This fall, I traveled for the first time since the pandemic. So, naturally, I turned the trip into another book-related exploration. I was fortunate to be in Oxford during three significant book-related exhibits: the International Designer Bookbinders Exhibit, the Bodleian's exhibit entitled Sensational Books focusing on the senses that are evoked through reading books, and the Ashmolean's exhibit on the Pre-Raphaelite artists, including their book illustrations.
The pandemic has come with some unusual changes in routine that have had many benefits in terms of making progress on my first book project.
This month I completed the Polymer Plate classes taught by book artist, Lars Kim, at the San Francisco Center for the Book.
One of the highlights from the trip to the UK was visiting the Bodleian Library and receiving a behind-the-scenes tour from rare books curator, Dr. Francesca Galligan.
Two weeks ago I took a course with the California Rare Book School at UCLA on the topic of descriptive bibliography.
In February, I completed the Cylinder Core Curriculum at the SF Center for the Book. We practicing setting type, working with a pica ruler, pulling proofs, locking up the type in the Vandercook press beds, inking, adjusting the rollers...
Over the course of 2018, I read books about mastery. Every book hammered home the same point: You cannot master anything that you don't feel passionate about.
Learning a profession, any profession, requires hours of commitment to learning, failing, practice, and mentorship. 10,000 hours is the number the experts say is required to "master" a skill. But according to my study, the hours alone are not enough.
When I became a mother, one of my priorities was sharing my love of books with my children. Here are three of my favorite children's books about books.
As a co-leader of a Girl Scout Troop, I was excited to see the Book Artist Badge in the book of options for the girls.
Framing has finally begun on the construction of the studio space for printing and book arts.
Of Paper and Ink 