Every year, my church hosts a week-long Summer Art Camp where kids and adults can explore various creative arts. This year, I’m a volunteer for the 4th and 5th graders who are learning how to create altered book art.
Altered book art is simply the process of modifying books (preferably old or damaged books headed for the trash) to create three dimensional pieces of art. I had no idea this was such a vast art form. There is actually an International Society of Altered Book Artists and tons of exhibits all over the world!
Since I didn’t know anything about it and I’m having so much fun watching these children learn to do it, I thought you might be interested, too.
{images: all but the top right image are sample pieces created by the art instructor; the top right image is one of the students’ work in progress}
Our students are using all sorts of recycled materials to embellish their books, creating very personal and unique sculptures. At the same time, they are learning basic art principles and techniques like understanding a color wheel and painting with water colors.
I am specifically intrigued by the process of cutting and folding pages of text to create interesting textures, stories and landscapes. Take a look at some of these artists’ work:
{image: “Cutting Book Series” by Noriko Ambe}
{image: “The Romantic Imagination Unleashed” by Sarah Bodman, via The University of the West of England School of Creative Arts}
{image: “Fields of Greens” via Maine College of Art}
I specifically selected the pieces above because you can easily see that they are created from books; however, you must take a look at the hyperlinked portfolios to see just how extraordinary some of these books become in the hands of a talented artist.
What an incredible art form. I’m so grateful to be learning so much about it this week! I hope you enjoy it, too.
Tags: altered book art
[...] few weeks ago when I was helping out at an art camp where the class was altering discarded books to create a visual journal, I decided I wanted to give it a try myself. Since I work best with a [...]