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.

Win a book sculpture commission.

This Christmas Cambridge University Press Bookshop is holding a prize draw to win a Days Fall Like Leaves commissioned book sculpture. You can choose any story or theme, there may be a bit of discussion with me regarding feasability, but I'm open to try anything.

To be in with a chance of winning this unique prize, tickets can be purchased for £1 from the bookshop at 1 Trinity Street, Cambridge, CB2 1SZ, by telephoning 01223 333333 or by emailing bookshop@cambridge.org. Tickets are available until 6th January 2016.

The winner will have to be able to collect in person or be within a short drive from Cambridge for delivery.

Danny Champion of the World book sculpture

Danny Champion of the World book sculpture, based upon the children's novel by Roald Dahl.

 I used a lovely edition of the book from the late 1970s that I picked up for almost nothing on ebay. I was able to use the illustrations from the book in the sculpture.

 The gypsy caravan is crafted from paper with an LED light inside,

 More on my website www.daysfalllikeleaves.com.

Watership Down altered book sculpture

 This book sculpture is my adaptation of the novel 'Watership Down' by Richard Adams.

 I wanted to use the characters as depicted in the 1978 animated film version as I have very strong childhood memories of it.

 I hope I have managed to encapsulate several of the key scenes and the overall 'feel' of the novel and film.

More on my website.

Rime of the Ancient Mariner book sculpture

 This book sculpture is a commission piece based on the poem 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

 The customer's main brief was that she wanted the ship in stormy seas and ice-bergs. The albatross was on her desired but not required list, but I think it makes the piece to have it circling the ship.

 See more at my website.

Bookshop window display 2014

 This Christmas I have created six new book sculptures for the window of the Cambridge University Press bookshop.

 They will be on display from the 24th November until the 6th January 2015. The sculptures can be won in a charity raffle, tickets are just £1 each and can be bought from the bookshop.

 All the sculptures come with their own display case, anyone can enter but the winners have to arrange collection from the bookshop at 1 Trinity Street, Cambridge, UK.

 The sculptures are: A visit from St. Nicholas ('Twas the night before Christmas), Jingle Bells, King's College chapel Cambridge, Hansel and Gretel, The Round Church in Cambridge and Mr. Tumnus and Lucy under the lamppost from the Nania stories.

 More pictures can be found on my website.

Witch garden altered book art

Witch garden is my latest book sculpture, it is not based on any particular story, rather I wanted it to pull together many ideas of the homes of witches, magicians and wizards through the history of storytelling.

 I started with the Witch's hut, I knew I wanted it to be a similar shape to a witch or wizards hat, I then added the path lined with magic torches, the are all made with LED lights.

See more of my book sculptures on my website www.daysfalllikeleaves.com