Any Artists out there?

[Archeress]

Hello folks. I am wondering if there are any artists out there as I am a bookbinder. I make lovely little sketch books, cloth covered hardback covers, 48 leaf (96 pages) of 160gsm high quality artists paper, measuring 154mm x 108 mm (size of cover) x 24mm. The binding stitching is external, in that it is on the outside of the spine and I currently use 2 patterns of stitching.

I am wondering how much people might be willing to pay for something like this as I am thinking of turning it into something profitable rather than just a hobby.

I have also made a plain page journal with 96 leaf (192 pages) of 140gsm unruled paper and a ribbon bookmark, mesuring very approximately 154mm x 216 x 50mm (I don't have this book as it was made as a gift.

Hugs
Archeress x

PS Mods please move if in the wrong section x

 

[Deleted member 35268]

Hi

I do watercolours and sketches of houses, motorbikes and places. So, if I am understanding your project, you would bind together a number of pages from an artists portfolio ? Would the artist need to sort out the reproduction / copy of the originals down to a common and agreed size and get them all printed ahead of your binding?

PS. I love watercolours of bikes! Have never attempted one as yet.

 

[Archeress]

No, these are blank books for artists to sketch in or for watercolours etc, like a pocket sketchbook.

Hugs
Archeress x

 

[Archie_tect]

Watercolours or any medium using water based materials causes the paper to expand and buckle if it isn't wetted and pre stretched Archeress, so it would need to be very heavy paper to use dry.... tricky.

 

[Archeress]

Okay, just for sketching then lol!

Hugs
Archeress x

 

[threebikesmcginty]

There's an excellent artist on CC - @raindog, he does racing paintings and stuff, don't know how he works though as to whether he could be of help just thought I'd big him up.

 

[AndyRM]

I'm a graphic designer, but like to use a sketch book for notes and ideas.

I partial to a couple of brands which are in the £10 - £15 mark so I suppose that's about my range. Would consider an extra couple of £ for something handmade though.

Do you have any pictures of them?

 

[Archie_tect]

Please don't use rough papers as you can't sketch any detail at all and it's no good for pencil or pastels [edit- post amended because Archeress has already stated paper size and weight.... sorry!]

 

[Archeress]

The red one has inticate pages within pages and the cloth is Buckram. The green one is made with Edinburgh cloth. My stitching style on the red one has improved since then, and the threads are plaited together forming a lovely rope style and texture.

Hugs
Archeress x

 

[AndyRM]

Very nice! I'd certainly buy a couple.

 

[Archeress]

And of course I can make the book to a custom size, bit more fiddly but doable lol!

Hugs
Archeress x

 

[AndyRM]

They are nice. How much would you pay, that's the original question.

I've already said...

 

[Archeress]

Lol x

 

[Archeress]

Please don't use rough papers as you can't sketch any detail at all and it's no good for pencil or pastels [edit- post amended because Archeress has already stated paper size and weight.... sorry!]

I have a degree in papermaking so the paper part of the book is quite important to me. I hadn't thought of the paper expansion with watercolours, but I did know about contraction on drying. I have a friend who uses one of my books for watercolours so that is why I suggested it.

Hugs
Archeress x

 

[Archeress]

I visited with a friend last week who is a fashion designer and also a published author. We got to talking about my bookbinding and she requested that I make her a Journal. So last night we met again as a large group of friends for a meal, and she has suggested she might be able to sell them on her monthly market stall yay!

Hugs
Archeress x