Altered Book Artist - Su Blackwell
If paper art typically catches your eye, then you may already be familiar with Su Blackwell, a creator of marvelous altered book sculptures. I was happy to come upon her new blog Su Blackwell Studio earlier this week.
In one post she shares a project that was completed about a year ago for the Fairmont Hotel Group in Abu Dhabi. Su worked with assistant Emma Yeo in the lobby of the Bab Al Bahr Hotel for three weeks to create a sculpture of the Sheikh Zayed Grande Mosque which can actually be seen from the hotel. How's that for real-life inspiration?!
Lots of fine cutting, folding, and shaping added up to one impressive sculpture. See many more in-progress photos.
Another blog entry features a sculpture that Su created for book publisher Disney-Hyperion as cover art for Odditorium by Gregory Funaro, a novel that will be released in January.
...and as it will appear on the cover.
See many examples of Su's altered book art on her website and enjoy this recent video:
In one post she shares a project that was completed about a year ago for the Fairmont Hotel Group in Abu Dhabi. Su worked with assistant Emma Yeo in the lobby of the Bab Al Bahr Hotel for three weeks to create a sculpture of the Sheikh Zayed Grande Mosque which can actually be seen from the hotel. How's that for real-life inspiration?!
Lots of fine cutting, folding, and shaping added up to one impressive sculpture. See many more in-progress photos.
Another blog entry features a sculpture that Su created for book publisher Disney-Hyperion as cover art for Odditorium by Gregory Funaro, a novel that will be released in January.
...and as it will appear on the cover.
Sertum Orchidaceum 2014
Paper cut sculpture incorporating book, circa 1900, and steel frame inside wooden display case with lights
H 167 x W 124 x D 63 cm
A new exhibit, Beyond the Book: An Exhibition of Artists Who Use Books as Their Medium, will open on June 12 and runs through July 17, 2014 at Long & Ryle, a London gallery. Above is one of Su's included sculptures. I have a feeling the image doesn't begin to capture the intricacy or scale of the piece - it's as tall as I am! Su co-curated the exhibit with Saffron Wynne of The Devon Guild of Craftsmen; it features the work of ten book artists.See many examples of Su's altered book art on her website and enjoy this recent video:
