CT: Ellen Schiffman. Hardcover. A unique artist's book. Ellen Schiffman has worked as a professional artist for over 30 years in her Connecticut studio. She is a multimedia artist working in a range of modalities including fiber art, collage, sculpture, photography, printing, cyanotype, eco printing and, most recently, book art. She often combines multiple media in a single piece. Throughout her career, she has been an avid explorer of both material and technique, often including found objects and everyday humble items in her pieces. Serendipity and surprise are hallmarks of her singular work. She has exhibited her work nationwide, including numerous museum shows and solo exhibits. She has received multiple awards for her work and has been featured in online and print publications, including several books. Her work reflects a fascination with texture, pattern, color, organic shapes, sculptural forms, the majesty of nature, and the beauty of imperfection.

The pandemic shut-down provided Ellen with an abundance of time to explore and experiment with some media that were new to her. She started making books during this time. She felt an immediate connection with the materials and the techniques of this compelling art form and found the process of making books a meditative balm for stressful times. Books have allowed her the opportunity to present her work in new and exciting ways. She celebrates the fact, unlike most other forms of art, the viewer gets to touch and interact with a book, thereby becoming an active participant in the process of the book becoming a meaningful piece of art. She frequently uses her books to present a body of related art work, while just as often she uses them as vehicles to capture the essence of memorable places, issues and moments in time. As the worst of the pandemic has subsided, Ellen has continued her book making journey, exhibiting her books in notable book art exhibits nationwide.

According to Ellen: "Although it was a difficult time, the pandemic lockdown held some silver linings for me. With an abundance of time, I had the opportunity to learn and immerse myself in some art techniques that were new to me. Book making, making cyanotypes, eco printing, suminagashi marbling, photography and mark making came to dominate my artistic explorations during this period.

Beholding is one of the eco printed books that I made during the pandemic. Eco printing is a multi-step technique where either live or preserved plants are processed in such a way that they yield both their image and their colors onto paper, fabric and other substrates. The process is serendipitous, with resultant images that can be crisp and realistic, amorphous and dreamlike, brightly colored or muted. Although these are many variables the artist can employ to direct the eco printing process, there is magic and surprise in the final image.

The inspiration and material for my eco prints come from my garden and the beautiful woods around my CT home. During our lengthy lockdown I spent many soothing hours in both of these settings, finding respite from the stresses of the moment. much of my work I focus on everyday beauty. The plants remain unidentified, as importance to me in my work lies in the abundance of random beauty they offer.

I cherish the fact that, unlike most other forms of art, the viewer gets to touch and interact with a book, thereby becoming an active participant in the process of the book becoming a meaningful piece of art."

An accordion book structure with handmade paper covers and printed title to front cover. The book is held closed with a brown ribbon. Each page includes an original ecoprint of leaves. Twigs are sewn into the binding and bits of inserted plant materials add three-dimensionality to the pages. Includes a quote by Annie Dillard. [8 pages.] Size 10 x 7.5 inches. ARTB/121224. Fine. More

Weston, CT: Ellen Schiffman, 2022. Hardcover. A unique artist's book. Ellen Schiffman has worked as a professional artist for over 30 years. She is a multimedia artis1 working in a range of modalities including fiber art, collage, sculpture, photography, printing, cyanotype, eco printing and, most recently, book art. She often combines multiple media in a single piece. Throughout her career, she has been an avid explorer of both material and technique, often including found objects and everyday humble items in her pieces. Serendipity and surprise are hallmarks of her singular work. She has exhibited her work nationwide, including numerous museum shows and solo exhibits. She has received multiple awards for her work and has been featured in online and print publications, including several books. Her work reflects a fascination with texture, pattern, color, organic shapes, sculptural forms, the majesty of nature, and the beauty of imperfection.

The pandemic shut-down provided Ellen with an abundance of time to explore and experiment with some media that were new to her. She started making books during this time. She felt an immediate connection with the materials and the techniques of this compelling art form and found the process of making books a meditative balm for stressful times. Books have allowed her the opportunity to present her work in new and exciting ways. She celebrates the fact, unlike most other forms of art, the viewer gets to touch and interact with a book, thereby becoming an active participant in the process of the book becoming a meaningful piece of art. She frequently uses her books to present a body of related art work, while just as often she uses them as vehicles to capture the essence of memorable places, issues and moments in time. As the worst of the pandemic has subsided, Ellen has continued her book making journey, exhibiting her books in notable book art exhibits nationwide. This concertina features ten of Ellen’s striking cyanotype prints.

