THE ART OF JACK FROST

It is believed that Jack Frost was a Viking invention, that he was the son of Kari who was the God of the Winds.  Jack Frost or Jokul of Frosti meaning icicle or frost has been visiting my windows nightly.   As winter settles in for the next few months, I love to watch its beauty unfold.  Jack Frost has been creating amazing sculptures on my windows.  Every day as the sun rises, Jack’s art disappears, only to reappear at the end of the day.  It is always new and different.  I am transported into gardens, forests and trails of frosty white with hints of blue.  The evening lights reflected on the designs offer a soft glow to the frosty prisms.  I am reminded of carved crystal shining on a dining table with the flicker of candlelight dancing on the edges of beautifully carved flowers, leaves or stems. It is the kind of inspiration artists draw from to create the beauty in their work. 

NEW CREATIONS

I have been working on some new Endearment Book creations over the last couple of weeks.  These two books are encased in a sleeve.  I used wooden print block letters and symbols, which I painted copper.  I recycled pieces of a gold plated and enamel necklace for feet and to enhance the top of the sleeve.  The book cover is paste on Cansom flax paper (paste paper).  It has a nice texture and the colours are variegated from turquoise to coppery brown.  I used a navy blue and silver handmade paper to cover the sleeve. 

The wooden letterpress letters and symbols on the sleeve are R G and !.  They were chosen for consistency in size.

This Endearment Book sleeve was covered with a Japanese paper in fuschia and silver.  It was lined with recycled prints from a Chinese Mythology book.  Crystal beads were used to enhance the top and glass squares to create the feet.  The book is covered with turquoise paste on Canal cotton rag paper and enhanced with blue and gold paper. 

These Endearment Books are covered with paste paper covers.  They each have 60 pages in them and a die cut on the corner of each page.  They measure 2 1/8 " X 2 1/4". 



PUZZLE PURSE BOOKS

These  Origami puzzle purse books are made from Fabriano Sketch paper and decorated with handmade papers.  When opened they reveal the message written inside. 

CAMERA NOMENCALTURE AND STEAM PUNK

I had the opportunity to trade one of my journals for an old camera.  After one blood blister from my needle nose pliers and a bruised palm from my little screwdrivers, I managed to dismantle the camera.  It was an interesting task, as I got to discover how a camera is put together.  What you may ask am I going to do with all this nomenclature.  Well, I am going to venture into the world of Steam Punk and make some sleeves for journals.  I am looking forward to designing and creating them. 

SPECIAL THANKS

Special thanks to Mr. Azzam Zarif from Rivoli Watch and Jewellery at 112 Kent Street, Councourse Level, for the clock hands he gave me.  I have known Mr. Zarif since coming to Ottawa.  He has repaired a number of my watches.

Special thanks to Mr. Tom Steiner at the Camera Trading Company at 368 Bank Street, in the true spirt of trading the camera for a journal.

Special thanks to Jacinta at Holodeck Galleries, www.holodeckgalleries.com/collections/mary-kritz for creating a section in her virtual gallery for my books.







A NEW PAGE IN THE BOOK OF MARY

It is already the ninth day of 2012.  Mother Nature has spread her pristine white cloak over the land and brought winter to us.  Her shifts from mild to cold are her teasers that keep us hoping for warmer weather, sunshine, the first spring song of the songbird and green buds popping on the naked boughs of the trees.  The skaters are sharpening their skate blades in anticipation of the opening of the Rideau Canal (the longest skating rink in the world), so they can commute to work, have some fun with the family and enjoy a hot chocolate and beaver tail (a delicious pastry unique to Ottawa). 

I have been busy catching up on my reading - just finished The Golden Compass and making new creations.  Mother Tongue Books continue to carry my books.  I launched my first video, have my art hanging in a virutal gallery and my blog is now part of the Book Arts website at Syracuse University. 

NEW CREATIONS  

Following the Thread of a Thought:  Writer's Primer and Companion

There are three writer's primers in this sleeve.  Original drawings decorate the covers which are constructed of cotton rag Canal paper. 



The companion to the writer's primer is a floweret with a word or the beginning of a sentence on each petal.  This is the starting point for the free writing. 



The sleeve is constructed from book board, wooden letter press letters, spools of thread, dice  and wooden scrabble letters.

When the journals are full, the writer has the complete works in a decorative, protective sleeve.

