In her own work, Susan delights in the interplay between form and content, the accidental imagery of paste paper painting, and the pleasures of discovery in paper engineering. The subjects of her work include the natural world, poetry, the intersection of myth and science, and change over time. She enjoys investigating and incorporating found materials such as mica, stone, dried plants, shells and other natural objects in her books. Pochoir, handwriting, hand-carved stamping, pen and ink, gouache, watercolor, inkjet printing and hot foil stamping are some of the techniques she employs.
She notes: “The journals I have kept over the past fifteen years reflect my ongoing practice of close attention. Rapid changes in technology are influencing “first world” people in ways that separate us from our animal bodies and from the lives—vegetable, mineral, and animal/human—that our thoughtless habits are helping to destroy. Teaching and practicing close attention—through book arts and journal keeping—is my small way of resisting this trend.”
Adam's Error, 2012
Size: 4.5"w 4.75"h x 4.5"d (closed)
Materials: Book cloth over board, images inkjet-printed on book cloth, inkjet-printed equations on handmade Guatemalan paper, hand-carved wooden stem
Edition: unique
In the international juried exhibition entitled “Infinite Possibilities: Math, Science and the Book Arts” at 23 Sandy Gallery, Portland, OR, December, 2012.
Adam's Error, 2012
Size: 4.5"w 4.75"h x 4.5"d (closed)
Materials: Book cloth over board, images inkjet-printed on book cloth, inkjet-printed equations on handmade Guatemalan paper, hand-carved wooden stem
Edition: unique
In the international juried exhibition entitled “Infinite Possibilities: Math, Science and the Book Arts” at 23 Sandy Gallery, Portland, OR, December, 2012.
Adam's Error, 2012
Size: 4.5"w 4.75"h x 4.5"d (closed)
Materials: Book cloth over board, images inkjet-printed on book cloth, inkjet-printed equations on handmade Guatemalan paper, hand-carved wooden stem
Edition: unique
In the international juried exhibition entitled “Infinite Possibilities: Math, Science and the Book Arts” at 23 Sandy Gallery, Portland, OR, December, 2012.
Field Journal, 2010
Size: 4"w x 7.25"h x .75"d
Materials: Hahnemuhle bugra over cardstock, foil-stamped title on mica, handwriting on line-printed parchment, enclosures in mica windows.
Edition: Unique
Field Journal, 2010
Size: 4"w x 7.25"h x .75"d
Materials: Hahnemuhle bugra over cardstock, foil-stamped title on mica, handwriting on line-printed parchment, enclosures in mica windows.
Edition: Unique
Field Journal, 2010
Size: 4"w x 7.25"h x .75"d
Materials: Hahnemuhle bugra over cardstock, foil-stamped title on mica, handwriting on line-printed parchment, enclosures in mica windows.
Edition: Unique
A Life's Fine Thread: Six Poems by Hazel Hall (with Jill St. Coeur), 2011
Size: 6.5"w x 5.5"h x 1"d closed, out of box
Materials: book cloth over board, satin ribbon,
inkjet printing on book cloth, embroidery, thread
Not shown: Drop-spine box with cedar walls, magnetic closure
Edition: Unique
Collected by the University of Washington
A Life's Fine Thread: Six Poems by Hazel Hall (with Jill St. Coeur), 2011
Size: 6.5"w x 5.5"h x 1"d closed, out of box
Materials: book cloth over board, satin ribbon,
inkjet printing on book cloth, embroidery, thread
Not shown: Drop-spine box with cedar walls, magnetic closure
Edition: Unique
Collected by the University of Washington
A Life's Fine Thread: Six Poems by Hazel Hall (with Jill St. Coeur), 2011
Size: 6.5"w x 5.5"h x 1"d closed, out of box
Materials: book cloth over board, satin ribbon,
inkjet printing on book cloth, embroidery, thread
Not shown: Drop-spine box with cedar walls, magnetic closure
Edition: Unique
Collected by the University of Washington
Hen and Duck series, 2008-2012 (ongoing)
Size: 1.875"w x 2.1875"h x .1875"d
Materials: Paper marbled by artist, accordion with inkjet printed text and drawings by the artist, original stories about the friendship of Hen and Duck.
