Project: Miniature Cut-out Books
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Overview
This project by Sara Burgess, is a study in the development of small, hand-cut, sometimes miniature books. The project sees Sara using multiple media to build small books, and to explore the positive and negative shapes she creates on the page. The extremely intricate and detailed cut-out illustrations illustrate the content within the book they occupy - from a poem to an alphabet book. The future of this project is to explore more dimensions and techniques to illustrate content in new and uniquely cut-out ways.
The complete collection of books will be exhibited sometime in 2007, in the US. Only three projects so far are shown here: The Alphabet Book, The Poem Book and the Polyhedra.
These books & concepts are protected under a Creative Commons License and should not in any way be repurposed in other concepts or designs. The cut-outs or illustrations are under the sole ownership of Sara Burgess. Apart from the Poem by Lorna Crozier. © 2003-2006
Alphabet Book
Project Details:
Time taken: 40+ hrs
Pages: 30 - accordian fold pages
Paper: Arches 90ib cold press watercolour
Dimensions: 2 3/4" x 2 3.4"
The alphabet came about after visiting some friends who collect both miniature and alphabet books. The alphabet proved to be such a natural vehicle for the papercuts that now I have many ideas for themed alphabet books. A plant alphabet miniature book will be finished by June, so long as I don't get swamped with other project work again.
This project by Sara Burgess, is a study in the development of small, hand-cut, sometimes miniature books. The project sees Sara using multiple media to build small books, and to explore the positive and negative shapes she creates on the page. The extremely intricate and detailed cut-out illustrations illustrate the content within the book they occupy - from a poem to an alphabet book. The future of this project is to explore more dimensions and techniques to illustrate content in new and uniquely cut-out ways.
The complete collection of books will be exhibited sometime in 2007, in the US. Only three projects so far are shown here: The Alphabet Book, The Poem Book and the Polyhedra.
These books & concepts are protected under a Creative Commons License and should not in any way be repurposed in other concepts or designs. The cut-outs or illustrations are under the sole ownership of Sara Burgess. Apart from the Poem by Lorna Crozier. © 2003-2006
Alphabet Book
Project Details:
Time taken: 40+ hrs
Pages: 30 - accordian fold pages
Paper: Arches 90ib cold press watercolour
Dimensions: 2 3/4" x 2 3.4"
The alphabet came about after visiting some friends who collect both miniature and alphabet books. The alphabet proved to be such a natural vehicle for the papercuts that now I have many ideas for themed alphabet books. A plant alphabet miniature book will be finished by June, so long as I don't get swamped with other project work again.
The Apple Tree, by Lorna Crozier
Project Details:
Time taken: 100+ hrs
Pages: 10 - three layers deep
Typeset in: Dolly by Underware
Letterpress by: One Heart Press, San Francisco
Paper: Arches 90lb cold press watercolour
Binding: Stitching Dimensions: 4 1/2" x 5 1/4"
I have been illustrating the Canadian poet Lorna Crozier's poems since my college years -- her beautiful poems are just so visually rich. This book can be folded straight out, but was intended to be opened up into a star formation. It was a lot of hours and huge amount of no. 11 x-acto blades. When it was all cut I just couldn't bring myself to handwrite the copy into it, it needed to be letter-pressed, so Damien laid out the type and I took it to the outstanding and knowledgeable people at One Heart Press.
Project Details:
Time taken: 100+ hrs
Pages: 10 - three layers deep
Typeset in: Dolly by Underware
Letterpress by: One Heart Press, San Francisco
Paper: Arches 90lb cold press watercolour
Binding: Stitching Dimensions: 4 1/2" x 5 1/4"
I have been illustrating the Canadian poet Lorna Crozier's poems since my college years -- her beautiful poems are just so visually rich. This book can be folded straight out, but was intended to be opened up into a star formation. It was a lot of hours and huge amount of no. 11 x-acto blades. When it was all cut I just couldn't bring myself to handwrite the copy into it, it needed to be letter-pressed, so Damien laid out the type and I took it to the outstanding and knowledgeable people at One Heart Press.
Polyhedra
Project Details:
Time taken: didn't count this time, but Damien commented that I finished it very quickly.
Pages: 3 Sheets
Paper: Arches 90lb cold press watercolour
Binding: fine fishing line
Dimensions: approximately 6" diameter
This project was started when my father-in-law, William Newman last came to stay with us. William designed this form in his teens apparently as a concept for an invitation, and it sat somewhere in his mind unused since then. Though after looking at my books one evening he saw a use for it. The next day we spent most of the day working out the templates - well, actually William worked them out and I watched and cut when needed. The polyhedra is made up of three pieces. It can fold down flat but then when one pulls on the strings it pops-up into this terrific shape. I can imagine filling a whole room with these shapes in different sizes. One a week for 52 weeks - now that would be fun! (and crazy)
Project Details:
Time taken: didn't count this time, but Damien commented that I finished it very quickly.
Pages: 3 Sheets
Paper: Arches 90lb cold press watercolour
Binding: fine fishing line
Dimensions: approximately 6" diameter
This project was started when my father-in-law, William Newman last came to stay with us. William designed this form in his teens apparently as a concept for an invitation, and it sat somewhere in his mind unused since then. Though after looking at my books one evening he saw a use for it. The next day we spent most of the day working out the templates - well, actually William worked them out and I watched and cut when needed. The polyhedra is made up of three pieces. It can fold down flat but then when one pulls on the strings it pops-up into this terrific shape. I can imagine filling a whole room with these shapes in different sizes. One a week for 52 weeks - now that would be fun! (and crazy)