’s book by itself is a harmonization of artworks. The combination of writings and art throughout a physical book, which is a work of art in and of itself, makes it a unique and personalized artwork.
I found it interesting that book art, like other forms of art, went through some distinct periods, with changes in style, etc. I also liked that the artists’ books can use art and make a story (if desired) in ways that are different from either art or books on their own, and that they’re different even than other things that combine the two, such as graphic novels. These use art to tell stories and put it into a book, where as artists’ books are books of art, that also are art.
Artists’ books can really have or look like anything, but when I think of them, about what I would like to make if I made one, would be something that has a story, and maybe some drawings to accompany, but more than that would have things that make an observer say, “Oh yes, I see the point of this design, it really matches the vibe of the story, I could really see all this stuff going with the characters/in that setting.”
Artists’ books combine different kinds of art into one piece, and they can work together in several different ways to complement each other and enhance each other. Drawing, photography, prints, and collage can come together wonderfully to make a page, and they can be paired with writing to enhance or perhaps cast a different light on what the writing is trying to say. And putting them together to form a book creates something more, because you not only can tie everything into a story or theme, but you can give whoever’s looking at it something that they can not only look at, but handle and interact with.
One thing that I found interesting about all of these interviews is that I do not believe any one of them studied the making of book art in their degree pursuits. Rather, they all seemed to have stumbled upon the art and fell in love with it. I think that is a nod to the creative outlet that these books allow artists to harness, which we will be able to explore as well.
I found Batey’s style to be the closest to what I might want to do for an artist book, but not what I intend to do at the same time – I really liked his focus on the human condition and our relationship with materials. I especially liked when he said, “I enjoy creating my own bizarre world in which my narratives and characters can cause trouble – which is a twisted version of what’s around us.”
While he focuses on the consumer in the modern world and material objects, I think I may take a deeper approach on the topic of the human condition and focus on a concept relating to an individual stuck in their own mind but forced to move through society. This may teeter on the line of mental health and exploring that as an idea – perhaps through an individual’s recovery or how somebody may progress through life whilst coping with a mental illness. It may even be just a constant mental battle of dealing with too much thought, like I originally mentioned. It’s a very rough idea, but I think I’m straying away from humor and more towards a sort of realism form of book art.
Two other genres of art work that work together to synergize are music and cinema. Some of the most powerful moments in movies are the ones where no words are spoken and the music conveys the feelings of the actors the audience in a way that they feel, too. It’s like capturing the feelings and emotions tied to the moment for the characters in the movie and allowing the music to move the audience in the same way. This is a brilliant combination as cinema and music are beautiful arts alone. Yet, when created together to convey a moment or scene they produce a whole new effect that is, in my opinion, even more powerful.
The artist’s books I find particularly interesting are the ones that aren’t like traditional stories. The ones that are accompanied with things like memos and notes that enhance the story being told. In the regular book ones, the illustrations are nice, especially the ones that look more like comics, but for this project I think changing the entire format would be really cool to experiment with.
The performative movie-videos by past students were also an interesting take on the format of this project. Taking the character and showing them interacting with the book(reading, writing, etc.) brings the audience even closer to the subject. However, the choice to make one of those videos in fact takes away from the effectiveness of the book itself. We are experiencing the story with the character(s) instead of reading about them.
After taking some time to think about different kinds of art coming together, I believe that video games could be a good example. They are like films in the visual and auditory sense while also taking time to tell a story. With so many different kinds of art coming together, it makes sense that films are both so popular and yet so criticized. Unlike films, however, video games have the added benefit of allowing the audience/player to actively engage with the story and the characters. In this way, the player’s choices have the potential to affect how the story is told.
I like how there are pretty much no boundaries for what an artist’s book must be. Nothing is more stifling than a creative project that has inflexible boundaries or appears to simply be cut and dried. For me, it is important to effectively relay the vibes I’m going for when telling a story. Sometimes words simply cannot encompass all that I wish the consumer to understand. With an artist’s book, it seems as though it will be significantly easier to portray what my own vision for the story really is. I think I’d like to focus on using images to create the proper aesthetic. It’s like creating a mood board. The images will help to show what a character within the story would be picking up with their senses. I think it would be interesting to see if there’s a way to add an auditory element to the book. Maybe I could include Spotify codes to allow the consumer to play a song that encapsulates a feeling I am trying to portray or that bolsters the vibes evident through the pictures. I think it would also be interesting to include a tactile element in the book. Something that is 3D oftentimes has a greater effect on fitting the vibe one is going for than a simple image. I really like the way that one can take classical pieces of art and digitally edit them to appear differently. I’ve seen people do some pretty cool things such as editing statues to look forgotten and decrepit or taking a renaissance painting and adding a 21st-century twist with edgy phrases and doodles. I like the conjoining of such drastically different vibes that are almost antithetical: the pristine marble statue with dirt, overgrown vines, and cracks or the meticulously detailed paintings with purposefully simple and scribbly doodles.
