About Elyse

With a strong emphasis on craftsmanship, I focus on creative and traditional processes to create unique objects, both utilitarian and purely artistic, one at a time by hand. Rooted in a love of books and everything paper, and an appreciation for the nuances of “slow” methods of communication like handwritten letters, I make durable hardcover blank books and stationery all featuring my decorative handmade marbled papers.

In addition to making books and other paper art, I completed an MFA degree in Visual Communication Design at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2020. The body of my MFA work ties together practices in traditional graphic design, book design, paper arts, and photography with my interests in nature, sustainability, language, time, space/place, and music. I explore different forms, materials, and processes but often find myself making artists books and book objects.

Stay tuned for my upcoming web store! For inquiries about custom design, binding work, marbling, and more, send me an email at ElyseAllenStudio@gmail.com or find me on Instagram @elyseallenstudio

Bookbinding

To bind books, I start by meticulously cutting down all the artist-grade paper to size and hand sew each one using a variety of binding methods. These blank books can be used as sketch books, journals, appointment planners, or commonplace note books and each feature my marbled papers as decorative covers or endpapers.

Marbling

Marbling is the ancient technique of making prints on paper or fabric by floating pigments onto the surface of thickened water. The colors are manipulated into patterns, and when prepared paper is gently floated across the water's surface, it makes a unique monoprint of the pigments in their aqueous and vibrant patterns. Borrowing from the traditions of Ebru marbling in the Turkish/Persian style and Suminagashi marbling in the Japanese style, I pair ancient techniques and patterns with modern and experimental materials, methods, and color choices. I explore color and form through manipulating the designs, drawing with a wooden stylus or using natural forces such as air and vibration. This aqueous surface design produces patterns similar to marble and other kinds of stone, waves, feathers, or abstract images evoking a visual affinity with nature and natural phenomena. Each image is the imprint of a precise moment in time captured when the pattern is transferred to paper. These patterns are hand printed on paper, natural fabrics, and other experimental materials and can stand alone as unique artistic works. I also utilize my papers as part of my functional art on book covers, endpapers, and stationary.

Photography

My explorations in photography often lead me to capture wonderfully weird and beautiful landscapes as well as found patterns and textures in both natural and urban environments.