Edition: 25 each
Hen and Duck series, 2008-2012 (ongoing)
Size: 1.875"w x 2.1875"h x .1875"d
Materials: Paper marbled by artist, accordion with inkjet printed text and drawings by the artist, original stories about the friendship of Hen and Duck.
Edition: 25 each
Horizon: A poem by Billy Collins, 2012
Size: ~7"w x 5.5"h x 1.125"d
Materials: Book cloth covered frames, poem inkjet-printed on acetate pounced with blue ink, watercolor painting, foil-stamped title, enclosed in drop-spine box with magnetic closure.
Edition: Unique
Part of the Guild of Book Workers traveling exhibition entitled “Horizon” through 2014.
Horizon: A poem by Billy Collins, 2012
Size: ~7"w x 5.5"h x 1.125"d
Materials: Book cloth covered frames, poem inkjet-printed on acetate pounced with blue ink, watercolor painting, foil-stamped title, enclosed in drop-spine box with magnetic closure.
Edition: Unique
Part of the Guild of Book Workers traveling exhibition entitled “Horizon” through 2014.
Horizon: A poem by Billy Collins, 2012
Size: ~7"w x 5.5"h x 1.125"d
Materials: Book cloth covered frames, poem inkjet-printed on acetate pounced with blue ink, watercolor painting, foil-stamped title, enclosed in drop-spine box with magnetic closure.
Edition: Unique
Part of the Guild of Book Workers traveling exhibition entitled “Horizon” through 2014.
Marbled Toolbox, 2010
Size: 8.875"w x 1.75"h x 10.375"d
Materials: book cloth, Davey board, paper marbled by the artist
Edition: Unique
Marbled Toolbox, 2010
Size: 8.875"w x 1.75"h x 10.375"d
Materials: book cloth, Davey board, paper marbled by the artist
Edition: Unique
Field Journal: Ordinary Birds, 2010
Size: 4"w x 6.75"h x .75"d
Materials: Hahnemuhle bugra, white cardstock, pochoir images, cutouts, pen and ink
Edition: Unique
Field Journal: Ordinary Birds, 2010
Size: 4"w x 6.75"h x .75"d
Materials: Hahnemuhle bugra, white cardstock, pochoir images, cutouts, pen and ink
Edition: Unique
Field Journal: Ordinary Birds, 2010
Size: 4"w x 6.75"h x .75"d
Materials: Hahnemuhle bugra, white cardstock, pochoir images, cutouts, pen and ink
Edition: Unique
Tide Pool Pop-Up, 2012
Size: 2.5"w x 2.5"h x .625"d
Materials: Duo Barley book cloth over board, hand-carved prints on cardstock, inkjet printed text, foil-stamped title, drumleaf binding; text is a poem called “Tide Pool” written by the artist.
Edition: 10
Tide Pool Pop-Up, 2012
Size: 2.5"w x 2.5"h x .625"d
Materials: Duo Barley book cloth over board, hand-carved prints on cardstock, inkjet printed text, foil-stamped title, drumleaf binding; text is a poem called “Tide Pool” written by the artist.
Edition: 10
Tide Pool Pop-Up, 2012
Size: 2.5"w x 2.5"h x .625"d
Materials: Duo Barley book cloth over board, hand-carved prints on cardstock, inkjet printed text, foil-stamped title, drumleaf binding; text is a poem called “Tide Pool” written by the artist.
