Project: Process. Part II

My original idea for the cover was to print a pattern on it and that the registration could shift from copy to copy making each one unique. Turns out the printer couldn't do that, so I wound up doing one solid design. I think I like this better anyway.
Here's the inked cover art.


And here's the full wrap around cover design.


This is the full case (or cover) assembly guide I made for the printer. I tried to make it as detailed as possible so there would be no question about my intentions for the final product.


Shortly after that I received this case mock up demonstrating what the final double foil treatment for the spine would look like.

Project: Process. Part I

So I've got a new book coming out for the San Diego Comic con called Bookplate Betties. It's a collection of all the bookplate pieces I did for my Belle du Jour special editions, and then some. It's not a book I was ever planning to make but the bookplates came out really well and there were a lot of them, so I figured what the heck, it'll make a nifty book.

I'm actually already finished with the book and it's off to the printer. I should have them in my hands a couple weeks before San Diego. I've had some people ask me about self publishing and how I produce a book so I thought I'd show some parts of the process hopefully without getting too boring.

First I decided on my size and page count. I went with 7" x 5 1/2" with 192 pages. I wanted to bind the book with cloth this time and my friend Scott Morse gave me this cool idea to print a pattern or imagery on the cloth.

I did a few rough cover comps to show to my printer and ask if it was possible.
This is what I showed them:



They said that they could do it, but asked me for some art to do a test. I hadn't designed the cover yet so I gave them these pieces that represented the two different directions I was thinking.

Soon I received these printed cloth tests:



I was much happier with the red, which is the way I wound up going.

Soon the printer and I agreed on a budget and I signed a contract committing myself to the project.
After that the printer took the next step and made a dummy book for me. The dummy is a real copy of the book (made with the actual materials) only it's completely blank. This allows you to hold and feel the book to make sure this is what you want and to iron out any mistakes early before the real book production.



Next step, design the cover.

Return to France!

Already! I can hardly believe it. I'll be in Paris for a group show at the Galerie Arludik along with my friends Jennifer Chang, Scott Morse and Enrico Casarosa (well, their work anyway, it looks like I may be the only one to attend in person). The show opens June 24th. I'll post more as it develops.

For now here are a couple pieces I did specially for the show.

Still available.

These two bookplates are still up for grabs.

Go!

That's the signal.

Anyone who would like to order a special edition of Belle du Jour with a tipped-in original art bookplate may do so now by e-mailing me a request to bill@billpresing.com

Please title this e-mail "bookplate request" so that I may distinguish it from other e-mails to better identify the 25 proud new bookplate owners. It may also be helpful to list your first five choices (in order of preference) from the list in the previous post. If your first 5 choices are not available I'll let you know what is still available on a person to person basis.

Again the special edition book with original art bookplate will cost $150 US plus shipping and handling (shipping cost will vary based on your location and preference). Each bookplate will be signed and numbered. See previous post for any additional information.



In other news, I will be attending Super-con this weekend. So if you are purchasing a special edition and are also attending Super-con we may be able to arrange the exchange there and avoid shipping costs.
Also for the first time since Calgary I'll be offering art prints in addition to my usual wares at Super-con. Le Frou Frou, Charra, Saraswati and Ergonomic Delight will each be available.

See you there!

Bookplates are here!!

Thats right, the final 30 bookplates are finished!

For anyone who might be new to my blog; I've created 100 special editions of my book Belle du Jour that include tipped-in original art bookplates. I sold the original 70 at last years San Diego comicon. I will be selling 25 of the remaining 30 here on my blog. 4 will be sold in an exhibition at Gallery Arludik in Paris in June, and the final 1 I'm keeping as a memento of this endeavor :)

Here's the plan.

If you would like to purchase one, they will be made available as of Friday May 16th at approximately 1pm Pacific time (thats 4pm Eastern time, 10pm Europe/Paris time, 6am May 17th Brisbane/Australia time, to name a few). At that time I will make a post to my blog giving the go signal. Once I've given the signal you may e-mail me at bill@billpresing.com. The first 25 people to e-mail me will be given the option to purchase one (one per customer please). I'm not going to accept orders before the go signal is given (sorry). The first person to e-mail will get first pick of the 25 available bookplates, the last person gets whatever is left.

They will sell for $150 each (plus shipping and handling), which includes the signed original art as well as the book. Payment options will be discussed with each of the 25 e-mailers individually (paypal is preferred though).


Whew,
I hope that makes sense. You can e-mail me or leave comments if you have any questions.


Here's what they look like.

Story auction

About a week ago at Pixar we had an internal art auction to benefit our yet to be built story pod. It'll be a place where we story artists can commune. It's a vision Joe Ranft intended for us before he passed. You can find some nifty details over here on Alex the Woo's blog.

Here's my contribution, inspired by one of my favorite French art nouveau magazine covers.

And as usual, the study.