"double-sided"

Just finished off another small concertina book I started on my last plane journey to combat my restless, jumpy legs. I find that by engaging my brain in a bit of stimulation (reading doesn't work anymore), I can reduce this most annoying and uncomfortable condition I have.

These fantasy portraits were added to the reverse side of my prepared book I took on the trip. I started off with a continuous imaginary unfolding landscape as I flew above it and as I ran out of pages decided to give the book its own imaginary voyeurs on the reverse side. I'll include just another portrait before I show a few of the landscape.

They were all done using my small portable tin box of travelling art materials.

These small continuous mixed media landscapes are all linked with my thoughts on chance in the process of being original. I have been working on other books exploring these ideas and they overflowed into this little one.

With Christmas just around the corner, I think this little jumpy leg remedy may end up in the stocking of my favourite Finnish artist, Carina Granlund.

It is interesting how the almost compulsively, worked surfaces of the landscapes which did battle with my brain and the legs, contrasts with the much more peaceful and minimal drawings of the audience.

MLA

 I made this tiny book when I was playing with my Chinese carbon paper earlier this year. I had no intention of showing it but given the recent awful weeks in our parliament, I thought it might be appropriate.

 "M.L.A" (member of the Legislative Assembly )is not about anyone in particular but refers to the small number of politicians who don't know how to behave. If I was making the same book after the recent events, it would not be as gentle.

The book is 12 x 11 cms of Chinese rice paper with Chinese carbon paper interleaving.  The fictional portraits of the same politician and found text convey constantly changing different viewpoints - not very trustworthy. 

The interleaving carbon paper pages have traces of the original portrait which are more clearly seen when held up to the light.

The found text from "the Madness"  a discarded paperback, suits the shifty character often associated with some politicians.

looking back

inside "transparent"

Even though not all the recipients of this little artist book have indicated that they have received "Transparent" 
I feel I have waited a decent while before sharing some of the contents with you . This book was made as part of a collaborative project by Book Art Object .

 By looking at myself, this little book of transparent mixed media drawings is an attempt at observing what makes us the way we are. Although this work is largely personal many observations would apply almost universally.

The covers are all slightly different in the way the waxy surfaces have been gently scratched and marked - a hint at how we rub up against the world and are affected differently. The scratched symbol of a torso is empty apart from a Ned Kelly visor giving an Australian  glimpse at myriads of little dots making up a portrait. The title "Transparent" is transparent coming through from the back of the cover.

Inside, the different mugshots are filled and surrounded by symbols and ideas which form aspects of my persona. Using transparent paper allows the separate images to link, inter-relate, layer and confuse the final snapshot. The contents and backgrounds include x-rays,drawings,collaged text,maps,stamps and other scraps relating to my world. The book is an attempt to promote understanding by being transparent

Yes what more can I say? You can check my Flickr for more images if you like.