Cyanotypes are camera-less photographs created by coating the paper with a chemical emulsion, placing an object or photographic negative on the surface when the emulsion dries, and then placing it directly in the sun for a short time to develop. The final photo emerges as a rich Prussian blue imprint of the original image. The plants in this book were collected during the pandemic – both in Ellens garden and on her walks in the woods near her CT home. She spent many soothing moments in these settings during the shutdown, finding respite from the stresses of the moment. As with much of her work Ellen has sought, in this book, to highlight the beauty of the everyday. Although the plants in the book remain unnamed, they are included as a testament to everyday beauty and the bounty all around us. Bound in elegant red book cloth with a found twig and black metal nails on the cover. With a red elastic ribbon closure. In fine condition Measures 7.5x9.5 inches. Unpaginated.ARTB/071124. Fine. More

Weston, CT: Ellen Schiffman. A unique artist's book. Ellen Schiffman has worked as a professional artist for over 30 years in her Connecticut studio. She is a multimedia artist working in a range of modalities including fiber art, collage, sculpture, photography, printing, cyanotype, eco printing and, most recently, book art. She often combines multiple media in a single piece. Throughout her career, she has been an avid explorer of both material and technique, often including found objects and everyday humble items in her pieces. Serendipity and surprise are hallmarks of her singular work. She has exhibited her work nationwide, including numerous museum shows and solo exhibits. She has received multiple awards for her work and has been featured in online and print publications, including several books. Her work reflects a fascination with texture, pattern, color, organic shapes, sculptural forms, the majesty of nature, and the beauty of imperfection. The pandemic shut-down provided Ellen with an abundance of time to explore and experiment with some media that were new to her. She started making books during this time. She felt an immediate connection with the materials and the techniques of this compelling art form and found the process of making books a meditative balm for stressful times. Books have allowed her the opportunity to present her work in new and exciting ways. She celebrates the fact, unlike most other forms of art, the viewer gets to touch and interact with a book, thereby becoming an active participant in the process of the book becoming a meaningful piece of art. She frequently uses her books to present a body of related art work, while just as often she uses them as vehicles to capture the essence of memorable places, issues and moments in time. As the worst of the pandemic has subsided, Ellen has continued her book making journey, exhibiting her books in notable book art exhibits nationwide. This delightful book is an Explosion Book structure. Explosion Books which fold up small, unfold into dramatic sculptural wall pieces. This structure features an "explosion" of inward and outward folds that give the structure its engaging and dramatic 3-dimensional profile. The Explosion book is whimsical and surprising, while being sophisticated and elegant at the same time. The images in this book are striking eco-prints created by the artist from plants collected in her garden and in the CT woods around her home during the pandemic. Eco Printing is a process in which plants, tightly rolled in watercolor paper, are boiled and steamed in such away that the plant images are beautifully transferred to the paper. Bound in a blue, green and white designed paper over boards. With title label affixed to front cover. A ribbon hanger is attached which allows the book to be displayed on a wall. In fine condition. Measures 7.5 inches square when folded, 50x15 when open. Unpaginated. ARTB/071524. Fine. More

CT: Ellen Schiffman. Hardcover. A unique artist's book. Ellen Schiffman has worked as a professional artist for over 30 years in her Connecticut studio. She is a multimedia artist working in a range of modalities including fiber art, collage, sculpture, photography, printing, cyanotype, eco printing and, most recently, book art. She often combines multiple media in a single piece. Throughout her career, she has been an avid explorer of both material and technique, often including found objects and everyday humble items in her pieces. Serendipity and surprise are hallmarks of her singular work. She has exhibited her work nationwide, including numerous museum shows and solo exhibits. She has received multiple awards for her work and has been featured in online and print publications, including several books. Her work reflects a fascination with texture, pattern, color, organic shapes, sculptural forms, the majesty of nature, and the beauty of imperfection.

The pandemic shut-down provided Ellen with an abundance of time to explore and experiment with some media that were new to her. She started making books during this time. She felt an immediate connection with the materials and the techniques of this compelling art form and found the process of making books a meditative balm for stressful times. Books have allowed her the opportunity to present her work in new and exciting ways. She celebrates the fact, unlike most other forms of art, the viewer gets to touch and interact with a book, thereby becoming an active participant in the process of the book becoming a meaningful piece of art. She frequently uses her books to present a body of related art work, while just as often she uses them as vehicles to capture the essence of memorable places, issues and moments in time. As the worst of the pandemic has subsided, Ellen has continued her book making journey, exhibiting her books in notable book art exhibits nationwide.

She writes of this lovely book: Eco Printing is a process in which plants are placed on treated paper which is rolled and bound. The entire bundle is then either submerged in boiling water or steamed. Often items are placed in the water to influence the printing outcome. In time the plants transfer a permanent image to the paper. The image can be clear and crisp or ethereal and dreamlike. The colors can vary from the original plant in surprising ways. It is a serendipitous process, always surprising, always delightful. This collection of eco prints uses plants found in my garden and in the wood surrounding my CT home during the pandemic, highlight the beauty in the everyday. The Japanese stab bound book is covered in earthy brown paper, with twig, bead and cloth elements attached to the front cover, along with an eco-print and a title label. Each page protected by a velum guard. There are eight original prints in this book embellished with red leather cord highlights. In fine condition. Oblong book measuring 7.5 x 11.25 inches. Unpaginated ARTB/071524. Fine. More

Weston, CT: Ellen Schiffman, 2024. Ellen Schiffman has worked as a professional artist for over 30 years in her Connecticut studio. She is a multimedia artist working in a range of modalities including fiber art, collage, sculpture, photography, printing, cyanotype, eco printing and, most recently, book art. She often combines multiple media in a single piece. Throughout her career, she has been an avid explorer of both material and technique, often including found objects and everyday humble items in her pieces. Serendipity and surprise are hallmarks of her singular work. She has exhibited her work nationwide, including numerous museum shows and solo exhibits. She has received multiple awards for her work and has been featured in online and print publications, including several books. Her work reflects a fascination with texture, pattern, color, organic shapes, sculptural forms, the majesty of nature, and the beauty of imperfection.

