Chunky books are very popular with the mixed media community. Make an entire fat book or just a few fat book pages using these tips.
Fat books are an increasingly popular mixed-media form. These little books, also known as chunky books, are four inches by four inches in size. Despite the tiny size of the pages, the assembled book is extremely bulky because the artists making the pages tend to embellish them with plenty of fibers, trims, charms and ephemera. The bound books often cannot close flat because of the thickness of the decorated pages. They look chunky, which is how they came to be called fat or chunky books.
While some artists make all of the pages in their chunky books themselves, this is more commonly an art form used in a mixed-media art swap. Each artist makes a certain number of pages, which are sent to the artist hosting the swap. That artist compiles the pages into books that contain a page from each artist, binds them and sends a book back to all the participants. Frequently, an extra page is sent in by each artist so that a spare fat book can be made as a fundraiser for the hosting artist's favorite charity.
How to Make a Fat Book Page
- Make backgrounds for the pages - While the artist can certainly cut out individual four-inch by four-inch squares and then create the pages, it is much easier to work with a whole sheet of paper to create one large background, which is then cut into pages. A nine-inch by twelve-inch piece of watercolor paper will make six fat book pages, with a small scrap left over.
- Create the pages - Some artists prefer to come up with one design and reproduce it over and over again until they have the number of completed pages that are needed for the swap. Others prefer to develop an original design for each page.
- Make page backs - Ideally, no fat book page should have a blank back. The stark white of a plain back really sticks out when the books are assembled. Some artists print a back for each page that includes the artist's name and contact information. Others simply paste ephemera on the backs or apply a quick wash of color.
- Embellish the pages - This is the best part of a fat book page. Things that dangle, lovely fibers and a multitude of other little things can be used to glam up the pages. Before applying embellishments, the artist should check to see how close to the left edge of the page these items can be. Certain binding machines require the left edge to be free of embellishments.
- Apply sealant - Always be sure to leave time for the pages to air out before they are packaged and shipped to the artist hosting the swap. There is not much worse than opening a package and inhaling the strong smell of unaired art.
- Photograph or scan the pages - It is always nice to have a record of all the art being sent out, especially when the artist makes different designs for each page.
