Category Archives: Artists’ Books

Inaugural Class in my Home Studio

Polymer Clay Valentine's Class

I’ve always wanted to be able to teach in a home studio and now I’m fortunate enough to have the space to do it! Last Saturday was the first class, we made polymer clay books that look like candies for Valentine’s Day.

One of my favorite aspects of teaching is that after I share basic techniques, my students create their own versions using their own ideas and vision and this class was no exception:

Stephanie used fondant molds to create elegant embellishments for each candy.

Polymer Clay Valentine's Class-2    

Polymer Clay Valentine's Class-6

Nancy made candies with debossed details and custom-made accents.

Polymer Clay Valentine's Class-3

Polymer Clay Valentine's Class-5

Carol decided that her book needed to fit entirely inside her candies and so she made thicker candies with a space for the paper to nest.

Polymer Clay Valentine's Class-4

Polymer Clay Valentine's Class-7

Polymer Clay Valentine's Class-8

Polymer Clay Valentine's Class-9

We had a great time and left with wonderful gifts for our loved ones. Thank you, ladies, for making the first class so fun!

In March , a complete change of pace – I’ll start technology classes. Greg is busy planning the large screen install so that my students will be able to learn techniques in technology programs for artists such as Photoshop, Photoshop Elements and Lightroom.

~Ginger

www.gingerburrell.com

Banff Centre Blog Post About Book Arts

One of my automatic Google Searches turned up this blog post from the Banff Centre. It first caught my attention because I am a big fan of Yoko Ono’s artwork and her Box of Smile wasn’t a piece I’d seen before.

Yoko Ono Box of Smile

But then, as I read through the blog about the Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives and their collection of artists’ books (more than 3,800 !) I thought I’d add it to my list of places to visit – and share it with you, too.

The blog also discusses what is an “artist’s book”, what is book art and whether book art makes a sound investment for collectors. Whether you agree with their perspective or not, it is an interesting read. Artists’ books and book art: A conversation with our art librarian.

~Ginger

www.gingerburrell.com

http://picturingdialogue.wordpress.com/

The Saddest Photographs I’ve Ever Taken

sandy hook photos (2 of 2)

I’m finishing up a new artists’ book about the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown. When the shooting happened I felt compelled to do *something* and I started thinking about how to represent the children and school staff who were killed. I came up with the idea of using teddy bears for the children and apples for the staff and I’ve spent several days taking school portraits. It’s gotten harder and harder as I’ve been working on the book and taking the group photo broke my heart. I’m going to release the book on Friday and I’ll tell you more about it then. In the meantime, here are some samples of the images I’m working with:

sandy hook photos (1 of 3)

sandy hook photos (1 of 2)

sandy hook photos (3 of 3)

sandy hook photos (2 of 3)

~Ginger

www.gingerburrell.com