An altered book is an old manuscript transformed into an art object through various methods such as embellishing, tearing, or painting. The movement, which began with Tom Phillips' 'A Humument,' allows artists to express personal themes or aesthetic ideas by altering the original text and images. Techniques range from using materials like old photographs and magazines to creating collages, pop-ups, and incorporating found objects, encouraging artists to reflect on their hopes and passions.

1. Altered Books: Making Something New of Something Old

2. Definition: An altered book is an old manuscript that has been embellished, decorated, painted, torn, or altered in any way to turn it into an art object. Often altered books begin as a comment about the original book, but the theme of the altered book may also be something unrelated.

3. History 11 th Century Monks- “Palimpsests”- reusing old manuscripts Victorian Era- “Grangerism”- using illustrations torn from one book to decorate another

4. “ A Humument” Tom Phillips- started the modern-day altered book movement. Bought a used Victorian novel, “A Human Document”, and spent 15 years turning it into a ‘new’ novel, “A Humument”

5. From the FIRST modern altered book: “ A Humument” by Tom Phillips

6. Today…. Artists express themselves through altered books in a limitless amount of ways. Sometimes they used pictures, or turn the book into a sculpture, add text, delete text, to create a new meaning or visual interpretation of the book. Book Vomit, from w00kie on Flickr

7. Before You Begin: Look for hardbacks or board books. Avoid paperbacks. Make sure binding is not broken or loose. To make room for additions, “thin out” your book by ripping out every 5th page. To support additions, glue 2 or more pages together using gel medium or a glue stick and brayer. Make sure not to use originals of photos!

8. Gathering Materials Flash cards Old game pieces Old pictures Old magazines and newspapers Leaves Old calendars Cheap jewelry Cookie fortunes Old wrapping paper Food wrappers Old photographs Seed packets Found notes Trading cards Maps Ribbons Pressed flowers Tickets Tissue Paper

9. Supplies Anything used for scrapbooking Xacto knife & cutting mat Glue sticks/Spray adhesive/Double-sided tape Gesso or gel medium & foam paint brush Decorative edged scissors Stamps and hole punches Drills, fabri-tac, book binding tape Pens, markers, colored pencils, crayons, paints

10. Other Techniques to Try Deconstruct a picture. Paint over it, age it with sandpaper, rip it and put it back together, etc. Try pop ups! Create poems from found words. Thread a ribbon on inside of the spine and tie in a bow. Alter photos using photo editing software such as Photoshop to create different effects.

11. From Altered Board Book Basics From Altered Book Scrapbook Nature Journals & Memory Keepers

12. Techniques: Windows and Cutouts Altered Art for the First Time by Madeline Arendt

13. Styles & Techniques Pockets Collage Closure/ handle on outside Photographs Pop-ups Quotes Found Objects Painted Pages

14. Words show through the paint Inserting Found Objects

15. Texture & Interest Unity in Color

16. Using items of interest, show what your hopes and dreams are for your life and For the world in which we live

17. From Alter This! by Alena Hennessy Techniques: Shadow Boxes, Weaving, and Sewing

18. Techniques: Frames From Altered This by Alena Hennessy

19. Books as Art Swiss Army Book by M. L. Van Nice on display at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

20. Books as Art detail of missing the point jennifer hibbard altered book

21. Books as Art The Astronomer's Apothecary Queen’s Game by Karen Hatzigeorgiou

22. Books as Art

23. Books as Art

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25. Books as Art

26. Books as Art Noriko Ambe, titled 1000 of Self (2007)

27. Books as Art Su Blackwell – Pandora Opens Box

28. Books as Art La Saison du Printemps 2008 Nous sommes eternels 2004

29. Books as Art Brian Dettmer- Carved Books Core 6, 2007

30. Books as Art The Enjoyment of Music, 2008

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35. Theme: What I Want for the World Examples: Art for ALL Literacy Animal Protection Poverty Awareness Protected Environment Ending Child Abuse Helping Others Citizenship What am I passionate about? What will I do to change these things or help the world? How am I planning to help others