A handmade Artist Book by artist Crystal Hartman that fits gently in the hands. Made during a residenty at Willowtail Springs in Southwest Colorado, the book is made from soft, thick Rives BFK printmaking paper and collected, thin (almost crisp) antique papers, all stitched into recycled paper board covers. The colors are a soft white and creams. The pages are filled with written reflections on the environment - fresh dry air, hot sun, cool breeze and the sound of life gentle in space. There are hand-drawn and painted flowers, cacti, vast spaces of dry earth, calm lake water, reflections of loons on the water in ink and botanical, honey-based watercolors.
Drawing and collecting are important parts of this art practice, something in the changing seasons calls me to make a book and step outside to observe.
* A handmade Artist Book from my time as artist in residence at Willowtail Springs Nature Preserve and Education Center in southwest Colorado.