One characteristic of artist books that really captured my attention was the multitude of possibilities. As with most art, there is a plethora of different styles within this genre. Artist books do an excellent job of portraying the true limitless depths of creative imagination and that was what I found so captivating about reading the interviews. Each artist had their own unique style that emphasized their individuality. I found the materials in which some of the artists in the interview used, very unique and that they really spoke true to the different opportunities for creativity within this genre.
Particularly, I favored Jackie Batey’s words in their description of themselves as an artist. During the interview, when asked, “Do you consider yourself specifically a ‘book artist’ or just an ‘artist’?” Batey responded, “I would consider myself someone who wants to share ideas with other people.” This resonated with me, because while art kept private has its appeal in the sense that it can be completely raw and unfiltered without fear of judgement, I’ve found in my own experience that there is nothing quite like watching others have a glimpse into your imagination in ways that they couldn’t otherwise.
My hopes for my own artist book, is that it represents my style, giving the viewer/reader a glimpse into my own mind. I love deception when it comes to art. Leading the reader/audience down one path and then creating a fork in the road moments later that completely sparks a new perspective. It leaves the unexpected to be explored and the viewer captivated on the edge of their seats, unsure what comes next.
As for the style that inspires me about artist books, I plan on basing it off of the short story itself so that they compliment each other and yet concealing the meaning slightly in a shroud of mystery. The story will likely fall into the realism category. It will depict relatability, rawness, and a depiction of life as it is. Whereas the art will be surreal. Surrealism in storytelling helps magnify the meaning and the story only more by adding new depths that weren’t seen before. With surrealism, it leaves questions unanswered and room for interpretation. In that sense, the reader/viewer not only gets a glimpse into the artist’s imagination, but it also stirs their own.
I like the idea of compiling art in one place and being able to easily show people your artwork without having to go to a gallery or going really anywhere to see it. I also like that it gives artists the freedom to publish whatever they want without restrictions with technology and internet access today. What’s really cool about artist books is that there aren’t any definitions as to what it has to be, or how it has to look. I looked at one of the websites’ catalog the artists recommended (https://booklyn.org/) and the work is really impressive. There are a couple of books embroidered with red string that resemble veins. I particularly like art that has physical/3D elements, which I would love to incorporate into my own. Abstract art and complex design seems to play a big role in the community and seems to generally be the case, or it either has a very minimalist design. I also noticed that collaging is often used. What was also nice to see in the interview was that most weren’t formally educated on the matter and that they were self taught. I like the broadness and looseness of art books and that it can be whatever you as the artist want it to be, and you don’t need a degree or really any previous knowledge to involve yourself.
I never had much experience with writing anything more than a research paper for a scientific class. I never had to write a story of some sort, so this class is going to be a new experience for me with my writing skills. Moreso, I also never really had that much experience with anything art related. So, when I read this article, I will be honest and say that when I first read the words “artist’s book,” I was a bit confused. But, as I was reading the article, it started to make sense to me as to what it is exactly. I appreciate the idea of it being a way for artists to use it as a way of expression in the form of a book. I really like the thought of being able to express multiple feelings through different forms of art, themes, and materials, all in the same book, right there in front of me.
To me, I have also found abstract art to be fascinating. Abstract art is art that doesn’t have an accurate representation, or depiction, of a picture. Instead, abstract art uses all different types of shapes, colors, and marks to create this visual creation, which then becomes a reality. I would really like to incorporate abstract art into my artist book as it gives me this sense of idea to bring my writing to reality. Using different shapes, colors, and markings will represent the mood or the vibe of the character and the setting.
After taking sometime to think about what kinds of art come together, I instantly thought of music. Music is always my go-to whenever I do something, rather it be walking to class, doing homework, driving, or just lounging around. Everyone has their own taste in music and everyone interprets it differently. I always think about how music tells a story. The words to the song are the book, the story, and the music video is the visual representation of that story. That music video is how the artists themselves tell the story. But, when I listen to a song, I have my own interpretation of the lyrics, therefore, I am able to make my own music video and tell my story.
I enjoyed how art and writing was put into a different perspective than a typical sculpture or painting. No one had to be an expert in art or writing either to do it they just enjoyed it for fun. I never knew writing and art could come together like this. I also thought it was cool how a lot of book artists originally started with just art growing up doing 3D prints or paintings and found a new way to express their art in a form of texts. Book art can go into so many different directions based off what you want the readers to feel or know.
I like how each artists takes their interests and turn it into art. I feel my major Animal behavior would give a different take towards society and using art to show the importance of animal life on earth. I feel reading about it is one thing but to hold a visual book of what’s happening to animals in the environment currently and even get a bit deep and graphic could put people into realization that this is happening to our planet. Some book artists talked about using humor for really serious topics in society but I feel using a more graphic heart wrenching art could catch more of an eye to the audience.
Two difference genres of art I think harmonize together is music and dance. Dance does indeed fall under the art category. With growing up taking ballet and other forms of dance it was always explained that we are telling a story with our movements and expressions to the music. Ballet is the most artistic kind of dance because the music is just instrumental so you use your body movements to create a dance to tell the story. It can become so powerful to even move people to tears because you can feel the emotion and intensity of the dancer or dancers with the music.
