Simple Book Structures with Diana Brandt
By PPA member Bonnie Lipman
PPA invited Diana Brandt, our very talented member artist, to run a Tips & Tricks session on simple book forms in preparation for our upcoming Mezzanine Gallery exhibition ‘Books and Boxes’ at Primrose Park Art Centre during the month of July.
The constant rain did not deter members and we had a very well attended day.
Diana started by talking about the many varieties of concertina books, paper grain and types of paper to use. She then showed us examples of her work over the years and the different forms that we would be making as templates for our future books.

She demonstrated easy ways to evenly fold a concertina and how to join sections to enlarge books.

We made book forms using a single sheet of paper that could be, for example, A3 or A4 and just by cutting in different areas of the folded sheet one is able to achieve different flutter books.

We also made a sculptural triangular book and a clever easy slits and strips book that didn’t need any stitching or gluing and that could be added to.


Diana has always enjoyed using text and writing in her art books. She firmly feels that ever since she started using a fountain pen her writing style has vastly improved.
She talked about fountain pens, cartridges and connectors and demonstrated using several different pens.
She also showed some of the beautiful inks she uses and we all loved the red gold ink that when dry looked even more beautiful.
It was a very full, fun and informative day and we all felt it was more like a workshop than a T & T. So much inspiration and knowledge given to us for our future book making adventures.

Thank you, Diana, it was a wonderful day.
Shamim produced these lovely books after our inspirational lesson last Thursday.
