I tried, I really tried to pay attention at this staff meeting. I would occasionally look up and nod, or appear to take a note on the discussion. Then back to the drawing. I doubt I’m fooling anyone. If it’s really important I’ll read the minutes. No, really.
Crumpled paper, pen and ink, 2 x 4 in.
Recently I’ve been seeking finding opportunities to portray form with contour lines – crumpled paper, draped cloth and such. I was recently admiring the complexity and variety of popcorn and thought I’d sketch a few. I drew these with the aid of a magnifier on a goose-neck desk clamp.
I had the pleasure of attending Daniel Essig’s Denver workshop last month on Coptic bindings, Ethiopian end bands, mica windows and mica pages. Here are many pictures, both of his work and the workshop. He kindly shared many of the techniques he uses for his sculptural books, even some which weren’t covered in the workshop.
Here’s the book I made:
I was especially pleased to learn techniques for creating aged, weathered surfaces using crumpled paper and layers of milk paint which is then brutally distressed and sanded.
Here’s a box using the above technique as well as others I’ve learned along the way. The hinges and fittings are hand-formed from copper and patina’d, the window is a domed watch-glass held in place by riveted copper pieces. The box is lined with green cave paper.
I plan on making a book that will be housed in this box – but not today.
