Bookmaking:An Introduction to Creating Your Own Original Artist’s Bookand Zines

Altered Art Project: Make an

Artist’s Book • Artists have been involved

with book-making for centuries. While some artists work as book illustrators, other artists are more interested in making us look at "the book" in new ways. These artists create special books which are often thought of as works of art in them selves. In this project, you will get to make your own "artist book" and look at some special books by other artists.

Once you've made the pages of your book, try one of these ideas for making your book unique:

• Tell others about an adventure you've had. • Make an "I am Book" that shows others special

things about you. • Describe, in pictures and words, a recent trip

you've taken with your family. • Illustrate a story about your favorite hero. • Make up a story about something that might

have happened many years ago. • Share your ideas about how to make the world

a better place. • Imagine that aliens land in your back yard one

night. Tell the story of your "close encounter." • Make up your own story to share with others.

A Brief History of Bookmaking:SLAT BOOKS

• Slat books are regarded as the first type of books.

• They were made in China with strips of wood or bamboo held together by cord. This is where the Chinese custom of writing from top to bottom is said to have started.

• The books were rolled, or folded like an accordion, when they were stored on shelves in libraries.

PALM LEAF BOOKS

• Books constructed from the leaves of palm trees were first made in India and then in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

PAPYRUS SCROLL• Scrolls were made in ancient Egypt from papyrus, a plant that

grows in the Nile River. • The stems are cut and sliced into thin strips which are laid on

top of each other in two layers, one horizontal and one vertical. They are then pressed so that the layers mesh together.

• Our word paper comes from the word papyrus.

A Mexican Accordion A Mexican Accordion BookBook

A Chinese A Chinese Accordion BookAccordion Book

ORIENTAL SEWN BOOKS• These sewn books were first made in China,

then spread to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. • These books have soft covers and you can

see the stitches on the outside of the book.

The Project:

• Books are special places for telling stories, expressing feelings and sharing ideas. There is no limit on the media you use for this project and innovation is encouraged. Whatever you choose to do, you need to first have an idea or story you want to share with others.

Getting Started:

• To begin, you need to make the pages of your book. There are many ways to construct a one-of-a-kind book (which I will demonstrate or present in class).

Materials You Need:

• A grocery bag, scissors, glue stick, stickers, ink stamps, old postage stamps, felt-tip markers, colored papers, and magazines with lots of pictures…and anything else you want to include!

Ms. Deck’s Altered Art: Bookmaking Project Evaluation Rubric

• 5 = EXCELLENTInsightful, Perceptive, Comprehensive, Mature, Original

• 4 = PROFICIENTClear, Adept, Capable, Somewhat Original

• 3 = SATISFACTORYAdequate, Straight Forward, Conventional

• 2 = LIMITEDIncomplete, Lacks Development, Vague, Superficial

• 1 = POORMinimal process, Disjointed idea, Poor construction, Boring

Don’t Forget:• Remember that, as a "book

artist," each page of your book should be interesting to look at as well as interesting to read. Think about how you can make your book special by arranging the pictures and text on each page.

• Once you have finished your book, share it with others by photo-documenting it to display in the on-line art gallery.

Internet Links• http://makingbooks.com• http://www.arts.ufl.edu/art/rt_room/sparkers/

artist_book/artist_bk.html• http://www.susankapuscinskigaylord.com/

spiritbooks/gallery.html• http://www.leavesofgold.org/learn/index.html• http://makersgallery.com/joanirvine/howto.html• http://www.identityseven.com/portfolio/altered.html• http://www.identityseven.com/portfolio/altered.html

Good Luck!Return to www.shelleydeck.com/teacher