Bleak to Happy
© 2023
Edition of 1
Dimensions in inches (closed): 8.5 x 10.8 x 1.125
Materials
Book: paper, graphite, watercolor/gouache, ink, colored pencil, surface manipulated/dyed leather, hot foil, copper, wood, thread
Box: book board, book cloth, surface manipulated/dyed leather, HMP, brass, hair on cow hide, pencil (as object), pigment inkjet prints on paper
Bleak to Happy was created using strategies for managing anxiety and its side-kick depression. Word games, doodling, stream of conscious and overwriting, helped me attain the state of mind required for fine craft work.
I didn't plan that the overwritten pages would evolve into a finished work when I started my random doodlings. I proceeded at a slow and erratic pace. The project exemplifies one of many inward journeys I've been forced to take to wrangle with anxiety and depression. These journeys seem inevitable; I find a combination of writing, doodling and handwork helps me along the way.
Mixed media craquele goat limp binding with secondary sewing consisting of brass wire staples secured by handmade wood and tyvek tackets. Original book pamphlet stitched with handmade paper and endmatter. Goat doublures. Book is affixed on poplar stub to allow for completely flat opening of book block. Book label is hot foil on paper.
Housed in bespoke, three tray box with gatefold covers. One tray of the box holds the book, the second the pencil used for the overwriting, the third a wrapper housing digital prints scanned from the book block pages. Trays are lined with hair-on cow hide. The two spines and fore edges are craquele goat, covers of paper backed rayon book cloth. Box labels are hot foil on leather. Gatefold cover is held closed in the top middle with a hooked brass rod that slides into edge hinges of leather.
Full text:
Word ladder: bleak, bleat, cleat, clept, clapt, claps, slaps, soaps, soapy, soppy, sappy, happy.
Colophon: Several of the strategies I employ to manage anxiety, such as word laddering, handwriting/overwriting, doodling and coloring were used to create the pages of this book.
Bleak to Happy
© 2023
Edition of 1
Dimensions in inches (closed): 8.5 x 10.8 x 1.125
Materials
Book: paper, graphite, watercolor/gouache, ink, colored pencil, surface manipulated/dyed leather, hot foil, copper, wood, thread
Box: book board, book cloth, surface manipulated/dyed leather, HMP, brass, hair on cow hide, pencil (as object), pigment inkjet prints on paper
Bleak to Happy was created using strategies for managing anxiety and its side-kick depression. Word games, doodling, stream of conscious and overwriting, helped me attain the state of mind required for fine craft work.
I didn't plan that the overwritten pages would evolve into a finished work when I started my random doodlings. I proceeded at a slow and erratic pace. The project exemplifies one of many inward journeys I've been forced to take to wrangle with anxiety and depression. These journeys seem inevitable; I find a combination of writing, doodling and handwork helps me along the way.
Mixed media craquele goat limp binding with secondary sewing consisting of brass wire staples secured by handmade wood and tyvek tackets. Original book pamphlet stitched with handmade paper and endmatter. Goat doublures. Book is affixed on poplar stub to allow for completely flat opening of book block. Book label is hot foil on paper.
Housed in bespoke, three tray box with gatefold covers. One tray of the box holds the book, the second the pencil used for the overwriting, the third a wrapper housing digital prints scanned from the book block pages. Trays are lined with hair-on cow hide. The two spines and fore edges are craquele goat, covers of paper backed rayon book cloth. Box labels are hot foil on leather. Gatefold cover is held closed in the top middle with a hooked brass rod that slides into edge hinges of leather.
Full text:
Word ladder: bleak, bleat, cleat, clept, clapt, claps, slaps, soaps, soapy, soppy, sappy, happy.
Colophon: Several of the strategies I employ to manage anxiety, such as word laddering, handwriting/overwriting, doodling and coloring were used to create the pages of this book.
