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Book + Art – Handcrafting Artists’ Books
by Dorothy Simpson Krause
North Light Books
ISBN 978-1-60061-154-4
Published 2009 - Softcover - 144 pages - $24.99

Some books just scream inspiration and this is one of them.  I’ve never considered making a book per se, and I’m still not, but reading this book has sparked new interests for me.  Dorothy Simpson Krause covers so many aspects of “art” and books that you can pick and choose from a variety of options, like Paper or Surfaces and whether you paint, do collage, mixed media, acrylics or whatever takes your fancy, you’ll be good to go.  Gelatin monoprints are explained along with a recipe for gelatin!  I particularly liked the mixed media aspect regarding collecting paper, pages, pictures, words, along with Creative Explorations and the Helpful Hints scattered about.  And of course there is a section on making books, whether you repurpose books or make them from scratch, all beautifully illustrated with vintage-like pictures.  You can make single fold or bi-fold books, six-page and twelve-page fold books, accordion and scroll books, and there is a selection of binding options.
Loads of Tools and Materials are included, so armed with what you need, you can be off and running making your own books in no time.  Ms. Krause’s qualifications are impressive, and she’s a “painter, collage artist and printmaker who incorporates digital mixed media into her art”.  She is also professor emeritus at Massachusetts College of Art!