I met Lin in 2002 when she taught a Craft Bookbinding and Modern Lettering course at our local adult community college in Richmond. That class only lasted one term but I and a small group of enthusiasts continued to meet privately at Lin’s home. There we learned about binding books, making slipcases, playing with watercolour, colour theory and so much more. I loved being able to make ‘proper books’ just from card, paper, glue and ink. And making books with my own content was something I had been dreaming about for years without knowing how to start.
There was so much I could do with simple structures. This is a concertina book using fabric screen-prints I had done on a summer school for the images with embossed text on the facing page.
These two books were the product of an exercise in making lines with different implements and paints/inks. Never one to waste things, these sheets of paper became a pair of books in a bespoke ‘drawer’.
Recently I’ve started doing letter-press printing and a whole new world of possibilities has opened up! This was my first letter-press printed book ‘Endangered Species’: wood-block prints of words that are falling out of use.
And here is a taster of my latest book ‘19:59’, where I’ve combined drawings by me and my twin sister with letter-press printed text and an image of circling arrows.
Next time (if I’m invited back): more about my journey towards art school.
You can follow her at Twitter – @subonfanti.
The good news is that I have invited Su back with a resou nding ‘Yes please!’ It has been amazing watching Su become an artist – not just someone who enjoys making things, but really responding to the langage of art. She has undertaken years of self-study and short courses and now she is about to embark on her MA. Part 2 will be about the latter part of her creative journey and hopefully we can catch up with her periodically during her course.
Those of us in Open Books are constantly amazed and inspired by Su’s beautiful work. We can’t wait to see what the MA course will bring forth!