Marcy Erb at Illustrated Poetry and I have been blog friends for years, and even better, we have actually met in person, some years ago. Our most recent doings involve an artist book project collaboration that has had a long history – I think we got it started in 2016? Maybe? If you want all the details, look here for my first post about the project, where I give more information.
Here I am showing you some random images, pages where I did only one side of the page spread and left the other one for Marcy to create however she might like.
You can see that I incorporated some parts of the book’s earlier library life – the card pocket, the bar code (right there is a tangible picture of how times have changed, isn’t it?)
In the cat picture, the book arrived with the cut out chromosones on the page, put in place by Marcy. I took that theme and in some way made a connection with the idea of a cat, which I then set out on the page. No one says any of this process has to make the kind of sense that we ordinarily see in everyday life.
That’s another thing about these book projects: sometimes you do a whole page by yourself, and other times, both artists mix their work.
I have done other collaborative projects and I have also made quite a few of these artist books. Here is a partial list. You can also check under the category Artist Books, here on my blog.
Note: You might like to click on the images and see them in the viewer; back when I was doing a lot of these books I was new to blogging and did not understand making the photos larger in the actual post…
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Small Book, Pages and Poem Form
And my favorite book that I have made, In November. Because in November is when I was born and it’s my time of year.
Here is a beautiful project I did with Sharon Mann some years ago: Nothing But Sunshine
We, Sharon and I, also made two decks of playing cards: Pick a Card, Any Card
If you have any questions let me know. Maybe making an art book is for you!
Claudia McGill and Her Art World 
Did you get the used Library books at a Library book sale ?
No, they had a discard box. Free. But I’ve gotten other books at sales. Never paid more than maybe 50 cents. Most of the books are damaged or woefully out of date so otherwise they are heading to the trash.
These are all fun pages. I love that you were able to preserve that history of the book’s like by retaining the bar code and the card pocket. Bar codes are certainly much more efficient but I did so love the card pockets and all those drawers of cards. I like that the cat page – in addition to having a cat, of course, incorporates elements from both collaborating artists and that the combination is so coherent.
I really enjoy the pages where we both work on the image. I only have shown ones that I did most of the work so Marcy can decide how she likes to post the book or not with her work. It is fun to me to try to leave clues or to pick up cues as to how to work from another’s vision. And I love the book pockets too. I did love pulling out the card and seeing who had read the book before me. In a small town, I usually knew someone! I always try to leave this part of the book in place just for that reason – it tells who the book was before I got hold of it.
Wonderful pages and how awesome you met in person and have been collaborating!
Yes, we have known each other a long time now, and were lucky to have that chance to meet. The magic of the blog world in action again.
I love that last page especially. Have you heard anything from Sharon? It’s been quite awhile for me. (K)
Me too. I admit to being afraid of trying, and what answer I might get.
I sent a card at the New Year but got no reply. I just sent an email, fingers crossed. It did not bounce back anyway.
If you hear anything will you let me know? I have thought about sending a card but hesitated. I think I just didn’t want to hear bad news.
Yes, of course I will.
Thank you.
👏👏👏👏👏 I can only imagine how much fun this must be! ♥️ the pages!!!
Yes, it’s fun, and it’s easy to do, and any kind of art can work with it. I’ve participated in several projects like this over the years and every one turns out great.
A feel for symbolism and the ability to capture the essence of the subject in simple forms
Thank you. These books are small and the page fills up quickly – like haiku, every bit counts, I think.