contemporary collage paintings
the process
Leslie Avon Miller

My life flows when I'm in my art.


Jean De Muzio

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Artists Books and Some Things To Like About Art


My intrigue with artist’s books goes back to the second grade, when I fell in love with my teacher’s grade book. It was a truly magical book with multiple interior pages of different widths.

All our names were entered down the left hand column. Each interior page flipped to show our grades for a variety of subjects, the column of names on the left remaining constant. The beautiful Miss Monroe entered marks in blue, red or black ink, creating a random pattern of visual interest. The weight of her entries made an impression that created depth to each page. I was truly enthralled.

No other book I experienced had any handmade marks –books were stored on shelves, pristine and sterile. It was sacrilege to make a mark in a book, except for the teacher’s grade book. When ever my BF and I would play “school” I would always start by making an elaborate grade book, with pages of differing widths, filled with columns and rows. Heaven!





I seldom make a model book – I may as well just make another book. But I knew a model would help to test the weights of different papers and how they interact with one another. I used tape to secure the papers since this was only a model. But now I like the model book, so I may add content and hope the photo quality permanent tape will hold for sometime.

To add interest I used some of the paper I do warm ups on when I am starting a studio session. My warm up papers are like a sketch book of ideas. I hang a large piece of light weight paper on the studio wall so I can work on ideas in larger format. I also practice making gestures and marks.




I like a lot of things about making art. I like to work with my hands. It’s something that occurs right here, right now somewhat within my control. I can’t have much of an effect on world peace, but I can make art.

Do you know what I mean? I work out thoughts and responses to being human, especially the parts for which I can’t find deep enough words.

I like to see what happens when I create. I’m just so curious about the whole process. I’m always finding new ways of doing things. One day I may make marks with a stick dipped in paint, and the next day I may use a razor blade to scratch out lines and marks. Curiosity is real fuel for studio time.



When it comes to art, I get to do it my way, and create my vision. No one else is making the decisions, or setting the course. It’s all mine. As said in Art and Fear – art is about “a rolling tangle of choices.” We have to make our choices. And then roll with it.

What are some things you enjoy about making your art?

Speaking of rolling tangles of choices, my new life coaching for artists web site is up and running. So I’m offering a new session of the popular course for artists called Re-Fresh Your Creative Practice. The dates are Tuesday, November 2nd to Tuesday, December 7th. If you like you can participate in a complementary call to find out more about it on Tuesday, October 6th. Head over here and also sign up for my newsletter to find out more about it. The next time I offer this course will be June, 2011, or thereabouts.

If you have signed up for the newsletter and haven’t gotten your complementary gift, check your spam folder. Once you confirm your subscription, an email will be sent to you with your gift. The spam folder is no place for your present to be!

42 comments:

  1. i am right there with you ..such a special part of life!!

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  2. It's great that the model book became it's own piece!

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  3. The warm up pieces are so you, Leslie. I love your style of painting...marking...warming up.

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  4. Your book is lovely. All the colours, textures and mark making in your warm up are beautiful.
    I am suprised that on the comment on my blog you say you are clueless about print making as these pieces look very much like etchings. Your processes seem very printerly - not sure if that's a word!

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  5. A beautiful story. Love the book and also really enjoyed reading about the warm up. Very inspiring.

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  6. Curiosity may kill the cat but I feel curiosity is an asset to someone who wants to create...it keeps you wanting more..and searching and eager.
    Interesting post...and what a marvelous book! Gorgeous pages,,,wonderful!

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  7. great story about the teacher's marking book. I remember those too though I was not affected consciously by them. It is just lovely that you consider it one of the first artists books you have seen. I wonder what the teacher would think of that.

    your handmade book is beautiful, so "you." and i like what you say about creating art: just the way you want it. that's the best part. or one. thanks Leslie. You inspire me with every post.

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  8. What a wonderful memory for you, Leslie - I remember being hung up about what colour pencil to use when ruling my margin!! I will go into my studio today with the intention to have NO INTENTION. Thanks so much xoxoxo

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  9. Wonderful memories and lovely book.

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  10. Now you've made me want to see the teacher's book in person. It sounds so enticing! And your book is lovely, Leslie. You are right about being free to explore and satisfy our curiosity in the studio. What a wonderful opportunity to feel that childlike enthusiasm and spontaneity return. Thanks for your post!

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  11. Warm ups...now that is a great new idea for me, and it is only 8 o'clock in the morning.
    I think your book is superb and makes me very envious of your talents.

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  12. Hi Leslie, Have just popped over to your new website and it looks great! I particularly enjoyed the expressive drawing video; made me think even I could do it!

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  13. I enjoy reading about your inspirations and train of thought as you go about your process of creating and making and doing 'art' stuff.d

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  14. Leslie, I remember having a similar fascination with some of my teachers' grade books. Writing as a linear element...an inspiration which you've carried over beautifully into this "test book" (is there a pun hidden here?) I find your comments on mark making inspiring. I'd like to try some of your warm up ideas.