I like that artist books are kind of at the intersection between art and bookmaking. Making and manufacturing books is different from an artist book for the fact that the artist has a say in every step of how the book is made. In the article I thought it was really interesting that the first artist, Jackie Batey, liked to give their books a pleasing or inviting cover to be able to hide more disturbing images/topics inside the book. Going through the rest of the article, I really enjoyed seeing the differences in what got these artists into making these books as well as the other kinds of art they do and what processes they use to create their books. I like that we are going to be able to make our own artist book for one of the short stories we write. For my artist book I might try to do a dark theme for the story but have an inviting cover like Jakie Batey. I’m not sure how well I might be able to write a darker themed story but I think it would be a cool challenge. If I don’t end up writing a darker themed story I would want to do a more mysterious looking cover. I’m very excited to see how my artist book will turn out! Being able to have access to different materials and methods of creating the book is really exciting to me. I’m also stoked to be able to physically put the book together and be able to keep it!
There were a few things from the interviews that I found interesting. The idea of the livre d’artiste being a “beautifully bound book”, yet containing something personal is almost touching in a way. Sarah Bodman specifically stood out to me, as she explained that her books closely followed the livre d’artiste tradition of being beautifully-bound and exquisite looking. Yet, I also like the idea that many of the artists described by stating that they create their books with an intention of being humorous. I think that for me, I’d like to merge the idea of having something that looks wonderful and exquisite as a façade for the humor and silliness beneath it. I also found it interesting that many of the artists agreed that while these books have no places in gallery settings or for monetary gain, they are-or almost- as important as those works. Artists books are incredibly personal and can not only reflect how an individual thinks and feels during a certain period, but can reflect a culture and society as well. I’m not sure yet what artist’s book I might think of. When I created an artist book during my non-fiction writing course, I focused more on connecting the things I wrote about in my life, specifically the evolution of different relationships from my childhood up until college. I think I’d like to highlight the similarities in each of my stories when it comes time to create the book. This way, I can try to pinpoint a specific writing style that I might have. Two different genres of art can work together to harmonize in a few ways. Firstly, people have different ways to interpret things. A person who may not resonate wholly with words might not make much of a poem, but if that poem were represented through a drawing or painting, that person may take or create an interpretation of their own. Going along with this, different styles of art/writing could also create conflicting themes and messages, which could create discourse on the topic. For instance, words could convey that one should “reach for the stars”, but a painting could show a burnt hand reaching for scorching flames or vice versa. By seeing a similar message conveyed by different styles/genres of art, we, as viewers, have the opportunity to look at the message through two or more unique perspectives that we otherwise wouldn’t have.
I really enjoyed reading the different interviews and learning about all the techniques different artists use to make their artist book reflect who they are and their interests. To be completely honest though, I am still unsure of what exactly it is I want to portray in my artist book. All of this is very new to me and I am stepping far out of my comfort zone, but I really just want to create something that reflects who I am and is exciting to look at. I wouldn’t consider myself the artistic type especially when it comes to doing it online so my book will be very realistic/colorful and done with paint, pencils, markers etc. With my short story and artist book together I really want to make people feel something when observing it, whether that be inspired, upset, hopeful, or anything at all. If I do that then it makes me think I created something meaningful to my audience. I think with the artist book itself I can make it unique in my own way to allow it to go along with my short story to show the literature and artistic aspect intertwine with one another. I think the beauty of the artist book is that there is no specific way to do it, you just get to make it your own and utilize different art forms to make your story come to life.
I found this article wildly interesting. I thought it was really interesting to hear about all the different types of artists’ books from the different artists. One detail in this article that stood out to me was how there was the common theme of communicating through their art. I find it interesting how even though these artists have different styles, themes, focuses, etc. but they are all united in the way that they communicate their message through their books. I feel like that is the ultimate goal of art, to tell a story or communicate a story and the book format feels like the perfect medium to do that in. I am a big music fan, I love listening to it and playing it. I believe the major distinction between an artist’s art and an artist’s book is similar to a song and an album. Alone the song has meaning, a message, but put together with ten or so other tracks, the meaning of the album becomes greater than the song alone.
I wouldn’t consider myself an “artist” according to most definitions but like an artist I like to find meaning in the mundane. I want my artist book to reflect that idea of finding meaning in the mundane. Primarily focusing on small moments of the human experience that shape an individual. I feel like photography captures these small, important, moments very well. I believe in general that photography meshes well with short stories. Both photos and short stories focus on only a small part of a bigger picture, a tree in a field or story of a shop in Massachusetts. Both these mediums rely on smaller things to create atmosphere and tell a bigger story that leaves the reader wanting more.
