Here are the steps I took to create my book for my graduate class that combines printmaking and sculpture. Our assignment was to create a self portrait. I thought about flowers and how each one triggers a different memory or feeling from my childhood. I paired line drawings of each flower with a poem that I wrote to give a sense of the feeling/memory each flower inspires. I silkscreened these images onto Stonehenge Fawn paper and arranged the pages into an accordion book.
The images below outline my steps. I had a lot of problems with this project as it was really a learning process. While I had made a book before, it was a while ago and I wasn't as careful as I should have been in my construction. While I am happy with the way it turned out, I think I will redo it in the future. I had never used photo emulsion for screenprinting and I ran into a lot of problems with a batch of bad emulsion. Once I determined the correct time to expose my screen and got better at scoop coating the screen, the process was a lot faster. I also had many difficulties printing: the pages were double sided and I had problems with the layout. Instead of printing each page individually, I was trying to do the whole book at once, which was problematic. Next time I'll do each page separately, that way I can have extras in case of mistakes in printing. Finally, I decided to try to chine colle paper onto the pages, something I had never done before. I didn't apply the methyl cellulose thinly enough and as a result some of my pages are a bit warped, but it was too late to go back and start again. Here's the documentation:
1. Cutting the birch covers to size, then staining them with Rustoleum "Autumn" indoor stain. I used PVA glue to attach a piece of the handmade paper with the title screenprinted on it to the cover of the book.
Here are the pages in progress with the images of flowers silkscreened onto the good paper.
Adding the text onto paper with pieces of leaves embedded into it. (Top: front side of the book. Bottom: Back side of the book)
Covers added and the book is finished. The final step was to add a box for display and storage of the book. I finally was allowed access to the wood studio on Wednesday, and used the band saw to cut pieces of birch plywood to size. I decided not to waste time with mitered corners and just go for a quick and simple box construction (somewhat hindered by my inability to cut square corners). I also stained the box and applied a coat of polyurethane. Then I added brass hinges and a latch.
The last thing I did was carve the image of the dandelion into the inside of the cover of the box, so that when it stands up for display it is visible. I wanted to add something to the cover of the box as well but as yet I haven't decided what, if it will also be the dandelion only screenprinted or drawn with paint marker.
