Regina Caeli book

Here is an artist's book I made a few years ago. At the time, I was grappling with the concept of home. I had watched my family go through Katrina, and I had moved away from homes that I had loved. I came to the conclusion that it really is true that our home is in Heaven. Everything else is temporary.

This is a joyful book, though. The realization that we have a home that will not be lost or changed is a joyful one. The prayer is for the time of the year after Easter, and so it reflects that deep joy. The book form is one I learned in Alisa Golden's Painted Paper. She mentions other artists who sent her books with this form, and calls it a Woven Accordion Book. I thought the prayer fit beautifully into the form.

The ties are iridescent and silver ribbons, and the background is painted with interference and pearl acrylics. These types of specialty paints just don't seem to photograph well. Their effects are striking, especially with a subject matter like this. I painted it on Arches watercolor paper, so it is a very solid form. I tried to alternate lighter pages with darker ones for contrast.

It is one of my favorite books.

It is funny how I can look at artwork I've created, and remember exactly what I was thinking at the time.