What I found interesting about this article was the different ways each individual who was interviewed expressed what an “artist book”. Each of them had a different interpretation about their work and what it meant, whether it was considered to make them a book artist or just an artists. I liked this narrative that each of them had different ideas about what made who they were and what their work was. The type of artists book I am thinking of or creating is one that has art created by the pieces of writing. Something that can be interpreted into many different ideas. I want to be able to create the art in artists book based on the thoughts that flowed from me onto the page and then into a piece of art. I think that this creative freedom of what I will be writing about and what it will eventually mean as a piece of art is really important in the process. Two different genres of art the I think coexist really well together would be the words on a page and then real life visual representation of the plot. I think that art can be a really reflective way to truly show your audience what you are trying to say. Being able to link these two types of art together can paint a clear picture of exactly the emotions you are trying to convey in your words in a slightly different way.
The concept of an artist’s book is not new to me, and continues to be a fascination of mine. First semester of freshman year I took a class with Professor Frank in which we explored the idea of commonplacing, the act of compiling knowledge, an art that like artist’s books, have been transformed through time. The artist’s book is exceptionally interesting because of the ways it can be produced. An artist’s book is an extension of the artist, and no two artists are the same. For examples, commonplacing could be keeping a diary, a log of quotations, a field journal, recording music, and collecting other forms of artistic expression. An artist’s book may include all of these things, and then some. I intend for my artist’s book to be authentic. To tell a story of growth, and of healing that I believe many young souls can relate. I want to connect the Earth to the human as one, and use extensive imagery and metaphors to express that being human, is being the Earth.
What do you like, find interesting, etc.?
I like how artist books are sort of a broad spectrum of things. They are very loosely defined and act as a sort of medium, or conduit for the author or curator to create this either broad or focused, tangible amalgamation of their artistic and creative vision. They’re totally expressive, and they serves as a canvas for creative stimulation and conceptual visualisation, which I find exciting. Story boarding, is something I am drawn to in particular, and artist books, seem almost like a precursor to them, in a loosely connected way. They are this vague semblance of artistic expression, at least that is how I interpret it, or hopefully intend to run with it, part and parcel again of what Artist’s Books seem to be, something that I drew further from the interviews. It is loose, and I like that. All the while still held together by a conceptual strand, If not that, then the artistic imprint of it’s author.
What kind of Artists books are you thinking of?
Whilst reading the article and thinking of how I might interpret an artist books, and exploring or creating my own one; several ideas or themes came up that I think I would like to explore. Art Deco is an art from that I have been drawn to for quite some time, and the conceptual themes and philosophical identities that stem behind it, would allow for room to breathe and build off. This idea of the grandiose, idealism, and something larger than life, I think makes room for quite atmospheric settings, and is represented in many forms of artistic expression. The social and artistic culture of the Modernist era, namely the 1930’ and 40’s, in conjunction with it’s movement towards the future, and how it very much shaped the world we live in today, and how the individual exists within it, I think would allow for breadth of scope, and conceptual exploration. Duality of man, Idealism Cynicism, are just some of things I would like to explore, and I think would allow for quite exciting imagery. Something I would draw inspiration from would be the film Metropolis that came out in 1927.
19 thoughts on “JOURNAL # 1”
I found this article extremely interesting for a multitude of reasons. For one, exploring how artists are combining literature and art in a different way. Instead of having one painting for people to view at a time, artists are producing multiple forms of content with different materials to modernize the common conception of the book. To be quite honest, I’m not quite sure how it differs from a portfolio (since it seems like a lot of these are just collections of art) or a ‘zine (which are normally smaller form magazines with text and art). I like the combining of text and art, though. For my book, I would hope to focus on more human concepts. As a psychology major who is hoping to work in clinical therapy, I am constantly thinking about how we all think. Like Batey and Bodman in the interview, I think I would like to explore human nature and its intrinsic value. I’m hoping I’ll be able to explore monumental points in everyone’s lives like going to college, having their first relationship, and exploring independence.
The idea of the artist’s book has interested me greatly. I feel this is one of many art forms that work well together like media and music- I love movies and one thing I always note is the score. Was the music happy or sad? Was there any music to make the scene more tense? Was it loud to create a sense of anxiety? Movies and music work together well to convey emotions that may be harder or less interesting to simply show audiences.
I really liked the idea that artists books can be used to hold whatever topic you want, and give off whatever feeling you want it to. It doesn’t need to fall into a specific category nor does it need to try and strike everyone’s interest. It can be whatever you want it to be. On that subject, I liked what Sarah Bodman said about how she tries to make the books appealing so that people pick them up, despite what could be on the inside, especially if it’s something people don’t want to see. Saying that there are “little surprises” in them is super cute and intriguing.
The idea of being able to use different techniques depending on the type of book you’re creating is really cool to me because everyone sees things differently and has specific techniques or ideas, they’ll want to use that may not correspond with everyone else, and that’s okay. You should be able to make the type of art you want and that you think works the best with your book/ story. Artists books help people to engage with the material and your writing in a new way. I also think that trying to connect materials and techniques to the theme of your story so that it all translates is a really good idea. By relating the way, the book is created to what you want your story to be about is a great way to help build interest and allow the reader to really feel the emotions of the story.
