Star Spell
Limited Edition Book

Limited edition book of 53 copies with both a standard and deluxe version, all signed

4 5/8 x 3 5/8 inches

16 pages

2007

Star light
Star bright
First star
I see tonight
I wish I may
I wish I might
Have the wish
I wish tonight

Handmade french-fold accordion book, printed and bound by the artist. Pages digitally printed on both sides of Zerkall book paper with archival pigment inks. Background reproduced from a watercolor painting, on which the words STAR SPELL were lettered larged in resist, and the paper then painted in layers of watercolor to reveal the words in the twilight sky background. Text lettering reproduced from original calligraphy. Flyleaves of sheer Japanese unryu "cloud dragon paper" with silver and gold flecks. Book is sewn into handpainted paper cover which wraps around, the front flap decorated with a star shape in the form of a fire-invoking pentacle.

The last page offers a haiku-like 17 syllable verse on the art of making magic, a reference to the old ways hidden in the nursery rhyme.

Derived from an original book, now in a private collection.

This book structure can be gently unfolded to see the painting in the background, and to find hidden words on the reverse. The last image at left shows the book in the beginning stages of unfolding.

A small magical book.

Deluxe edition numbered 1 through 13. Stars on front cover and title page laid with 23K white gold (shown). Includes a hand-painted slipcase.

Standard edition numbered 14 through 53. Stars handpainted in iridescent ink on front cover and title page.

Numbers 13 and 53 retained for the artist's private collection.

Scroll down the page for prices and website ordering. You can always send me an email as well.

Click here for a PDF of an article I wrote in 2008 for the calligraphy and book arts journal Bound and Lettered (issue 7.1), about the making of this book. I wrote in some detail giving a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a limited edition using ancient and modern techniques.

Star Spell
Limited edition book
4 5/8 x 3-5/8 inches

Deluxe Edition
$228