Edition: 10
Tide Pool Tunnel Book, 2012
Size: 6.125"w x 4.875"h x 1.625"d (closed)
Materials: White cardstock, acetate, hand-carved and stamped images, inkjet printed text, title hot foil stamped on elephant hide paper
Edition: Unique
Tide Pool Tunnel Book, 2012
Size: 6.125"w x 4.875"h x 1.625"d (closed)
Materials: White cardstock, acetate, hand-carved and stamped images, inkjet printed text, title hot foil stamped on elephant hide paper
Edition: Unique
Tide Pool Tunnel Book, 2012
Size: 6.125"w x 4.875"h x 1.625"d (closed)
Materials: White cardstock, acetate, hand-carved and stamped images, inkjet printed text, title hot foil stamped on elephant hide paper
Edition: Unique
Leather Bound Books, 2004
size: (brown) 6.5"w x 7.5"h x 0.875"d;
(blue) 6.5"w x 7.25"h x 1.25"d
materials: colored leather, paste paper, Arches MBM text paper
These books — quarter- and half-bound with goat leather — were made at the Center for Book Arts in NYC.
Click on a small image for full, larger view and information.
Otter Pond Bindery Book Arts Kits
Bookbinding kits include all materials and printed, illustrated instructions. Age recommendations/experience levels vary as indicated. All kits also include a 10% discount on a class at Otter Pond Bindery. Kits may also include additional items as noted. Email me at susan.bonthron@gmail.com for prices, to order, and to find out about additional kits.
Simple bookbinding toolkits are also available. They include a needle tool, bone folder, needle & thread, cardboard sewing cradle and cutting mat, acid-free permanent glue stick, clips and a Davey board 45° angle ruler—everything needed (except scissors) to complete the book kit projects.
“No Glue—No Sew Accordion Book”
Contains Otter Pond Bindery marbled paper, text paper, colored paper, marbled spine and cardstock covers. Finished book is 3" x 4.5" x .25". Age 10 and up. All skill levels.
“Five Books in a Five-Minute Case”
Kit includes all parts necessary to make five different book forms that fit in a paper case. Materials for each book are clearly labeled. Finished size of case with five books is 4.125"w x 5"h x 1.5"d. Ages 15 and up. Some book arts experience/skill highly recommended.
“Double-Signature Book in Paste Paper Wrapped Cover”
Kit includes Otter Pond Bindery paste paper, 16 pp text paper, cardstock inner cover, thread. Finished book measures 6.5" x 7.75" x .25". Ages 12 and up. All skill levels.
“Small Double-Signature Book with Marbled Cover”
Kit includes Otter Pond Bindery marbled paper, text paper, cardstock inner cover, thread. Age 12 and up. Some experience helpful. Finished book measures
4" x 4.75" x ~ .25"
“Tracks and Traces”
This kit includes a paste paper-decorated cardstock cover with ready-to stick pockets, button, thread, text pages, plus four-inch and ten-centimeter ready-to-stick-on paper rulers, and an animal tracks ID card for animals in the Northeast.* Finished book measures 4" x 4.5". Age 8 and up. All skill levels. This kit is designed to encourage kids to have fun discovering animal visitors in their own back yards.
*Many other ID cards are available, including winter twigs, leaves, seashells, aquatic invertebrates, ferns, raptors, etc. from Libby Davidson, www.starflowerstudio.com in Colchester, VT.
Special commissions often focus on preserving family memories — from a twenty-volume edition of a personal memoir to unique, hand-bound wedding guest books and photo albums. High-quality materials and craftsmanship distinguish Susan's work and her open, friendly, and creative style insures that what you want is clearly understood and that her design will best suit your needs.
Wedding Album, 2006
10.5"w x 7.75"h x 0.75"d
Asahi book cloth, Yuzen Shi silkscreened paper, binder's board, text paper, gauze ribbon, and mother of pearl button.
Susan makes wedding albums like this one on commission. It features two sections at the beginning to be used as a guest register; the following four sections contain stubs to allow for expansion to hold photographs.
It was a complete pleasure working with Susan on a 20-volume hand-bound edition of The Mental Portrait Album adapted from one my great-grandfather had in the 1890s. She overcame several challenges with the format, created a beautiful product and cared about results as much as I did.
—Jennifer Gilbert
The Stories of Isidor Jacobs, 2005
7"w x 8.25"h x 0.75"d
Canapetta book cloth, binder's board, printed stories.