A few weeks ago, I completed a new artist’s book, “minimum responses.”

This 20-page book features a single poem, printed on colorful joss paper using hand-set rubber type and blue ink.

I’d been thinking about the book–the poem I wanted to include, the format and techniques I wanted to use–for a while, and then it probably took me 3-4 weeks of active production to actually make it. First, I had to plot the book out, figure out which lines of the poem would go on which pages, and determine the size of the book.

I made a dummy book and some test prints to start:

The rubber type I decided to use presented its own constraints — there were a limited number of each letter to choose from, which meant I had to make some creative substitutions!

I set the type of each page separately, and near the end of my printing process I realized the cheap type was also starting to show signs of wear; some of the letters refused to hold ink or print fully.

Ultimately, I created a limited edition of 8 copies, with varied colors, bound with brown thread. You can learn more, including how to get your own copy, here.

Want to make your own little book? I’m leading a fun local workshop at the Claremont Lewis Museum of Art on Thursday, January 22! It’s presented in conjunction with their very cool exhibition She Opens the Door: Women Artists and Writers Shape Language and Space, curated by CLMA Poet-in-Residence Chloe Martinez.

In the January 22 workshop, you’ll learn to make a mini-book, a deceptively simple structure folded out of a single sheet of paper. We’ll explore a few variations of the form, and experiment with adding written content to our mini-books in engaging, evocative ways. Feel free to bring a paragraph or short poem to use as the basis of your explorations during the workshop. You’ll leave the workshop with at least one complete mini-book to take home.

Join me! Art Night Out: Folded Books and Poetry. 6pm. Thursday, January 22. Claremont, CA