Sunday, February 19, 2012

A book about the "Blood and Roses" quilt


Here is an edition of 3 books about Blood and Roses. It contains a short essay about the making of the quilt, photos of each of the 12 images and some additional close-ups. It is printed on Canson 90lb drawing paper, hand bound with waxed cotton thread in a hand sewn cover using fabrics left over from the quilt.

Tools, covers and signatures assembled for binding.


Making holes in cover.
Cradle with template for holes.


Signatures and covers ready to bind.


Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Nine books of poetry


I'm married to a poet. Over our years together I've been the subject and the recipient of many poems. I have just finished printing and binding them in 9 volumes. I won't reproduce the content here, but I will show you the cover art, including quotes from the poems that inspired the imagery of each cover.


Most of the cover papers for this series were made using a large collagraph plate that I printed in various colour combinations on my etching press. I use Charbonnel etching inks and Somerset paper.  After printing, I cut parts of the print down to size for the covers. The scraps are saved for collage or card making.

The plate was never intended to make a full sized print: just as well as it doesn't hold together as a large piece. Additional covers were made from paper saturated with water colour. Silver and gold foil was added to some covers.

Here are some images of the collagraph plate:

                                          Blind embossed collagraph plate
                                         Inked up and ready to print

Untasted Wine



Here
in the circle
of our separate arms,

Quench metal in cool water
hammer out
the bond between us,
fashion two
lives.



Spun From Dawn




Such tenacity and singleness of purpose
Such grim love of living
The tree explored its world while anchored to it



Try the Silk



sandstone dunes and minarets
risen cathedrals carved by the wind
shadowed depths that could
swallow entire cities


Smoke Sequence



I see hundreds
of small white-bellied fish
strung motionless
upon the pebbles


Silent Heart



tonight skirts of smoke waver
with shooting ripples
above the black horizon
The passion dancer
in the centre of the sky
unfolds her shimmering drapery
in silent white swirls


Touch of Lips



love's soul
burns bright flame


 Lovers Embrace a Falling Star


                                                                               image inspired by Patterson Ewen

The meteor burnt
a star
down
melted space

It fled to flower
on a winter's night
with alien fire


Starshell



May some turtle girl
from another myth
find him.


Wicked Face



gauze cured in moonlight,
eyes pink seashells,
brow,
cream memory.