Psycho book sculpture

 This is my most recent book sculpture. Based on the book "Psycho" by Robert Bloch, but heavily influenced by the classic Alfred Hitchcock imagery.

 The house is hollow with an LED light in it. It was pretty challenging to get the nets right for making the house - lots of trial and error.

 I have carved the steps down from the house to what would be the Bates Motel - maybe leave that for another sculpture.

 See more of my work at my website - www.daysfalllikeleaves.com

How to start an art collection

While reading a blog post called How to Start a Fine Art Collection I realised it has been a while since I posted about art collecting rather than my own work, so thought I would make a post with my thoughts on how to begin as a collector.

Tiina Heiska - Waiting Room 

When I first started buying art I didn't have much of a budget, but at the same time had an eye to the future value of any pieces I bought. Editions by established artists seemed to be an ideal place to start. Websites like Counter Editions, White Cube and Serpentine Gallery proved excellent places to buy pieces by names I recognised such as Sam Taylor-Wood, Jenny Saville and Darren Almond. These artworks tend to come in and edition ranging from 10-200, and are signed by the artist and come at a fraction of the cost of a an original piece by artists like these.

Annie Kevans - Venus II

When I graduated onto buying original pieces I was less concerned with the short term value of the piece and preferred to play the long game by buying artists that I thought would still be around in the future. Art fairs like the Affordable Art Fair and the London Art Fair are great places to start as there is a wide variety of artists and mediums on display, much easier to see what you like - and what you don't.

Research is highly recommended before making an expensive purchase. Websites like Invaluable or even Ebay are great to see if your chosen artist has been sold on the secondary market, and what kind of prices their works generate, much easier than trawling round the traditional Art auction houses.

The main tip I would give for you Art collection is to only buy works you love. For all my talk of prices and value in this post, I should point out that I have never sold any of my artworks, I love them too much!

Pride and Prejudice book sculpture

Pride and Prejudice book sculpture

This is my latest book sculpture "Would you do me the honour of reading that letter." based on Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

It is made from a Nelson classics edition of the book using the original illustration with the addition of papercut trees and grass.

Once they are printed there will be getting cards available to buy in my shop.

Jane Austen book sculpture

To Kill a Mockingbird book sculpture

This is the commission that resulted from the prize draw held in conjunction with the Cambridge University Press bookshop.

 After much deliberation the winners requested an adaptation of the Harper Lee classic 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. The finished sculpture features the Radley house with Boo looming at one of the windows. Scout is in the street attempting to reach into the knot-hole on the tree.