ART

Holodeck Galleries (http://www.holodeckgalleries.com/) is a virtual art gallery that supports local artists.  My art is now hanging in the gallery. 

WATCHING

Black pigment and Indian Ink on 100 lb smooth Bristol paper

 FLORA DANCE

Black pigment ink on heavy watercolour paper

 RESPITE

Black pigment and Indian Ink on 100lb Smooth Bristol paper

TESTIMONIALS

"On behalf of the members of the Ottawa Book Collectors, I wish to thank you for your excellent presentation on Monday.  We are always most interested in the physical qualities of the book as they developed over time.  And you are the first of our many speakers to assist us in creating our own books.  When showing my friends my miniature creation, thery were most intrigued and were very impressed by pictures of your beautiful pieces."  Bernadette Walker, President

"Thank you for the lovely handcrafted journals, as gifts for speakers, tailored to our event.  Your creative touch has personalized an often difficult item to choose and I know it will be much valued." Tanmayo Krupanszky, Special Events Organizer, Canadian Organic Growers Association, Toronto, Ontario

SPECIAL THANKS

Special thanks to Laura at Mother Tongue Books, 1067 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON http://www.mothertonguebooks.ca/ for carrying my books.

I met Allison, Jamie and Lois this past summer when volunteering with a filmmaker.  They have become friends.  Special thanks to Allison Flowers http://allisonflowers.bandcamp.com/  and Jamie Myland http://ca.linkedin.com/in/jamiemyland for creating the beautiful video for me.

Special thanks to Lois Siegel, http://siegelproductions.ca/, for posting my art and video on her website. 

Special thanks to Kevin MacLeod for his royalty free music "Opportunity Walk" http://incompetech.com/ which was used with the video.

Special thanks to Jacinta at Holodeck Galleries www.holodeckgalleries.com/collections for creating a beautiful page at the Gallery for my art. 

Special thanks to Peter D. Verheyden, Book Arts Web http://www.philobiblon.com/ at Syracuse University  for posting my blog.   

INSPIRATION

NEW YEAR, NEW LAUNCH

2012 COURSES

I will be teaching bookbinding and creative book art courses throughout the winter and spring.  Here is the current line-up: 

WINTER

TUESDAYS:  January 31 to February 28, 2012 - 5 weeks -  15 hours
Time:          6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Where:      St. Nicholas High School West, 893 Admiral Avenue, Ottawa, ON

Course Number: 13038 Introduction to Book Arts  (Part A)
Cost:  $99
Registration:  Forms available online at http://www.winterconnections.com/ or call 613-228-3338.

Course Content: 

• Interwoven Slit Concertina
• Single Signature Book
• Framed Hard Cover Concertina
• Button Hole Book
• 2 Signature Tunnel Book
• Paste Paper and Book Cloth

WEDNESDAYS: February 15 to April 4, 2012  - 8 weeks - 24 hours
Time:       6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Where:    Ottawa School of Art, 35 George Street, Ottawa, ON

Course Number:  W12D042
Cost: $200
Course registration: http://www.artottawa.ca/  - Winter registration is now open

Course Content:  See blog post for Bookbinding Course, pictures included

SPRING

MONDAYS:  April 16 to June 18 - 8 weeks, 20 hours
Time:             1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where:           Soloway Jewish Community Centre
                       21 Nadolny Sachs Private, Ottawa, ON 

Course Number:  Available in 2012
Cost:  TBC
Registration: www.jccottawa.com or 613-798-9818

Course Content:  

• Introduction to Tools and Books
• Single Signature Book
• Book within a Book
• Artist Trading Cards
• Multiple Flag Book
• Japanese Stab Bound Book
• Soft Cover Coptic Bound Book
• Button Hole Book
• Paste Paper
• Codex with Paste Paper Cover

TUESDAYS:  April 24 to May 22, 2012, 5 weeks - 15 hours
Time:     6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Where:  St. Nicholas Adult High School, 893 Admiral Avenue, Ottawa, ON

Course Number:   23038  (Part B)
Cost: $99
Registration:  Forms available online at http://www.winterconnections.com/ or call 613-228-3338.

Course Content:

• Single Signature Book
• Book within a Book
• Flag Book
• Hanging Concertina
• Japanese Stab Bound Book

Tool, supply and supplier lists will be provided at the time of registration for all courses. 

