Altered Books, Collaborative Journals, and Other Adventures in Bookmaking [Paperback]

Holly Harrison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2003

Today, more than ever, you can't judge a book by its cover. Why? Because two trends in bookmaking are pushing the boundaries of what it means to write, read and experience a book. This guide explores the creative processes behind "altered books" - when artists make their own distinctive mark on an already published work - and "collaborative journals" - in which many artists come together to create a unique single work. It reveals how to alter treasured books through collage, paint, layering, sewing and more, showing how communities of artists can come together to select a topic, set up a project and ultimately publish or display their finished collaborative work. The guide presents the work of cutting-edge altered book artists and some of their favourite techniques revealing how to choose a book to alter, what you can do to its pages and cover and even how to experiment with common household materials to create unique bindings. Techniques such as burning, cutting windows, extensions, inclusions, photo transfers, gelatin prints, computer manipulation and many others are explored within the guide with tips on how to start a Round Robin, or join one through the Internet, to maximize collaborative dun whilst avoiding potential pitfalls.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Holly Harrison is a freelance writer and editor who has contributed to such magazines as Metropolitan Home, George, Entertainment Weekly, and Wome's Sports and Fitness. A longtime crafter, she makes collages on boxes, mirrors, and light-switch covers using images from romance comics, old postcards, and pulp-fiction book covers. She lives in Concord, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Quarry Books (October 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564969959
• ISBN-13: 978-1564969958
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #90,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #55 in Books > Arts & Photography > Other Media > Mixed Media

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Misleading blurb, but a beautiful book about artist's books, July 6, 2004

By 

carolineliza (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Altered Books, Collaborative Journals, and Other Adventures in Bookmaking (Paperback)

Only 4 stars because if you buy this book for what it's supposed to offer you'd be disappointed. This is not a book about the HOW to alter books.. but more of a journey at looking at other people who have.

* This book is a showcase of books.

* This book will not help someone who has never got into book-making before

* This will provide you with inspirations to do something, it doesn't treat you as a pre-schooler saying 'cut here.. paste this' etc. It is all about setting your own creative spirit free.

* Combine this book with a more basic 'how to' if you really need it, but for someone who is willing to experiment this book will get you going.

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some books are for more than reading..., November 9, 2003

By 

Julie Lovisa (Indiana USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Altered Books, Collaborative Journals, and Other Adventures in Bookmaking (Paperback)

While the art of altering books has been around for awhile, it is just now becoming a creative trend, and deservedly so. This is an art where you can release your innermost creative desires to express whatever you feel onto the pages of a book.

ALTERED BOOKS, COLLABORATIVE JOURNALS, AND OTHER ADVENTURES IN BOOKMAKING will help to make your journey a little easier if you are beginning and give you inspiration if you're more advanced. The full-color photographs are beautiful and give you a little taste of the variety of things that you can do with this medium.

Chapters include ideas for type of books to work with, things you can do in your book (collages, niches, transfers, ink, etc.), and goes on to more involved projects like rebinding your own books and joining round robins.

All in all, you will gean a wealth of information from this book from both it's gorgeous pictures and fantastic ideas.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring and informative paper arts book., March 17, 2004

By 

velma "gadget geek & photographer" (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Altered Books, Collaborative Journals, and Other Adventures in Bookmaking (Paperback)

I've read a LOT of craft and art how-to books, and many of them are geared towards beginners or focus on techniques like rubber stamping, which is pretty self-explanatory.

I liked this book because it shows examples of altered books by artists working in the medium and has an accompanying section called "Technique Highlights" that tells you how to do things like gelatin prints, image transfers and bookbinding.

For those already familiar (as I am) with some of these techniques, it was a pleasant surprise to find alternative methods of accomplishing these methods.

Finally, it's always inspirational to see what other artists are doing with the medium. It helps you look at your own work and supplies in new ways.

I'd definitely recommend this one.