Hand Painted Book Covers, Ceramics and Other Projects
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Rodarte Catherine Opie Alec Soth
A new book by the Mulleavy sisters with photographs by Catherine Opie of subjects she dressed in Rodarte, alongside California places and things photographed by Alec Soth. Here are five of twenty-five covers I made for the new book :)
I paint one-of-a-kind book jackets on a range of subjects, specific artists, cultural topics, photographers and authors. The selected books are a reference to art history and the art of literature and libraries. I choose an image to paint for a cover illustration based on qualities such as poignancy and visual graphics. If the book is not illustrated, I find an image that is complementary to its contents. I may also choose to paint my version of the original illustration. The cover text is included in the painting (title, author and publisher) on a hand-cut paper jacket, using a heavy weight glossy paper and acrylic paints. This process gives the book a new essence, and restores it to better shape (I try to find used books). It also makes it a functional sculpture/painting.
Hand Painted Ceramics
I am primarily a painter using ceramics as my “canvas”. I started teaching myself ceramics as a way of exploring making paintings as functional, sculptural pieces. I love putting my personal touch on the age-old artisanal craft of shaping basic forms from slabs, molds and templates. I make them as smooth as I can where pieces join and leave them slightly natural on the edges. I like to experiment with the different clay bodies, as I don’t have one favorite kind! Some are smoother and whiter, others are dark and sandy. Painting on the different surfaces results in another layer as does the glazing. I am attracted to the more opaque matte glazes, and I have different ways to keep from completely obscuring the painted areas. I work in a community workshop in the company of many people who have been making ceramics for decades. Though I pick up certain tricks of the trade from my fellow ceramicists, I enjoy the challenge of finding my own path to making a cup, bowl, plate, pitcher or vase.
I LOVE the Catherine Opie - is it available for purchase?
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