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The Altered Book
By June Campbell
Perhaps you've seen an altered book and wondered what it was all about. Altered books are showing up at craft fairs and at art displays as one example of the currently popular art form known as altered art. An altered book is quite simply an old book that the artist has used as a "canvas." Using a book as the starting point, the artist does something to, in, under or around the book to create what some may call a mixed media collage. Although book altering as an art form is a relatively new trend, the concept of the altered book has been around for quite some time. Perhaps the best known altered book is A Humument, a classic altered book created by artist Tom Phillips in the sixties. Altered books may be complex sculptures that the artist has cut, shaped, colored and decorated to suit his or her whim. They may also be simple items that the artist has chosen to decorate in any way imaginable. Altered book artists know that there is no right way or wrong way to make an altered book. They simply go wherever their muse (aka their creative impulses) takes them.
The following link shows a video demonstration of one way to altered a childrens' board book. Why?
A common question that altered book artists often hear, is, "Why?". Why indeed? Because you can. Its art. Does anyone ask why paint on canvas or why sculpt clay into a shape? It's the same idea. Altered book artists often use a variety of media to decorate their art. This may include papers, paints, dyes, and various other coloring agents. They may opt to cut niches inside the book and hide a trinket or a memento inside the niche. They may tear pages, rip holes, attach decorative items such as wire, buttons, lace, ribbon, ephemera, or anything else that turns up at a garage sale or found in the basement.
It's Recycling To some, altered books are almost sacrilegious.The very idea of taking a good book and cutting, tearing and "desecrating" it offends their sensitivities. To this reaction, an altered book artist would respond that they are in face recycling an old book that would otherwise end up in the trash container. The Round Robin
Groups of altered book artists sometimes participate in Round Robins. In this activity, each member starts a book, using an agreed upon theme. He or she then gives the book to the next member in the robin, who does one or more layouts, then hands it on to the next in the lineup. At the end, each member gets his or her original book back, with art work done by all members of the robin. Book altering can be not only fun and creative, but a social activity as well. |
A Humument
      
"Fat Chicks" layout from altered book
Altered Book Sculpture
"Ring of Fire" an altered book cut in circular shape
"At the Beach", an altered journal
"Motherhood", atered book as Mother's Day Tribute
"You Can't Beat a Woman" altered book layout
"Red Hat Rules" Altered Book Layout, a Round Robin
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