For my artists book, I’m thinking of something that can relate my story to the pages of the book. When we created our individual artists books in Sarah Gorham’s class, I painted each page to match some of the words or phrases used in my poem. This helped create connection, and was something I really enjoyed, so I want to do it again. I also want it to be more of a handmade book where I paint, color, and write in it myself. I have nothing against digital work, but I prefer more hand-made things.
Having two different genres of art together (art and writing) is really good because it allows the readers or onlookers to have two different arts to look see at once. When the art matches or correlates to the writing, it can help bring out the written story. It can also help to move the story along and intrigue the reader into going further in the work. If everything works together well, it’s a brilliant piece of art.
I find the whole concept of artists’ books to be interesting, mainly because it is something that I’ve never truly looked into before. I am typically more drawn to actual words rather than visual art, but this has caused me to further admire the messages behind physical pieces. I’m still not entirely sure of what I am thinking an artists’ book is. After reading the interviews I feel as though they are simply a compilation of an artist’s work in which each piece has something in common, or tells a common story/message to go with its visuals. Being an environmental science major, I enjoyed reading about the one artist that focused on the dark parts of nature. I began to explore that further and started to be fascinated by the idea of someone painting beautiful parts of nature in really dark colors with really aggressive movements, while also painting the bad parts of nature in really light and welcoming colors. I feel like that would create a contrast, but also a message while having the two art forms harmonize in ways they shouldn’t.
I find many things interesting throughout various disciplines and genres. From the Earth and its systems and the impacts humans have on it to athletics and gaming, all this and in between make up the pieces of who I am. I believe that my major, Environmental Studies, provides an interesting topic for fiction writing and a possible theme for an artist’s book. Using short fiction stories as a way to develop an understanding of climate change or spread awareness/warning about global warming is something I have thought about. The impact of a story like this could be grand if written and conveyed correctly. I would think that an artist’s book about this subject would convey not only my passion for it but also my desire to make a change. An artist’s book by itself is a harmonization of artworks. The combination of writings and art throughout a physical book, which is a work of art in and of itself, makes it a unique and personalized artwork.
I found it interesting that book art, like other forms of art, went through some distinct periods, with changes in style, etc. I also liked that the artists’ books can use art and make a story (if desired) in ways that are different from either art or books on their own, and that they’re different even than other things that combine the two, such as graphic novels. These use art to tell stories and put it into a book, where as artists’ books are books of art, that also are art.
Artists’ books can really have or look like anything, but when I think of them, about what I would like to make if I made one, would be something that has a story, and maybe some drawings to accompany, but more than that would have things that make an observer say, “Oh yes, I see the point of this design, it really matches the vibe of the story, I could really see all this stuff going with the characters/in that setting.”
Artists’ books combine different kinds of art into one piece, and they can work together in several different ways to complement each other and enhance each other. Drawing, photography, prints, and collage can come together wonderfully to make a page, and they can be paired with writing to enhance or perhaps cast a different light on what the writing is trying to say. And putting them together to form a book creates something more, because you not only can tie everything into a story or theme, but you can give whoever’s looking at it something that they can not only look at, but handle and interact with.
One thing that I found interesting about all of these interviews is that I do not believe any one of them studied the making of book art in their degree pursuits. Rather, they all seemed to have stumbled upon the art and fell in love with it. I think that is a nod to the creative outlet that these books allow artists to harness, which we will be able to explore as well.
I found Batey’s style to be the closest to what I might want to do for an artist book, but not what I intend to do at the same time – I really liked his focus on the human condition and our relationship with materials. I especially liked when he said, “I enjoy creating my own bizarre world in which my narratives and characters can cause trouble – which is a twisted version of what’s around us.”
While he focuses on the consumer in the modern world and material objects, I think I may take a deeper approach on the topic of the human condition and focus on a concept relating to an individual stuck in their own mind but forced to move through society. This may teeter on the line of mental health and exploring that as an idea – perhaps through an individual’s recovery or how somebody may progress through life whilst coping with a mental illness. It may even be just a constant mental battle of dealing with too much thought, like I originally mentioned. It’s a very rough idea, but I think I’m straying away from humor and more towards a sort of realism form of book art.
Two other genres of art work that work together to synergize are music and cinema. Some of the most powerful moments in movies are the ones where no words are spoken and the music conveys the feelings of the actors the audience in a way that they feel, too. It’s like capturing the feelings and emotions tied to the moment for the characters in the movie and allowing the music to move the audience in the same way. This is a brilliant combination as cinema and music are beautiful arts alone. Yet, when created together to convey a moment or scene they produce a whole new effect that is, in my opinion, even more powerful.
The artist’s books I find particularly interesting are the ones that aren’t like traditional stories. The ones that are accompanied with things like memos and notes that enhance the story being told. In the regular book ones, the illustrations are nice, especially the ones that look more like comics, but for this project I think changing the entire format would be really cool to experiment with.
