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Artists' Books

Learn about artists' books and explore the Libraries' collection.

Browse by Process or Technique

Three pieces of 3-D printed frosted and clear plastic that resemble ice. They are stacked together to make an iceberg-like shape.

3-D printing

The automated action or practice of creating three-dimensional objects from a digital file or other original. In an additive process, an object is created by laying down successive layers of material until the object is created; the process uses 3-D printers.

An opened green box with a scene inside, including a miniature urinal, a painting, a drawing, and a miniature lightbulb.

Assemblage

A contemporary technique of creating a three-dimensional work of art by combining various elements, especially found objects; may include elements painted, carved, or modeled by the artist.                                                                                  

An iPhone with different renditions of Superwoman on the screen on top of a striped purple background.

Augmented reality

The use of digital technology to overlay visual real-life representations, usually provided through video, with computer-generated data.                                                                                                                                                                                               

A book spread that contains a mix of primitive-looking animal drawings, letters, and patterns.

Collage

Refers to the technique of making compositions in two dimensions or very low relief by gluing paper, fabrics, photographs, or other materials onto a flat surface.

A book spread consisting of three pages containing a single black-and-white image of a palm with text on top.

Copy art (reprographic art)

Works of art produced using the technology of copying machines. Used for non-xerox copies.                                                                                                                                                         

An accordion book spread inside of a carboard cover. Each page has a series of rectangles cut from it.

Cutting

Making incisions with a sharp-edged instrument, thus removing material or dividing something into parts. Used for hand-cut pieces.                                                              

An all-white book spread with two squares die-cut from each page.

Die cutting

Cutting, as metal or paper, with dies.                                                                                                                                                                                         

Cover of Dot Comics #1 by A.T. Pratt. Using primarily orange, yellow, and red, the cover consists of grotesque drawings including a human-spider hybrid, a person coming out of a butt, and an evil cat.

Drawing

Producing visible forms primarily by delineation, usually by the direct application of material or instrument to the surface of the support.

Black box with the words 'Newspaper', 'Bottles', and 'Bags', embossed onto the top. The text is printed twice and mirrored.

Embossing

The process of creating raised or sunken designs on materials like paper, leather, or metal.                                                         

Black book cover with large, foil stamped circle in the center. The foil is a blue-to-orange gradient.

Foil stamping

Application of foil to a surface by use of heat and a die, in order to cover or to create a design or printing on the surface.                           

Partially unfolded accordion book filled with black letters on a white background and white letters on a black background.

Folding

Bending something over upon itself, as cloth or paper.                                                                                                                                                              

A page of handwritten text.

Handwriting

The forming of letters and words by hand rather than by printing; may be used to designate a particular and distinctive form, style, or method of writing by hand.

Black inkjet printed book cover with a partial image of the moon on the right side of the page.

Inkjet printing

Nonimpact computer-controlled printing in which tiny droplets of ink are projected from nozzles onto paper.                                                                          

An abstract black-and-white etching of a rectangle within a larger rectangle.

Intaglio printing

Printing processes in which the image prints from ink held in the recessed areas of the plate or block, which have been cut or etched away.

Hot pink plastic cover with the title 'Run away cats' laser cut out and hot pink spiral binding.

Laser cutting

The process of using a laser to cut various materials.                                                                                                               

10 miniature books of different colors laid out in two rows of five. Each book cover has a different letterpressed title and font.

Letterpress printing

Printing from raised and inked type, distinguished from lithographic or intaglio printing, particularly in the context of book and other text printing.                                     

Cover of the pamphlet Fresh Creek with yellow linocut prints and red title text.

Linoleum block printing

Printing process that uses engraved linoleum mounted on a wood block as the plate for printing or stamping a design or composition.                                                                          

The artists' book [Untitled book about stairs] completely unfolded into a single, large piece of paper. The left side of the paper has drawings of stairs and the right is entirely light blue.

Lithography

Planographic printing process in which a design is deposited on a stone or plate with a greasy substance and the surface is chemically treated to accept ink only in the greasy areas.

Inside spread of a small, paper artists' book. The border or each page is decorated with stitches.

Needleworking

Refers to any process or technique done with a needle and thread, such as sewing, stitching, smocking, quilting, and embroidery. This term is not used for sewn bindings, only when additional sewing is applied to the book.

Close-up photograph of one of Dieter Roth's paintings from 96 Piccadillies. It is an abstract painting with streaks of red and yellow.

Painting

The art and practice of applying pigments suspended in water, oil, egg yolk, molten wax, or other liquid to a surface to create an expressive or communicative image.                                                                                                                     

4 pieces of handmade paper next to each other, the two in the center with square photographs in the middle.

Papermaking

The process of creating a sheet or web from matted and felted fibers, often with the addition of sizing, filler, and coloring material, either by hand or machine.                                                                                              

Scattered cardboard cards, each with a different relief-printed design on it.

Relief printing

Printing processes in which the nonprinting areas of the block or plate are carved, engraved, or etched away, leaving the original plane surface raised so that ink is deposited and transferred to paper.                                                                                                                                                            

Close-up photograph of Tasfeel by Ebti. The teal-colored risograph printed photograph of a messy desk with an opened drawer filled with spools of thread.

Risograph

Trademarked term for a particular type of digital duplicating machine made by the Riso company that employs soy-based inks. Copies are created by scanning an image, burning it to a laser-etched stencil that is wrapped around a drum containing ink that rolls over continuously fed paper to create copies very rapidly.

A close-up of a book spread to show the screen printing process. Made up of primarily blues and oranges, this page shows shapes interacting with imaginary landscapes.

Screen printing

Stencil technique of printing in which ink or dye is forced through a mesh, traditionally silk, on which a design has been formed by stopping out certain areas.                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

The cover of Mark Pawson's The Address is the Art. It is meant to mimic an envelope. The title and publishing information are rubber-stamped in red and blue ink.

Stamps (marks)

Marks that are printed, impressed, perforated, or embossed, made by a relatively hard object, especially a die, block, or other tool, on a softer or absorbent material such as paper or wax.

A block of text on a page that is made up of the same repeating letter.

Text (layout feature)

Refers to the main body of the writing and is applied to books that engage more with textual elements and less so with imagery.                                                                                                        

A woodcut made by a child of a man standing next to a tree printed in brown ink.

Woodcut

A relief process in which the design is cut into and printed from the plank side of a wood block.                                                                                                                                                              

An inside spread from Miranda Maher's Redbook: A Book of Hours. The word 'May' in the top left corner of the page with lines of women's names underneath it.

Xerography

A dry, nonchemical photocopying process in which an electrostatic image remains after exposure and is developed by the deposition of toner.                                     

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