Su Blackwell's Paper Cut Fairytales

I love finding creative work within book art, and have recently come across Su Blackwell's detailed paper cut fairytales. She has created and exhibited stunning sculptures and illustrated her own book of fairytales, 'The Fairytale Princess'. The book is a collection of seven fairy tales, which include Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel and Snow White. The characters and stories emerge from the pages with a series of stunning paper cut illustrations.

"I often work within the realm of fairy-tales and folk-lore. I began making a series of book-sculpture, cutting-out images from old books to create three-dimensional diorama’s, and displaying them inside wooden boxes. The magic and otherworldliness of traditional fairytale collections meet glorious, contemporary paper constructions."

Many of Su's pieces include vulnerable characters, which are surrounded by the haunting and overpowering trees. I really like the delicate shadows created in the photography of the books, which enhances the fragile characters.

You can see more of Su Blackwell's work and visit her online shop on her website
http://www.sublackwell.co.uk/

Toy Cameras

We recently bought this book as a birthday present for my friend Steph and once I got some birthday money for myself I couldn't resist buying myself a copy. I have been looking at photography so much recently as it was the main focus of my self directed study. This book celebrates tot cameras ability to produce creative and unusual photography. Im really excited to get my hands some some of the cameras listed and experiment myself!

Pulled: A Catalogue of Screen Printing

Last month I used my birthday money to buy a few books I had been keeping my eye on. The first was 'Pulled: A catalogue of screen printing". This is another of Mike Perry's books (he also did 'Hand Job', and 'Over & Over'). I had started to experiment more with screen printing in my last year of uni, and I love the process. This book is a collection of different designers, aiming to "remind us that there are some things you just can't achieve with digital printing."

BABE - Bristol Artists Book Event

Yesterday Ellie and I had a little break from work and cycled down to the Arnolfini to have a look at the Bristol artists book fair. There were so many different artists and shops there with a range of work from one-off-books, screen prints to zines and printed books. The event took place in three of the galleries and the auditorium. There were so many lovely things there I wanted them all! I really like the book art on a lot of the stalls and it has inspired me to do more in my projects. I very nearly bought a printed publication based on photography which relates to my self directed study but its probably for the best I didn't. Need to save my pennies for printing as my deadline is in 17 days! I did however pick up lots of different business cards and lovely little postcards.

Pulled: A Catalogue of Screen Printing

I came across this wonderful book in the shop at the Saatchi Gallery. Its the most recent book from Mike Perry, who also brought out Hand Job: A catalogue of type, and Over & Over: A catalogue of Hand-Drawn patterns two really great books. I can't wait for my loan to come in, so I can feed my book addiction! http://www.mikeperrystudio.com/

Brian Dettmer

Absolutely love this work by Brian Dettmer. The spine and pages of the books have been manipulated into these interesting sculptures revealing words and images. 

"My work is a collaboration with existing material and its past creators and the completed pieces expose new relationships of the book's internal elements exactly where they have been since their original conception." 

You can see more examples of Brian Dettmer's work on his website here
http://briandettmer.com/

Book Art

I really want to get this book! Need to stop spending all my money on new books but the paper art is just so good! This book looks into contemporary art works, designs and installations created from books. Some are just stunning! This first piece by Olafur Ellason shows the structure of a house laser cut into the pages of a book. 

Look at the Gestalten website for the newest releases in art books. 
http://shop.gestalten.com/books/spring-2011/book-art.html

Paper Craft 2

There are quite a few good books coming out this spring. One in particular that I'm looking forward to reading is Paper Craft 2. I already have a couple of books on paper art but this book seems to have a broad collection of different artists from different disciplines. It even comes with a DVD with examples of paper art in motion graphics. The book is out in March, you can read more about the book here - http://shop.gestalten.com/books/spring-2011/papercraft-2.html. Also check out the upcoming spring 2011 section for similar books.

Three D - Graphic Spaces

Found a new book in the library called Three D - Graphic Spaces. It is similar to the Tangible book I got for christmas and highlights a number of artists and projects using installation and and three-dimensional scenarios to create work. I really like this style of work and want to experiment working in this way myself.

Tangible

Haven't blogged for a while, had a really nice relaxing christmas at home. Mum bought me this amazing book for christmas, Tangible - High touch visuals. "Tangible documents how designers are using the stylistic means of Graphic Design to implement their ideas spatially to create three-dimensional designs, objects and orchestrated spaces."

Etcetera ect

I recently bought this lovely new book from a shop called iota. Its made by stylist Sibella Court and shows you how to create beautiful interiors with the things you love. The photography in the book is beautiful, and i love the tracing paper pages. She suggests how to display a mixture of contemporary, and antique objects and shows how to inject colour and textiles into a room.

Big-Ass book of Crafts

I have been quite busy recently moving out and packing for the new house, and im also back at work at the diving club. But when i get some free time i can't wait to start making things from this new book my friends got me for my birthday! My mum is quite excited by it too and wants some inspiration for her craft club!

My Mobile Movie

Finished and uploaded my mobile movie to vimeo now. This was the first project i did on the motion module at Bristol UWE. Its an exaggeration of how i look after and present my books.

Brief:

Using only your mobile phone, produce a motion piece which captures your character and illustrates your identity using left behind items and objects.

My Mobile Movie from Rosie Slade on Vimeo.

Book Binding Workshop

Today at uni i went to a book binding workshop. It was really good to learn how to bind a book properly, using stitching or for a hard back cover. Had fun making a silly concertina too, so many folds in it, it got a tad confusing!

Book shelf

I wish my bookshelf was as good as this one by Daniel Eatock! My books are all messed up now after using them for my last project 'mobile movie'. I animated the books rearranging into height and colour order. The motion piece will be finished soon and uploaded on to vimeo.

Paper: tear, fold, rip, crease, cut

I have the best new book all about paper art. I got it from the bookshop in the V&A. Its beautiful and some of the work included is incredibly detailed. This book is definitely going to come in handy for the research project im doing, as a lot of my work is related to paper mechanics.