The performative movie-videos by past students were also an interesting take on the format of this project. Taking the character and showing them interacting with the book(reading, writing, etc.) brings the audience even closer to the subject. However, the choice to make one of those videos in fact takes away from the effectiveness of the book itself. We are experiencing the story with the character(s) instead of reading about them.
After taking some time to think about different kinds of art coming together, I believe that video games could be a good example. They are like films in the visual and auditory sense while also taking time to tell a story. With so many different kinds of art coming together, it makes sense that films are both so popular and yet so criticized. Unlike films, however, video games have the added benefit of allowing the audience/player to actively engage with the story and the characters. In this way, the player’s choices have the potential to affect how the story is told.
I like how there are pretty much no boundaries for what an artist’s book must be. Nothing is more stifling than a creative project that has inflexible boundaries or appears to simply be cut and dried. For me, it is important to effectively relay the vibes I’m going for when telling a story. Sometimes words simply cannot encompass all that I wish the consumer to understand. With an artist’s book, it seems as though it will be significantly easier to portray what my own vision for the story really is. I think I’d like to focus on using images to create the proper aesthetic. It’s like creating a mood board. The images will help to show what a character within the story would be picking up with their senses. I think it would be interesting to see if there’s a way to add an auditory element to the book. Maybe I could include Spotify codes to allow the consumer to play a song that encapsulates a feeling I am trying to portray or that bolsters the vibes evident through the pictures. I think it would also be interesting to include a tactile element in the book. Something that is 3D oftentimes has a greater effect on fitting the vibe one is going for than a simple image. I really like the way that one can take classical pieces of art and digitally edit them to appear differently. I’ve seen people do some pretty cool things such as editing statues to look forgotten and decrepit or taking a renaissance painting and adding a 21st-century twist with edgy phrases and doodles. I like the conjoining of such drastically different vibes that are almost antithetical: the pristine marble statue with dirt, overgrown vines, and cracks or the meticulously detailed paintings with purposefully simple and scribbly doodles.
One characteristic of artist books that really captured my attention was the multitude of possibilities. As with most art, there is a plethora of different styles within this genre. Artist books do an excellent job of portraying the true limitless depths of creative imagination and that was what I found so captivating about reading the interviews. Each artist had their own unique style that emphasized their individuality. I found the materials in which some of the artists in the interview used, very unique and that they really spoke true to the different opportunities for creativity within this genre.
Particularly, I favored Jackie Batey’s words in their description of themselves as an artist. During the interview, when asked, “Do you consider yourself specifically a ‘book artist’ or just an ‘artist’?” Batey responded, “I would consider myself someone who wants to share ideas with other people.” This resonated with me, because while art kept private has its appeal in the sense that it can be completely raw and unfiltered without fear of judgement, I’ve found in my own experience that there is nothing quite like watching others have a glimpse into your imagination in ways that they couldn’t otherwise.
My hopes for my own artist book, is that it represents my style, giving the viewer/reader a glimpse into my own mind. I love deception when it comes to art. Leading the reader/audience down one path and then creating a fork in the road moments later that completely sparks a new perspective. It leaves the unexpected to be explored and the viewer captivated on the edge of their seats, unsure what comes next.
As for the style that inspires me about artist books, I plan on basing it off of the short story itself so that they compliment each other and yet concealing the meaning slightly in a shroud of mystery. The story will likely fall into the realism category. It will depict relatability, rawness, and a depiction of life as it is. Whereas the art will be surreal. Surrealism in storytelling helps magnify the meaning and the story only more by adding new depths that weren’t seen before. With surrealism, it leaves questions unanswered and room for interpretation. In that sense, the reader/viewer not only gets a glimpse into the artist’s imagination, but it also stirs their own.
I like the idea of compiling art in one place and being able to easily show people your artwork without having to go to a gallery or going really anywhere to see it. I also like that it gives artists the freedom to publish whatever they want without restrictions with technology and internet access today. What’s really cool about artist books is that there aren’t any definitions as to what it has to be, or how it has to look. I looked at one of the websites’ catalog the artists recommended (https://booklyn.org/) and the work is really impressive. There are a couple of books embroidered with red string that resemble veins. I particularly like art that has physical/3D elements, which I would love to incorporate into my own. Abstract art and complex design seems to play a big role in the community and seems to generally be the case, or it either has a very minimalist design. I also noticed that collaging is often used. What was also nice to see in the interview was that most weren’t formally educated on the matter and that they were self taught. I like the broadness and looseness of art books and that it can be whatever you as the artist want it to be, and you don’t need a degree or really any previous knowledge to involve yourself.
I never had much experience with writing anything more than a research paper for a scientific class. I never had to write a story of some sort, so this class is going to be a new experience for me with my writing skills. Moreso, I also never really had that much experience with anything art related. So, when I read this article, I will be honest and say that when I first read the words “artist’s book,” I was a bit confused. But, as I was reading the article, it started to make sense to me as to what it is exactly. I appreciate the idea of it being a way for artists to use it as a way of expression in the form of a book. I really like the thought of being able to express multiple feelings through different forms of art, themes, and materials, all in the same book, right there in front of me.