The pandemic shut-down provided Ellen with an abundance of time to explore and experiment with some media that were new to her. She started making books during this time. She felt an immediate connection with the materials and the techniques of this compelling art form and found the process of making books a meditative balm for stressful times. Books have allowed her the opportunity to present her work in new and exciting ways. She celebrates the fact, unlike most other forms of art, the viewer gets to touch and interact with a book, thereby becoming an active participant in the process of the book becoming a meaningful piece of art. She frequently uses her books to present a body of related art work, while just as often she uses them as vehicles to capture the essence of memorable places, issues and moments in time. As the worst of the pandemic has subsided, Ellen has continued her book making journey, exhibiting her books in notable book art exhibits nationwide.

This unusual and engaging book is a book sculpture in a custom box. Ellen explains its inspiration: "Tea time has been cherished tradition in many cultures for thousands of years. Although I have enjoyed drinking tea my entire life, it grew in importance to me during the pandemic. I stopped all activity twice daily for reflection, brainstorming, taking stock, writing in my journal and having a soothing cup of tea. Often, I would plan zooms with friends so that we could enjoy a cup of tea together. I started saving the tea bags from this daily ritual. My growing stash marked the passage of time. Eventually I started painting, drawing, printing, and writing thoughts on the delicate tea bag paper. Tea Marks, is a book sculpture made with boxed cubes which are covered with my pandemic tea bags. Each side of every cube has a unique image. This is a participatory sculpture, as the cubes in the box can be rearranged into a myriad of different ways and the cubes can be removed from the box and built into 3 dimensional structures. This book of boxes channels the reflective calm which the tea drinking imparts in a playful, creative and meditative way." The cubes are housed in an elegant beige cloth covered box with the title and a decorative image on the front cover. On the back of the box's cover is a quote that says "TEA: Cherishing a moment of simplicity and grace..." There are twenty handmade cubes that are each 2 inches square. The box measures 9 x 11.25 inches. In fine condition. ARTB/071124. Fine. More

CT: Ellen Schiffman, 2021. Hardcover. A unique artist's book. Ellen Schiffman has worked as a professional artist for over 30 years in her Connecticut studio. She is a multimedia artist working in a range of modalities including fiber art, collage, sculpture, photography, printing, cyanotype, eco printing and, most recently, book art. She often combines multiple media in a single piece. Throughout her career, she has been an avid explorer of both material and technique, often including found objects and everyday humble items in her pieces. Serendipity and surprise are hallmarks of her singular work. She has exhibited her work nationwide, including numerous museum shows and solo exhibits. She has received multiple awards for her work and has been featured in online and print publications, including several books. Her work reflects a fascination with texture, pattern, color, organic shapes, sculptural forms, the majesty of nature, and the beauty of imperfection.

The pandemic shut-down provided Ellen with an abundance of time to explore and experiment with some media that were new to her. She started making books during this time. She felt an immediate connection with the materials and the techniques of this compelling art form and found the process of making books a meditative balm for stressful times. Books have allowed her the opportunity to present her work in new and exciting ways. She celebrates the fact, unlike most other forms of art, the viewer gets to touch and interact with a book, thereby becoming an active participant in the process of the book becoming a meaningful piece of art. She frequently uses her books to present a body of related art work, while just as often she uses them as vehicles to capture the essence of memorable places, issues and moments in time. As the worst of the pandemic has subsided, Ellen has continued her book making journey, exhibiting her books in notable book art exhibits nationwide.

According to the artist: "Although I have been a professional multi-media artist for many years, I have not often painted. This changed during the pandemic. In the spirit exploration and experimentation which took over my studio during the lockdown, I frequently found myself with paintbrush in hand. The abstract paintings I created have often appeared in the collages and books I made during this period of time.

I have presented some of my paintings in this explosion book called 'With Gusto'. While this book folds up into a small square, when open it explodes with colorful, energetic paintings. The surprise inherent in the pandemic explosion books reflect the excitement I felt from artistic freedom and sense of discovery which marked this otherwise stressful time.

I cherish the fact that, unlike most other forms of art, the viewer gets to touch and interact with a book, thereby becoming an active participant in the process of the book becoming a meaningful piece of art."

Bound in hand painted paper covered boards. The interior is filled with colorful handpainted panels folded into the "explosion" book structure. A green ribbon is affixed to the top corner of the book, allowing it to hang fully open. Occasional small spots of glue from construction, but clean and bright overall. Housed in a drawstring tan cloth bag with paper title label and illustration pasted down to the front panel. The bag was handmade by the artist. Unpaginated. Size: 5 x 5 inches, closed; 51.5 x 12.5 open. ARTB/100224. Fine. More