Life As I Know It

"Life As I Know It"

South Bay Forgeworks
Custom Journal

About the Project

This is a custom journal I made in collaboration with Bret Childers of South Bay Forgeworks. It is a project that has been long in planning and I’m happy we could finally work together.

I met Bret a few years ago when we connected over our shared interest in blacksmithing. He does amazing work in his forge and regularly hosts classes on a whole range of topics surrounding the art. The class I took focused on tradition “Viking” axe making and was taught by Bret Childers and Dale Thorson of Thorson Forge. 

During our time together we became instant friends and we often connect over our mutual respect for each other’s art. When the opportunity arose for him to take a one-on-one class with me, he jumped at the chance.

We spent two days together in my bindery and I walked him through the entire process. It was a really fun time and I enjoyed every moment of it. It was really great to see someone working with the equipment in the bindery – watching his face light up with amazement at how it all works and how each step in the process leads to a single artifact. 

His book turned out wonderfully.

The Cover Art

We worked with two kinds of leather to bring this book to life. The entire book is covered with a Chestnut Russell’s Oasis Goatskin, a fine Morocco that is considered by most to be a gold standard in the bookbinding industry. For the cover art, we used a nice strip of veg-tanned sheepskin to achieve the cuir-ciselé Norse Dragon piece.

Fatherhood Adventures

Fatherhood Adventures

About the Project

Being a father is full of memories that we never want to forget. Photos and videos have taken center stage in our ability to capture individual moments and it is up to us to recall how they made us feel at time of recording. However, I’ve always felt that there is so much more nuance that flows into each memory we make. How we feel changes over time, but capturing that moment is just as precious as the moment itself. While time is a rare commodity these days, especially when self-employed, I’ve found that the day-to-day adventures are beyond priceless.

My wife and I are blessed with an amazing being. She is creative, confident, curious, and often bombastic. The games we play require an open and imaginative mind, playful beyond age and timeless with FUN.

This book is an extension of all that. 

I have many journals for myself. Either made out-of-hand or surviving from some previous experience. The memories I’ve written down feel scattered and “placeless”, finding homes among the blank pages of books I have on my shelf. This journal is my response to the frustration I’ve felt. Much like a photo album, I wanted a place where I can fully express the memories we make together and revisit them when needed – and, hopefully, be a record for her, if she ever wants to.

The Process

The process began with a vision. While I wanted a book I could write specifically to record my memories with my family, that was only the inciting incident. 

Thankfully, my daughter is a prolific artist and she creates countless pieces to work with. The piece I decided to work with for this is a recent rendition of her collaboration with my wife and their interpretation of “Dragon”. 

They worked together to bring this to life and the original piece really showcases the life they bring to the art they make. My wife is a wonderful artist herself and has been such a great teacher for our daughter. She is kind, patient, and encouraging – everything I hope to be for her someday. I’ve learned a lot just by watching them work together!

The book was much larger than the original artwork, so I had to break it down into two pieces

I then began penciling out the design. I used a very nice Morocco leather (veg-tanned goat), which has a great showcase of the pours and ridges from the animal. After carving (cuir-ciselé), I used a tan gel antique and both color the leather and fill in the pours with a deep shadow to replicate the original design.