Magic book art is a unique and fascinating form of art that combines the world of storytelling with visual creativity. It involves transforming ordinary books into beautiful and intricate works of art, often incorporating elements of sculpture, collage, and illustration. One of the key techniques used in magic book art is called book folding. This involves carefully folding the pages of a book to create three-dimensional shapes and patterns. Artists can fold the pages in various ways to create intricate designs, such as hearts, animals, or geometric patterns. This technique allows the artist to transform a simple book into a sculptural masterpiece.
Owen Davies is professor of social history at the University of Hertfordshire and president of the Folklore Society. He is the author of numerous books on the history of witchcraft, magic, ghosts, and popular medicine.
The book takes a global approach, considering Egyptian and Greek papyri, ancient Chinese bamboo scripts, South American pulp prints, and Japanese demon encyclopedias, among other examples. An utterly compelling and timely exploration of a neglected artistic tradition, with vast implications for our understanding of magic s visual history and the role of material culture in shaping its transmission across the centuries.
This technique allows the artist to transform a simple book into a sculptural masterpiece. Another technique used in magic book art is paper cutting. Artists can cut and shape the pages of a book to create intricate silhouettes or layered designs.
Art of the Grimoire
Our website offers shipping to the United States and Canada only. For customers in other countries:
Mexico and South America: Contact TriLiteral to place your order.
All Others: Visit our Yale University Press London website to place your order.
Also Available At:
A copiously illustrated global history of magic books, from ancient papyri to pulp paperbacks
Grimoires, textbooks of magic and occult knowledge, have existed through the ages alongside other magic and religious texts in part because of the need to create a physical record of magical phenomena, but also to enact magic through spells and rituals. To understand the history of these texts is to understand the influence of the major religions, the development of early science, the cultural influence of print, the growth of literacy, the social impact of colonialism, and the expansion of esoteric cultures across the oceans.
In more than two hundred color illustrations from ancient times to the present, renowned scholar Owen Davies examines little-studied artistic qualities of grimoires, revealing a unique world of design and imagination. The book takes a global approach, considering Egyptian and Greek papyri, ancient Chinese bamboo scripts, South American pulp prints, and Japanese demon encyclopedias, among other examples.
This book will enchant readers interested in the history of magic and science, as well as in book and manuscript history.
Owen Davies is professor of social history at the University of Hertfordshire and president of the Folklore Society. He is the author of numerous books on the history of witchcraft, magic, ghosts, and popular medicine.
“A richly illustrated study that ranges from ancient Greek and Egyptian papyri to Japanese encyclopaedias of demons.” —Apollo Magazine
“This is simply the best illustrated history of magical texts yet written, covering the whole of history and of the planet with equal erudition.”—Ronald Hutton, Bristol University
“An utterly compelling and timely exploration of a neglected artistic tradition, with vast implications for our understanding of magic’s visual history and the role of material culture in shaping its transmission across the centuries.”—Bruce Holsinger, University of Virginia
“Through its innovative focus on magical texts and images, Art of the Grimoire presents an admirably global survey of the history of magic across space and time.”—Michael D. Bailey, Iowa State University
This book will enchant readers interested in the history of magic and science, as well as in book and manuscript history.
This technique requires precision and attention to detail, as each cut must be carefully planned to create the desired effect. The end result is often a visually stunning piece of art that showcases the artist's skill and creativity. Collage is another popular technique used in magic book art. Artists can take pages from different books and combine them to create a new narrative or visual composition. This technique allows for endless possibilities, as artists can mix and match images and text to create unique and thought-provoking artworks. The use of collage in magic book art adds depth and texture to the final piece, as different elements from various sources are brought together to create a cohesive whole. Illustration is also a fundamental aspect of magic book art. Artists can add their own drawings, paintings, or mixed media elements to the pages of a book, transforming the original text into a visual story. This allows for a perfect harmony between the written word and the visual representation, enhancing the overall impact of the artwork. Magic book art is a constantly evolving and growing art form, with artists continually pushing the boundaries of what is possible. It provides a unique way for artists to engage with the medium of books and explore themes of narrative, imagination, and visual storytelling. Whether it is through book folding, paper cutting, collage, or illustration, magic book art offers a new and exciting way to appreciate and interact with books as pieces of art..
Reviews for "The alchemy of book art: transforming pages into gold"
1. John Doe - 1 star - I was really disappointed with "Magic Book Art". The book claimed to teach you different techniques for creating stunning artwork with just a few simple techniques, but all it offered were basic doodling exercises. There was no real instruction or guidance on how to create actual detailed artwork. I felt like I wasted my money on this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. Jane Smith - 2 stars - I found "Magic Book Art" to be quite underwhelming. The book promised to help unlock your creativity and provide inspiration for creating magical and unique artwork. However, the examples and prompts in the book were not very imaginative or captivating. I didn't feel inspired or motivated to try out any of the techniques suggested. I was hoping for something more creative and exciting, but this book fell short of my expectations.
3. Mike Johnson - 2 stars - I regret purchasing "Magic Book Art". The book claimed to offer innovative techniques and ideas for creating beautiful artwork, but I found the content to be quite repetitive and unoriginal. The exercises and prompts were similar to what I've seen in other art books, and there was nothing truly unique or groundbreaking about the ideas presented. I was hoping for some fresh and exciting approaches to art, but unfortunately, this book didn't deliver.
4. Sarah Thompson - 2 stars - "Magic Book Art" left me feeling unimpressed and uninspired. The book presented itself as a guide to unlocking your creativity and discovering new artistic techniques, but I found the content to be lacking in depth and substance. The examples and exercises felt shallow and superficial, lacking the depth and complexity I was expecting. Overall, I found the book to be quite average and would not recommend it to those looking for truly innovative and inspiring art resources.
5. David Brown - 1 star - I was highly disappointed with "Magic Book Art". The book promised to provide step-by-step instructions on creating stunning artwork, but I found the explanations to be vague and unhelpful. The visuals provided were not detailed enough to understand the techniques thoroughly, and the text lacked clear instructions. As someone who was looking for guidance in expanding my artistic skills, this book was a major letdown. I would not recommend it to aspiring artists seeking quality instruction.