r------

Introduction

was early for my class at the Craft Guild of Dallas. Driving about, I came upon an antique mall and stopped in to see what it had to offer. A large Ibooth devoted to beckoned me. I browsed, found a few items and headed for the front counter to pay for my finds. And that, in 2002, is when my life changed. Glancing down into the glass counter, I saw a very large Bible lying open with the pages fanned to the left and right (I worried about damage to the spine) . To my amazement I saw two paintings- one on the pages to the left, another on the right. Even though I h ad been a lifelong bibliophile, I had never seen such a thing. The proprietor told me these were fore-edge paintings, that when the is closed, the paintings would be hidden from view. He took out the book and closed it. Sure enough, the closed edge had been gilded and the paintings disappeared. What a wonderful treasure. Fan the pages and a painting appears; close the book-it's gone. Why had I never seen one? Because, I was told, they are hidden away in private libraries and are not circulated in public libraries. Where could I find more? How could I learn to paint on fore-edges? A thorough search revealed there are no instruction books. The few books on the subject by Carl J . Weber and his grandson Jeff Weber generally relate to its history and those who pursued the art. Articles on fore-edge painting make little mention of technique. When there is such mention, the techniques didn't always agree. Joseph Zaesndorf in The Art of Bookbinding says, "Painting on the fore-edge should only be attempted when the paper of the book is thin and of good quality." While this is generally true, and good quality paper is certainly desirable, the paper need not be thin. The pages do h ave to be very flexible for the fanning and clamping of the book. Edith Diehl in Bookbinding, Its Background and Technique tells us, "The technique used for book-edge paintings is not difficult, though the painting of the design s requires the talent of an artist." I have found that even those who h ave never painted before can create a delightful fore-edge painting.

Vll From Jack Thompson, Thompson A second trip took me to England, Conservation Lab, we get this advice: this time for research at the Oxford "If you use gouache or full thickness University libraries. Again Martin acrylic it will thicken the fore-edge Frost spent time with me, helping and may cause other problems, such me with techniques that overcame as sticking pages." Zaensdorf says, challenges I had met while learning "The colours used must be more of a the craft. Without his teaching and stain than body colour ... " One never advice, this book could not have been uses gouache or acrylic on fore-edge written. The reader will note that paintings. Only watercolor paints will I refer to a fore-edge painting as a give good results. fep , a term coined by Martin. In the Many methods of clamping are used; natural extension of this term, a fore­ one actually depicts the artist trying to edge painter becomes a fepper, while paint without any clamp at all. painting he is fepping, and so on. For Such disparate methods required convenience, I will be using these a trial and error process on how to terms throughout the book. prepare the edges for painting, how Hidden Treasures is for book lovers, to clamp the fanned-out pages, how to for artists who want to apply their apply a watercolor painting. During skills in a virtually unknown field, this experimentation, I successfully for book artists and bookbinders and not so successfully finished who enjoy making works of art of several fore-edge paintings. Finally, their creations and for hobbyists I decided it was time to get some everywhere. You will discover what expert advice. I have learned as a researcher, a In 2008, I traveled to the U.K. teacher and practitioner in the art of for a private workshop with Martin fore-edge painting. Frost, the world's foremost fore-edge Fore-edge painting requires few painter. He has completed paintings tools and takes up little space. The on more than 3,000 books. Examples designs need not be elaborate. They of his work are included throughout can be painted on the edges of a the book, as well as in The Art Show hand-made blank book as well as on . I could not have hoped for published or hardbound a more gracious teacher. I presented books. The closed edge can be decorated him with my list of several pages of in the traditional way with gold, questions, each of which he patiently with acrylic paints or with no edge answered. Mter returning home, decoration at all. Martin and I corresponded by email The purpose of this book is to give and his help was invaluable. simple, step-by-step instructions about how to do fore-edge painting. It

viii r

includes a short history of fore-edge edge paintings. Although scholars and painting and the various types of edge researchers are sometimes allowed decoration. Although there is no book access to the collections, the general especially about the technique of fore­ public is not. This is because although edge painting, many books have been a landscape can be studied from a written by scholars and researchers safe distance, a fore-edge painting about bookbinding, the decoration of must be held in the h and to appreciate books, and a few with a smattering of its art. Consistent fanning would advice on fore-edge painting. quickly destroy the delicate watercolor For those who would like to expand paintings and edge gilding. Some their knowledge of the history offore­ libraries have photographed their edge painting, there are References at collections; these may be accessed over the end of each chapter in the History the internet. It is hoped that many . These references are discussed more libraries will soon be able to and listed in an informal manner for follow their examples. the layman who wishes to study more My fascination with fore-edge about the subjects in the preceding painting continues. It is my desire that chapter. The formal will all who read this book will become provide many helpful resources. inspired to take up their brushes and There are libraries in the United paint beautiful edges. States with large holdings of fore-

Quotation references Diehl, Edith. Boohbinding, Its Bacl'ground and Technique, (New York:Dover Publications, Inc., 1980) 170. Thompson, Jack. In 1997, Jack Thompson of the Thompson Conservation Lab, Portland, Oregon, gives some advice on fore·edge painting in an email to the Book Arts forum.

Zaensdorf, Joseph W. The Art of Boohbinding, a Practical Treatise. (London, George Bell and Sons, 1890) 82.

ix