Adventures in Bookmaking (Part 4)

     For my coptic bindings I wanted to get a little experimental. Since the binding is exposed I wanted to try and decorate the edges with decorative washi tape. I picked a tape that matched the paper I was using for the cover boards.

     You can see the tape on the inside of the book, since it was layered on the outside of each signature, between the holes I punched for the binding stitches. I didn't design the inside of these books, so the pages are all blank!

Pink end papers

     For this next book I was even more experimental. I played with different page sizes and shapes. The goal was to create a book that had smaller independent 'books' inside of it. I wasn't as precise as I could have been in cutting out the pages, so while everything sewed together fine and functions as one whole piece, the pages don't turn as easily as I had imagined.

     I also played with 'windows' cut into the cover boards for the book, as well as different colored end papers, and a variegated rainbow cording for the binding.

What is beauty?

     In trying to answer this question we must first determine whether beauty is made up of multiple cultural viewpoints that differ from one another, or if there is an inherent standard for beauty that transcends all cultures. For the most part, beauty remains in the eye of the beholder. Just like your sense of humor, different things appeal to different people. Beauty as a cultural standard is subjective and ever changing. This can be seen in the transition from contemporary to modern art, in the differences between eastern and western art styles, and in the changing of fashion over time.

     Small side note: Not all art is meant to be beautiful. Art has the dual purpose of catching the eye, but also of conveying a message. This applies very much to the design collective Dada and Marcel Duchamp's piece Fountain (pictured above). The work of Dada was to create art that rejected all that art had previously stood for and to show how the perception of art had changed in previous years. Their goal was less to display the beauty of a factory-made piece of porcelain and more to prove a point that something can become art if it is declared so. This is an interesting discussion on it's own, but not the one I came to make today.

     Despite all this, in the end, beauty remains a social constructive, albeit a standard that transcends viewpoints. How then, can two vastly different forms of art, such as a rock song and a piece of Mozart both be considered beautiful? It is here that we can break down some objective standards of beauty, specifically in art forms that have crossed the boundaries of time and culture.

     Something to be taken into consideration is the technical difficulty of the piece. In essence, how hard it is to replicate. In this case, difficulty adds value. As humans, intricacy amazes us. This 'awe factor' also points back to God, his creation, and things we cannot understand that inspire our awe.

     When we see something we consider beautiful it points us back to God, the true source of beauty. This then allows for an infinite spread of options that beauty can take form in, varying from genre, culture, time period, and medium. Even so, only God can be perfect and truly beautiful. He is Beauty and everything else can only be beautiful in their own capacity. This also means that everything has some intrinsic beauty. God is the Creator of all things and is beautiful; anything that he creates is beautiful in at least some way. Therefore, everything that exists, having some connection to God and His creation, then carries value and a standard of beauty.

    It is true, however, that beauty can be distorted and warped. And we must be wary of this. Even so, just be existing, an object has some connection to God and his creation. Therefore, it has even just a smidgen of beauty, inherent just by it's existence. This can be applied to many things, from warped beauty that while dangerous and alluring has some redeemable qualities, to people and places that seem without hope.

     By the same token, even if something is beautiful, we don't necessarily have to like it. Bringing us back to our comparison of the difference between classical music and classical rock. We only affirm beauty - we can't assign it. However, society can value certain forms of beauty over another. Therefore, each person may not appreciate certain beautiful things a much as another person. However, that does not diminish their inherent beauty.

Still, with all these differing standards of beauty, what can be considered beautiful? There is a message that I want to get across to each and every one of you reading this; You are beautiful! Yes, you! Have you ever thought about that? Have you ever said to yourself, “Yes, I am beautiful.”? I know it can be hard. Society likes to cram unattainable standards of beauty down our throats sometimes. But the truth is, you are beautiful! You are completely and totally unique - no one is exactly like you. And, most importantly, you are made by God and in His image! How cool is that?

So, the answer to my question is: What is beauty? It’s what each and every one of you are!

Pictures:

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/duchamp-fountain-t07573

Essay inspired by a discussion from the Upper Room Society.

Tara Donovan - Of Paper Plates and Straws

 

     Tara Donovan is a world-renowned artist that innovates with everyday materials to create extraordinary sculptures. Donovan broke onto the art scene in the early 2000’s. Her work deals with space and light, with industrial materials that appear organic when assembled together. She mostly creates site-specific installations that are either wall-based or free standing. While her works use found objects and mass-produced materials, they are never ready-mades. Also, Donovan’s pieces are never outsourced - she and her assistants undertake the development of every project. 

     Each project begins with a singular material. It could be a cup, or a button, or a straw. Donovan starts by experimenting with the material and seeing what physical elements she can exploit. She follows predetermined rules to make modules, or units of what the piece will eventually become. Because of this process, of modules becoming modules and growing into bigger things, her pieces mimic the process of growth and nature, in that order and structure can give way to the unpredictable. Her sculptures gain a life of their own in this process, as they move away from a singular element to an unified armada. The original material is disguised by the sheer amount of units and the method of construction. 

