The final artist of in the interview series of Art Byte Critique’s 2017 Tokyo Art Book Fair participating artists is Patty Hudak.
From: USA
Time in Japan: 2 years
Education/ Occupation: Artist
How many TABF have you participated in?
This will be my second Tokyo Art Book Fair participation.
How long have you been making books?
I have been making books for almost 2 years.
What is your favorite kind of books to make?
I like to make books based on digital drawings. I feel very free in the digital world to manipulate drawings without considering physical scale or the limitations of media. In this way, the process feels close to thinking.
Do you have favorite materials to use?
I like laser printing on tracing paper. The paper reveals marks below, adding dimension to each drawing, and allowing them to react to each other., mimicking the feeling of memory and imagination, as things fade in and out of consciousness.
What is the biggest challenge for you when you make a book?
The biggest challenge for me when making the book is in the binding.
What kind of books are you making for this fair?
This year, I have created two books, both made with tracing paper and laser printing.
Tokyo Notes is based on lines and shapes drawn from ukiyoe prints. I am abstracting the shapes of the drawings into a standardized image, with a similar relationships to the page they fall on. The shapes do not directly represent any kind of object, but reference natural forms in lines that echo some kind of Japanese esthetic.
Space Junk represents the near future as an environmental fantasy. We have placed so many satellites and materials into our atmosphere and beyond; pieces of these materials orbit around our planet. I imagine a technical and organic swirl, where materials and molecules begin to morph into some kind of accidental design.
What did you learn from last book fair? What are you doing differently for this book fair?
I was not prepared for the amount of enthusiasm that I saw last year at the Tokyo Art Book Fair. The artists are earnest people, eager to share their ideas, and do not necessarily create for profit. It made me think about how accessible books are to people, and how they can affordably communicate ideas and concepts in a beautiful and direct format.
This year, I am concentrating more on the imagery than making a precious work of art. I like the exchange aspect of the art fair, and how the fair itself becomes an exhibit of conceptual ideas, which are not always fleshed out in their most perfect form.
How did working with Art Byte Critique help you prepare your work?
Art Byte Critique’s artists have been participating in the TABF since 2014. I got so much practical advice about such things as glues, formats, bindings, but, most of all, ABC artists inspired me to join them in the book making experience.
Do you have any advice for people who want to start making books?
Just do it! It doesn’t need to be complicated, don’t be afraid to express your ideas, even if imperfectly. Allow the book to be a work in progress.
What would you like people to know about your books?
I would love for someone to respond to one of my books by making a book. That would be great.
You can see more of Patty’s work at:
www.pattyhudak.com
Instagram: hudakpatty
Facebook: Patty Hudak
Canvas: Patty Hudak
Linked In: Patty Hudak
Photos courtesy of the artist.
The Spendy Pencil 