PASTE PAPER

Hello There:  It is December 12, 2011 and the sun is shining and the grass is green and the temperature is like a cool fall day.  I have my windows open and a soft breeze is flowing through the apartment.  This weather is amazing and I am loving it.  This past weekend I created three drawings.  On Sunday I completed the three drawings by adding colour to them.  They are being submitted to a gallery in a Naturopathic Medical Centre for a possible exhibit.  Once  they were completed, I decided it was time to make some paste paper. 

Paste paper is very simple to make and requires flour and water, a squirt bottle to wet the paper and some acrylic paints to add colour.  Some things I used to create the designs with were a fork, a cheese grater, and the serrated edge of a knife.  I also added pieces of decorative papers to enhance the paste paper. 

These are three of the colours I used, copper, turquoise and the top one is an iridescent gold. 

These are the other two colours, red and black.  The black acrylic paint I used is micaceous iron oxide which has a sandy texture to it and a little sparkle.  

I blended the red and black on one half of this cotton rag paper and then followed through to the other half with just the red.  I added decorative papers and used a large, heavy bristle paint brush to create the designs. 

This piece was very experimental.  I used a smoothe 100 pound, acid free bristol paper.  I wasn't sure how it would respond to being wet and then the added moisture of the paste.  I am happy to report it responded very well to the treatment.  I used the same large paint brush to create the border and the serrated edge of a knife for the small lines on the inner part of the design. 

I used the gold iridescent paint on this denim paper.  When wet, the paper was very soft and pleasing to the touch.  You can just see a hint of the gold in this picture.  I added a piece of decorative paper with gold in it. 

These are three smaller pieces of paste paper that I will use for my Endearment books.  I used a fork and a paintbrush to create the different designs in these papers. 

I used my fingers to create the design in the top cotton rag paper.  I blended the copper and turquoise paints to get a subtle shade of earthy green.  On the lower piece, a brown flax paper, I blended the red and turquoise. The colours are variegated, moving from turquoise to brown to red.  The pieces of flax fibre appear as little shiny pieces in the paint.  I added a decorative piece of paper with beige, brown, taupe and yellow in it. 

These two pieces of red paste paper were done on a cotton rag paper.  I used a fork and my hands to create the designs and added cut outs from a greeting card for enhancement. 

This is my simulated snakeskin paper.  I used a wood rasp, meant to shape wood.  I usually use it to grate cheese.  Yesterday I found a new purpose for it.  The design worked well with the paste paper.  I blended the black and red together.  This will make a great book cover with leather and mother of pearl enhancements. 

This is another piece of brown flax paper.  I used the copper paste on this one.  The flax particles in and on the paper create the design in the paste.  When held at certain angles in the light, this paper has a beautiful copper shimmer.  I added some decorative papers to enhance the look. 

I had a great deal of fun expressing my creativity through the drawings and making of paste paper this weekend.  I am really looking forward to teaching this in the new year. 

BOOKBINDING COURSE

I will be teaching an eight week Introductory Bookbinding and Book Arts course: 

When:               February 15, 2012 to April 4, 2012 - Wednesday evenings

Time:                 6:30 p.m to 9:30 p.m. (18h30 to 21h30)

Where:              Ottawa School of Art, downtown campus: 35 George Street

Cost:                 $200

Course ID:       W12D042

Registration:  through the Ottawa School of Art, 35 George Street, Ottawa, ON  

Tools and Supplies:  A tool and supply list will be provided upon registration

 Participants will learn:

• Introduction to Tools and Books
• Accordion (Concertina) Book
• Single Signature Book
• Book within a Book
• Artist Trading Cards
• Multiple Flag Book using Artist Trading Cards
• Japanese Stab Stitch Book
• Soft Cover Coptic Bound Book
• Button Hole Book
• Girdle Book
• Decorated Letter
• Paste Paper
• Codex using the Paste Paper for the Cover and including the Decorated letter in the book block

This course will be of interest to people who are:  book enthusiasts, hand crafters, paper makers, scrapbookers, and anyone else interested in learning a new set of hand crafting skills.  It makes a great Christmas gift for that special crafty person in one's life.  If you have any questions about the course, please feel free to contact me at: bartiste@rocketmail.com. 

Accordion or Concertina Book

Book within a Book

Single Signature Book

Artist Trading Card

Japanese Stab Stitch Book

Soft Cover Coptic Bound Book

Button Hole Book

Medieval Girdle Book

Paste Paper Covered Codex