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  15. Warm ups are a great way to get past hesitation, and I've always ended up incorporating them in collage or something. I just keep painting over them until I like them.

    I do think I have a print making approach to painting - I more often transfer paint from one surface to another than I actually use a brush.

    I find it interesting to think back to when I can first remember something that is part of my life now - like the teacher's grade book. Since the grade books were formal documents, I am sure they were destroyed - pity. A pass port is the same sort of thing - marks acquired over time.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  16. thank you leslie for your thoughtful comments on my blog. . much appreciated today , on my birthday ! they give me the incentive to carry on, just as i was giving up on blog land . . your works are very beautiful, and the books i just love. . wonderful colour palettes, of muted shades. . my favourite ! hj. x

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  17. great memories and the book is awesome, i am off to check out your site! ciao!

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  18. I'm very interested. But didn't get a notice?

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  19. This book and these pages make me sigh! And your words about art and what you can do really ring true for me as well.

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  20. Gorgeous book! I am very drawn to your painted papers that create your books. Simply stunning!

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  21. It must be 'heating up' over at the new studio with all these wonderful explorations! I so like your remarks about remembering back to something such as grade books. This book is beautiful mark making!

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  22. This post is pure inspiraion! Your model book pages are just beautiful. I am going to use your warm up technique for mark making. It sounds like practicing a new kind of penmanship!

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  23. I love the image of your teacher's grade book, and how your memory of it inspired(inspires) the making of your books..
    Happy process to you, the books look wonderful to the touch and to the eyes,

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  24. I know EXACTLY what you mean about the grade books (here in New Zealand, we call them roll books)!! I started working for a high school 5 years ago, and what drew me to it? My boss' roll book! It was thick with bits and pices coming out of it BUT it also had pages folded and folded back, exactly as you have described with your teacher's grade book. The first thing I said to her when I met her (before I started working for her) was: OMG look at your fabulous roll book! She laughed but I think she also knew what I meant by that comment.

    I think if there was such a thing as a paper pile fetish - I would have it. I love layers of paper, banked up and written on, folded and creased, dog eared and soft. And even more happy than that is all of those things bound together. Wonder if that is the real reason why I am an artist AND a librarian?

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  25. Ahh... but to can and are affecting world peace...its called the butterfly effect and creating art is the initial condition that can change long term behavhiour:)

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  26. I do like the idea of rolling with your choices...

    so many to pick form... I appeciate the loosness with which you make your marks...

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  27. Good Lord, it will be just one more comment
    I remenber, the first time I have seen artist's books, was in London. I was so astinish and under charme. since I have see many. Last carnaval's time in Basel, Ssitzerland, in a galery, have been exibit several artists makind spécial books. If you have the patience, you can go on my blog to see them. Around Mars, caranval's time,
    Un petit coucou de Lausanne en Suisse.

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  28. Stunning book, love your colours and soft combinations.

    Your teachers grade book sounds fantastic. I wonder if she kept it?

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  29. What a lovely way you described your memory of books and how it is a catalyst to your readers, and to me. It brought back to mind, my fascination with the transparency pages of organs in the encylopedias - I was smitten with them and used to walk into the school library knowing exactly where 'that' book would be hoping it was there that day so I could sneak another peek. I loved the texture of the transparency as much as the fascination of layering the organs on top of each other!
    That was the first memory - there are so many others...
    Thanks Leslie - and also your work always inspires me more and more!

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  30. I'm a total sucker for handmade books.
    Yours are splendid, Leslie!
    My other friend Leslie (Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog tails) also teaches book-making (not betting!)
    I have worked with Elizabeth Bunsen also.

    Wha a splendid post.
    I'm currently in Florence where handmade books and papers abound.
    Bliss!

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  31. Beautiful essay and model! The Art of the Book is on at the University of Victoria, Maltwood Prints and Drwings Gallery at the McPherson Library. This is the last venue for the exhibit as it has travelled across Canada. It is on until January 5, 2011 and it is a very interesting show. You can also look at it online at the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild website, there is a gallery there....thanks for keeping in touch through the blog...love your work!

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  32. An impassioned reverie over a grade book--that's what I call a truly artful view of life, Leslie!

    And these pages of yours are lush and touchable.

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  33. Gorgeous book - I like the detail images you took of it - it give you a good sense of all the folds.

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  34. Lovely book, Leslie, and photos of it. I can feel the book and enjoy the mark making you have put into it. Gentle thoughts...an inspiring visit, thanks.

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  35. hallo leslie
    thank you for visit my blog .
    I am very impressed in your work and very honored that you visit my blog. You have so much experience and I can learn a lot.
    Greetings from Bavaria

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  36. Soft and beautiful, like snow over beach rocks. Very lovely post, your marks on paper are so rich, I feel I could touch each and follow them in there orbits. roxanne

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  37. Whenever I drop by I find inspiration here! Thank you....

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