     Many of the materials Donovan chooses have neutral or transparent qualities. This allows her to bring out the inherent qualities and aspects of the materials. As a whole, her work lacks a specific narrative and Donovan does not have a personal attachment to the materials she uses. Instead, her work is more an exploration of what the material could become, from something ordinary into something extraordinary.

Note: This was an assignment for an Art History class studying Modern Sculpture at school.
 

Adventures in Bookmaking (Part 3)

     This book was made using a fabric cover and a bound using the longstitch method. As seen in the image above, the stitches that bind the signature together form a decorative pattern on the outside of the spine.

     For the inside, I chose a vibrant color that related to the blues and greens on the cover. I also sewed in a ribbon into the cover that wrapped around to hold the book together in a nice package.

Adventures in Bookmaking (Part 2)

   
     This book was made using a traditional binding method - sewing on tapes (shown below). Out of all the books I made this was the one that I went the most in depth with. At one point I had to redo the cover because of a structural issue.

     Inside the book required even more work because I also created content for the book. Using the topic of modern fashion icons I curated a selection of women in the last century that have been looked up to for their style, either in being timeless or in pushing the boundaries of fashion. I fashioned a paper doll model using the help of my teacher who is well practiced at drawing the human figure. For the book I wanted to focus on diversity and beauty across different times, ethnicities, and body types. To help illustrate this I made my figure to be a plus size model. 

     The paper doll pattern I cut out of the pages of an old book I found at the thrift store. I liked the neutral color of the paper and the way the text interacted with the rest of the image. I also think it related well to the paper I used to make the cover of the book. After researching the fashions of my icons, I recreated some of their most famous pieces. These I pasted onto my paper doll model in layers to add depth to the illustrations and finally placed them in the pages of the book. I also included several facts and timelines regarding such things as how long each person lived and when, and how many times they had been married.

Adventures in Bookmaking (Part 1)

     It has recently occurred to me that while I have had this blog for several years and have named it "Taking Life a Page at a Time" because of my love for books, I have never shared the handmade books I learned how to make when I took a bookmaking class over a year ago! Well, that is going to change starting today! I won't share everything all at once. I will instead do several installments where I share one or two books and then talk about them individually.

     The first book I wanted to talk about is a flip book made using vintage patterns and a Japanese stab binding method. In retrospect, the stab binding isn't the most user friendly in flipping through the pages. But it still gets the job done! You can alter the girl's outfit on the top, bottom, and middle sections of her body (shown below).

   
     If I could do this book again I would probably use a different binding method. However, I am really pleased with the overall look of the book and how the different patterns line up to create the effect I was looking for.

     Since the book doesn't have a cover, I created a more heavy-duty backing for the book using some heavier card stock and layering pattern papers to allude to the vintage patterns used inside of the book.

Semester #8

This semester hasn't been as hectic as semester in the past, academically. It also has been very different in a lot of ways. Before I jump into what classes I am taking I want to give a quick update. Over winter break I applied for and received an on-campus position at my university. I am doing graphic design and marketing for one of the offices. That has been a great opportunity to get some experience under my belt and a position to put on my resume. My co-workers and supervisors have really made my work a great place. I am thankful to be working with them. In all of this, I still have a few hours a week at my previous retail job.

However, things are looking quite different now than they did at the beginning of the semester. Starting this week actually, all school has transitioned to being online to 'flatten the curve' of the COVID-19 global pandemic. These are strange times to be living in! This means that in addition to doing home schooling, I am also working from home. This has been an adjustment. However, the semester is almost over! Just gotta push through for the last little bit!

#1 - Drawing for Visual Communication
This class is technically a graphic design course, but it is more focused on the discipline for illustration. It has been fun to take on more 'light hearted' projects and stretch my drawing skills. Some of the projects we have tackled so far are various posters and illustrations. An example is included below.

#2 - Sequential Media

This is my other graphic design class for this semester. It is a more traditional graphic design course. In this class we have designed CD covers and gotten a bit into web design with art blogs.

#3 - Professional Practices

I took this class last semester and will take it for my next two semesters. It is a one-credit course that teaches us the ins and outs of our profession. This semester we have learned about paper and the printing process. Occasionally, we will have guest speakers come and talk to us. Aaron Draplin (a famous designer) was going to visit and give a talk this April, but that had to be canceled unfortunately due to the restrictions we are currently experiencing.

#4 - Art History: History of Graphic Design

I have taken several art history courses before, but this one is special as it covers the history of graphic design. We started learning about illuminated manuscripts and are now learning about the Art Nouveau movement.

#5 - Honors Research

Nothing against this class, I just have a hard time motivating myself to get excited about it. However, it is the last requirement I need to fulfill for my Honors track. We are working on group research projects. My group is studying how technology affects different generations differently.