To me, I have also found abstract art to be fascinating. Abstract art is art that doesn’t have an accurate representation, or depiction, of a picture. Instead, abstract art uses all different types of shapes, colors, and marks to create this visual creation, which then becomes a reality. I would really like to incorporate abstract art into my artist book as it gives me this sense of idea to bring my writing to reality. Using different shapes, colors, and markings will represent the mood or the vibe of the character and the setting.
After taking sometime to think about what kinds of art come together, I instantly thought of music. Music is always my go-to whenever I do something, rather it be walking to class, doing homework, driving, or just lounging around. Everyone has their own taste in music and everyone interprets it differently. I always think about how music tells a story. The words to the song are the book, the story, and the music video is the visual representation of that story. That music video is how the artists themselves tell the story. But, when I listen to a song, I have my own interpretation of the lyrics, therefore, I am able to make my own music video and tell my story.
I enjoyed how art and writing was put into a different perspective than a typical sculpture or painting. No one had to be an expert in art or writing either to do it they just enjoyed it for fun. I never knew writing and art could come together like this. I also thought it was cool how a lot of book artists originally started with just art growing up doing 3D prints or paintings and found a new way to express their art in a form of texts. Book art can go into so many different directions based off what you want the readers to feel or know.
I like how each artists takes their interests and turn it into art. I feel my major Animal behavior would give a different take towards society and using art to show the importance of animal life on earth. I feel reading about it is one thing but to hold a visual book of what’s happening to animals in the environment currently and even get a bit deep and graphic could put people into realization that this is happening to our planet. Some book artists talked about using humor for really serious topics in society but I feel using a more graphic heart wrenching art could catch more of an eye to the audience.
Two difference genres of art I think harmonize together is music and dance. Dance does indeed fall under the art category. With growing up taking ballet and other forms of dance it was always explained that we are telling a story with our movements and expressions to the music. Ballet is the most artistic kind of dance because the music is just instrumental so you use your body movements to create a dance to tell the story. It can become so powerful to even move people to tears because you can feel the emotion and intensity of the dancer or dancers with the music.
I like that artist books are kind of at the intersection between art and bookmaking. Making and manufacturing books is different from an artist book for the fact that the artist has a say in every step of how the book is made. In the article I thought it was really interesting that the first artist, Jackie Batey, liked to give their books a pleasing or inviting cover to be able to hide more disturbing images/topics inside the book. Going through the rest of the article, I really enjoyed seeing the differences in what got these artists into making these books as well as the other kinds of art they do and what processes they use to create their books. I like that we are going to be able to make our own artist book for one of the short stories we write. For my artist book I might try to do a dark theme for the story but have an inviting cover like Jakie Batey. I’m not sure how well I might be able to write a darker themed story but I think it would be a cool challenge. If I don’t end up writing a darker themed story I would want to do a more mysterious looking cover. I’m very excited to see how my artist book will turn out! Being able to have access to different materials and methods of creating the book is really exciting to me. I’m also stoked to be able to physically put the book together and be able to keep it!
There were a few things from the interviews that I found interesting. The idea of the livre d’artiste being a “beautifully bound book”, yet containing something personal is almost touching in a way. Sarah Bodman specifically stood out to me, as she explained that her books closely followed the livre d’artiste tradition of being beautifully-bound and exquisite looking. Yet, I also like the idea that many of the artists described by stating that they create their books with an intention of being humorous. I think that for me, I’d like to merge the idea of having something that looks wonderful and exquisite as a façade for the humor and silliness beneath it. I also found it interesting that many of the artists agreed that while these books have no places in gallery settings or for monetary gain, they are-or almost- as important as those works. Artists books are incredibly personal and can not only reflect how an individual thinks and feels during a certain period, but can reflect a culture and society as well. I’m not sure yet what artist’s book I might think of. When I created an artist book during my non-fiction writing course, I focused more on connecting the things I wrote about in my life, specifically the evolution of different relationships from my childhood up until college. I think I’d like to highlight the similarities in each of my stories when it comes time to create the book. This way, I can try to pinpoint a specific writing style that I might have. Two different genres of art can work together to harmonize in a few ways. Firstly, people have different ways to interpret things. A person who may not resonate wholly with words might not make much of a poem, but if that poem were represented through a drawing or painting, that person may take or create an interpretation of their own. Going along with this, different styles of art/writing could also create conflicting themes and messages, which could create discourse on the topic. For instance, words could convey that one should “reach for the stars”, but a painting could show a burnt hand reaching for scorching flames or vice versa. By seeing a similar message conveyed by different styles/genres of art, we, as viewers, have the opportunity to look at the message through two or more unique perspectives that we otherwise wouldn’t have.
