The Altered Book

The Altered Book Sculpture

An altered book is a form of mixed media artwork that changes a book from its original form into a different form, altering its appearance and/or meaning.

***

An altered book artist takes a book (old, new, recycled or multiple) and cuts, tears, glues, burns, folds, paints, adds to, collages, rebinds, gold-leafs, creates pop-ups, rubber-stamps, drills, bolts, and/or be-ribbons it.

***

The artist may add pockets and niches to hold tags, rocks, ephemera, or other three-dimensional objects. Some change the shape of the book, or use multiple books in the creation of the finished piece of art.

***

Altered books may be as simple as adding a drawing or text to a page, or as complex as creating an intricate book sculpture.

***

ALTERED BOOKS ARE SCULPTURES & Mixed Media.

Altered Books Can Make use of some of these techniques:

{Paper Curling}

 { 3-D Sculpture}

 {Additions that are mechanical}

Altered Book Featured Artists

Brian Dettmer http://briandettmer.com/

Frank Turec http://www.alteredbookart.com/

View this video: Video Animation Altered Books

http://vimeo.com/5020134

 The LESSON

Students will create an Altered Book

1. Each altered book must have 3 accompanying inspiration images from the Internet.
2. Each sculpture must be original in design.
3. Each book will be displayed upon completion.
4. Students MUST research the work of the Featured Artists of Note. 
5. When creating, altering and completing books students must document the process using the classroom tablet or iPad & dropbox.
6. Student will add a copy of their final photograph of their Finished Book along with a description to their work to their student portfolio blogs.

Here is a great lesson plan from Linda W. Kieling, Rosemont Ridge Middle School
Unit: Mixed Media - Collage - book making
Lesson: Altered Books
Grade level: Upper elementary through high school (adapt)
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/Linda-books.htm

Here is an example of one of my student's art portfolio blog: http://www.bhansenportfolio.blogspot.com/