Half Way!

Hand pulled prints from artists across Canada

Ken, Alex and I collated all the editions of prints to make 75 limited edition artists books.

Clamped for binding!


I spent last weekend at my studio, KOZO, with Ken and Alex collating and binding the Anthology of Artists' Colouring Book. It took two full days and it's still not finished. This weekend we'll be binding them and adding the book cloth to the spines. If anyone in the Toronto area wants to come and help on Sat. and/or Sunday between 11 am and 6 pm, come on down!

Next I have to find someone to mass print them in black and white and tape bind them! Anyone out there have any ideas?
This unlimited edition will probably be the one most people buy and colour in. I know I can't even think of colouring these original prints! Sacrilege!

I've also spent some "down time" at the Nanotacular held at my friend Tosca's studio, Nanopod! She has such a cool space. I love her aesthetics for her space. So organic and complete! The rest of my "down time" has been spent at Soma sipping Daves' Mayan hot chocolate and helping to tie ribbons and cut labels for their Holiday orders. Yup! I work for really good chocolate! For some reason I really enjoy doing packaging and cutting at Soma more than I do at my own studio! I think it's the energy there. Lots of genuinely friendly staff that emit good vibes, and loud quirky music to work to. At my studio it's normally just me by my lonesome - boo hoo! Or maybe it's because I'm surrounded by chocolate over there!

12:15 am. Well, it looks like I can actually get to sleep early tonight!

YEAR OF THE RAT!

Photo from last year's workshop for YEar of the Boar.

Japanese Wood Block Printing Workshop

It's Year of the RAT "nenga jo" Time!
December 18th & 20th from 6 till 9 pm

Every year the Japanese celebrate the New Year by making their own “nenga jo”, or new year’s cards, to send to their friends. Usually the cards depict the animal whose year it is, and nenga jo are remarkable for their range of inventive, personalized images. Next year 2008, will be the Year of the Rat. This animal has a lovely name in Japanese - "nezumi".

Printmaker, Elizabeth Forrest, is offering a one day work shop at Kozo Studio for students to create their own nenga jo to send to relatives and friends.

Bring a cute or scary rat image to the class. After working it into a carve-able design and transferring it to a block, you will carve the image. Students will then learn the basics of Japanese style waterbased printing enabling them to print a series of cards on japanese washi paper.

You can can send it in the New Year as part of a greeting to friends and we have been invited submit them to the International Year of the Rat Exhibition at Proof Gallery!

$90/student (plus $10 for washi paper payable on first day of class)
8 participant maximum.


Registration Information
Payment is required upon registration to guarantee a space in the workshop. For more information contact Akemi at kozostudio@gmail.com or tel: 416-214-1882.
KOZO Studio/Gallery, 257 Broadview Ave. north of Dundas.

Next!

The type all locked in for printing the cover.



Kathleen printing the covers because my arm can't handle it , yet. Thank you Kathleen!



Finished! Covers (of many colours) printed, dry and ready for binding.


It's been a hectic couple of weeks!
I've been busy with several projects that I have on the go, the OCAD Book Arts Fair, the Nanotacular at Nanopod Studio on Harbord St. and teaching. By far the largest project is this Anthology of (Canadian) Printmakers Colouring Book that I am creating. 31 artists have donated hand pulled prints (relief, intaglio and serigraphy) in an edition of 75. They are being hand bound into 75 limited edition books that will be sold for $300.00! The money from the sale of the books go to the OCAD Printmaking Dept. and the Artists Health Centre Foundation at Toronto Western Hospital.
Sounds like a lot of $$$ doesn't it? I worked it out. $300.00 divided by 31 artists means that it is less than $10.00 a print! Not so expensive when you think about it that way! We'll also be doing a mass produced and bound version that is not editioned. It'll sell for about $25.00 and this money will also be for OCAD and the AHCF.
Tomorrow we start binding the limited edition books by hand!