Bookfest
Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10 Comments 
Sorry that I've been missing in action. Truth is I haven't been doing anything exciting. Work, work, work and blogging. I did however spend several hours with 1 million books on Sunday at the world's biggest secondhand book fair - the Lifeline Bookfest. There were reportedly over 4km of tables stacked with books so maybe I could count it as my daily exercise. My mission was to find retro design books and vintage Penguins. Sadly this year there weren't as many classic penguins from the 30s and 40s. (I'm to blame. I've been clearing out their stock every year!) Lots from the 60s and 70s though especially from the Pelican series. Eight bags stuffed with paperbacks. About 175 (or was that 172 ... I lost count) for $40. OK I won't waffle on about my love for Penguins. Instead I'll show you what I do with them. I keep the really old vintage ones in good condition for bookcases and the randomly styled book pile around the house but any damaged ones (and that's the majority) I use in mixed media pieces. These are some examples from a recent sell out exhibition.
Reader Comments (10)
I found something on Flickr, and if you haven't already discovered it, was sure you would enjoy a trip in the Way Back Machine. Miss Retro Modern, Your Swinging Pad. Although you probably have the book in your collection! This is just my little way of saying... gosh, I miss the retro posts!
OB .... can I call you OB? (... because I'm lazy and the second scotch is kicking in ;P ) I haven't done retro posts in ages because long story short my still under warranty expensive scanner died and I spent too many hours and too many expletives trying to get it fixed without paying. Then I gave up and bought another but it was frankly .... crap. Pixelated everything within an inch of its life. I now have a new one and several boxes of retro design books in the garage. Unfortunately they are behind a garage of thrifted furniture. Guess I'm moving stuff out of the garage to get to them to start scanning all over again :) By the way contact us via the contact page so we have an email that we can send random "hey bitchin" or "woah ease off" emails. If you're up to it that is!
Genius. That spine piece is utter bliss.
Fabulous. I love them!
Super cool idea on the penguin books art pieces. Love the whitewash effect. How do you achieve that? Great work!
Bill I drag I line of white acrylic house paint across the top then spray it with water from a spray bottle adjusting the stream to get different affects. I let it run and spray as it runs to keep it going. When it is dry I add another layer and so on. If I stuff up I wipe it off and start again.
I love your work. Do you sell any of your art online?
Amy not yet. These are large and very heavy pieces but I'm hoping to have digital prints made. Just need to find time to organise it all :)
I'm going to have to keep an eye out for prints!
LOVE these....I'm not surprised you sold out!!!!