I really enjoyed reading the different interviews and learning about all the techniques different artists use to make their artist book reflect who they are and their interests. To be completely honest though, I am still unsure of what exactly it is I want to portray in my artist book. All of this is very new to me and I am stepping far out of my comfort zone, but I really just want to create something that reflects who I am and is exciting to look at. I wouldn’t consider myself the artistic type especially when it comes to doing it online so my book will be very realistic/colorful and done with paint, pencils, markers etc. With my short story and artist book together I really want to make people feel something when observing it, whether that be inspired, upset, hopeful, or anything at all. If I do that then it makes me think I created something meaningful to my audience. I think with the artist book itself I can make it unique in my own way to allow it to go along with my short story to show the literature and artistic aspect intertwine with one another. I think the beauty of the artist book is that there is no specific way to do it, you just get to make it your own and utilize different art forms to make your story come to life.
I found this article wildly interesting. I thought it was really interesting to hear about all the different types of artists’ books from the different artists. One detail in this article that stood out to me was how there was the common theme of communicating through their art. I find it interesting how even though these artists have different styles, themes, focuses, etc. but they are all united in the way that they communicate their message through their books. I feel like that is the ultimate goal of art, to tell a story or communicate a story and the book format feels like the perfect medium to do that in. I am a big music fan, I love listening to it and playing it. I believe the major distinction between an artist’s art and an artist’s book is similar to a song and an album. Alone the song has meaning, a message, but put together with ten or so other tracks, the meaning of the album becomes greater than the song alone.
I wouldn’t consider myself an “artist” according to most definitions but like an artist I like to find meaning in the mundane. I want my artist book to reflect that idea of finding meaning in the mundane. Primarily focusing on small moments of the human experience that shape an individual. I feel like photography captures these small, important, moments very well. I believe in general that photography meshes well with short stories. Both photos and short stories focus on only a small part of a bigger picture, a tree in a field or story of a shop in Massachusetts. Both these mediums rely on smaller things to create atmosphere and tell a bigger story that leaves the reader wanting more.
What I found interesting about this article was the different ways each individual who was interviewed expressed what an “artist book”. Each of them had a different interpretation about their work and what it meant, whether it was considered to make them a book artist or just an artists. I liked this narrative that each of them had different ideas about what made who they were and what their work was. The type of artists book I am thinking of or creating is one that has art created by the pieces of writing. Something that can be interpreted into many different ideas. I want to be able to create the art in artists book based on the thoughts that flowed from me onto the page and then into a piece of art. I think that this creative freedom of what I will be writing about and what it will eventually mean as a piece of art is really important in the process. Two different genres of art the I think coexist really well together would be the words on a page and then real life visual representation of the plot. I think that art can be a really reflective way to truly show your audience what you are trying to say. Being able to link these two types of art together can paint a clear picture of exactly the emotions you are trying to convey in your words in a slightly different way.
The concept of an artist’s book is not new to me, and continues to be a fascination of mine. First semester of freshman year I took a class with Professor Frank in which we explored the idea of commonplacing, the act of compiling knowledge, an art that like artist’s books, have been transformed through time. The artist’s book is exceptionally interesting because of the ways it can be produced. An artist’s book is an extension of the artist, and no two artists are the same. For examples, commonplacing could be keeping a diary, a log of quotations, a field journal, recording music, and collecting other forms of artistic expression. An artist’s book may include all of these things, and then some. I intend for my artist’s book to be authentic. To tell a story of growth, and of healing that I believe many young souls can relate. I want to connect the Earth to the human as one, and use extensive imagery and metaphors to express that being human, is being the Earth.
Journal 1:
What do you like, find interesting, etc.?
I like how artist books are sort of a broad spectrum of things. They are very loosely defined and act as a sort of medium, or conduit for the author or curator to create this either broad or focused, tangible amalgamation of their artistic and creative vision. They’re totally expressive, and they serves as a canvas for creative stimulation and conceptual visualisation, which I find exciting. Story boarding, is something I am drawn to in particular, and artist books, seem almost like a precursor to them, in a loosely connected way. They are this vague semblance of artistic expression, at least that is how I interpret it, or hopefully intend to run with it, part and parcel again of what Artist’s Books seem to be, something that I drew further from the interviews. It is loose, and I like that. All the while still held together by a conceptual strand, If not that, then the artistic imprint of it’s author.
What kind of Artists books are you thinking of?
Whilst reading the article and thinking of how I might interpret an artist books, and exploring or creating my own one; several ideas or themes came up that I think I would like to explore. Art Deco is an art from that I have been drawn to for quite some time, and the conceptual themes and philosophical identities that stem behind it, would allow for room to breathe and build off. This idea of the grandiose, idealism, and something larger than life, I think makes room for quite atmospheric settings, and is represented in many forms of artistic expression. The social and artistic culture of the Modernist era, namely the 1930’ and 40’s, in conjunction with it’s movement towards the future, and how it very much shaped the world we live in today, and how the individual exists within it, I think would allow for breadth of scope, and conceptual exploration. Duality of man, Idealism Cynicism, are just some of things I would like to explore, and I think would allow for quite exciting imagery. Something I would draw inspiration from would be the film Metropolis that came out in 1927.