*Virtual* In Motion: Using Text and Image in Artist Books

Turning the pages of an artist’s book embodies movement through time and presents an ideal space for text and image interaction. In this workshop we’ll first examine the historic lineage of text/image work and also analyze how contemporary book artists have created work using this alchemy. Next, various approaches to communicating concepts with pictures and words will be discussed. Participants will work on a series of hands-on writing and visual art exercises and homework assignments designed to encourage play and experimentation with the concepts presented. These rough drafts and prototypes will be shared in this process-oriented workshop with the goal of deepening participants’ understanding of text/image relationships and with developing skills to put these elements in motion in their future book projects. 

Instructor Bio:

Ellen Sheffield’s works on paper and artist’s books use text and image intersections to create unexpected readings. Her curiosity in the juxtaposition of visual language with written language inspires her practice.  Recently Ellen’s work explores themes of race and class in her rural community. Her studio, Unit IV Arts, is located in Gambier, Ohio, where she has taught for Kenyon College’s Art Department and presented virtual workshops for book art centers around the country. The Beinecke Library at Yale University, the Ella Strong Denison Library at Scripps College and many others have collected her artist books.

Supply List:

Six (6)  3”x5” note cards

Six (6)  8.5” x 11” text weight paper

Two (2) 11” x 17” text weight paper

Writing tools, pens/pencils

Drawing tools, pencils, colored markers, charcoal (your preferred tools)

A small pile of cut out magazine images/papers/collage materials

Glue stick

Scissors 

Zoom Link will be sent 24 hrs before class.