Category: Massimo Polello

Massimo 'BLUE' workshop.

15/4/2022

This workshop commenced in late January. It was a three day workshop conducted by the brilliant Massimo Polello. I have still not completely finished the book which was started way back in January.
As the title of the blog indicates the only colour used in the whole workshop was the colour blue. Firstly we dyed several of our pages with textile dye in graduations. The subsequent days consisted of ideas and techniques, demonstrated by Massimo, that we could use to fill the pages. Massimo has a beautiful sense of large sweeping calligraphic marks combined with tiny exquisite letters. I really wanted my pages to be individual and went with nearly filling up all the available space. Massimo also suggested that we make the book before we fill the pages with calligraphy. I did this initially and then undid the book, added the calligraphic marks and resewed the book. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire workshop.
To make my pages I used calligraphy, mark making, etchings, prints, marbling, collographs, origami, and collage.
I tried to make each page a mini work of art, and as a consequence it is now three months later and is not yet completed.

The entire book laid out.

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Massimo inspired art

27/5/2017

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"Progression"

Detail of artwork.

This piece was inspired by a workshop conducted by Massimo Polello. I have called it Progression as a bit of a play on words as the piece is essentially musical but also looks like boats sailing.

As usual, I forgot to photograph it before I framed it and in addition to that I also forgot to photograph before I took it out to the Strathnairn Art Gallery and Shop. As a consequence there are reflections visible.

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Miniature bookbinding meets Massimo inspired papers

17/7/2013

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I was reading through an old edition of Bound and Lettered and came across an article that resonated very clearly to me. Bound and Lettered is a great magazine. Nothing better than getting a new edition and having the luxury of curling up in a chair.

The article is by Sandy Wagner. She is lamenting about the beautiful papers that she has created that are very carefully stored away, brought out every so often, sorted and then stored again. She goes on to write about how she finally liberates the paper and uses it in different projects.

This is exactly what I do with my own paper and I was inspired by her article and her beautiful creations to at least use a little of my stash.

I got so carried away with the project that I didn't take any photos on the progress. I made a miniature book so I could use the scraps of book cloth that I have collected and the concertina page was made from a small slice of calligraphy made in Massimo's workshop. It was lovely to remember Massimo as I worked. He has to be one of the most delightful people I have met and is so generous with his time and knowledge.

And then! yesterday I spent a lovely afternoon with Bev and Vicki learning how to make slip cases to protect my books. This was perfect timing for this little book. Once the math is out of the way the slip cases are easy to construct and look lovely. Hmmm... must think of a way to decorated them.

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March 04th, 2013

5/3/2013

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What a great workshop hosted by the Canberra Calligraphy Society in February. The tutor was Massimo Polello from Turin. What a delight. Massimo proved to be a brilliant tutor who was able to encourage all of us to produce work that we would never have even contemplated before. It was a fantastic three days.

Some examples below from the workshop.