Definition of ALTERED BOOKS:
An altered book is a form of mixed media artwork that changes a book from its original form into a different form, altering its appearance and/or meaning.

An altered book artist takes a book (old, new, recycled or multiple) and cuts, tears, glues, burns, folds, paints, adds to, collages, rebinds, gold-leafs, creates pop-ups, rubber-stamps, drills, bolts, and/or be-ribbons it. The artist may add pockets and niches to hold tags, rocks, ephemera, or other three-dimensional objects. Some change the shape of the book, or use multiple books in the creation of the finished piece of art.

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Click on the image below to look through a slide show of altered book history and examples.

Most of the artwork and information was pulled from various websites.

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CHOOSE A TOPIC:

• Create a narrative about one of the following historic Mohican leaders:

  • Captain Hendrick Aupaumut

  • Pophnehonnuhwoh (Captain John Konkapot)

  • Umpachene

  • John W. Quinney

  • Moshuebee

  • Electa Quinney

• Illustrate the migration story of the Mohican People post European contact

• Explore traditional Mohican artistry

• Explore traditional Mohican sports and past times

• Create a narrative that disspells known myths about Native Americans

• Explain tribal sovereignty as related to the Mohican People

• Explore treaties and laws that effected the Mohican People

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GATHER PRIMARY or SECONDARY SOURCES

Identify and examine various sources of information that are used for constructing an understanding of the past, such as artifacts, documents, letters, diaries, maps, textbooks, photos, paintings, architecture, oral presentations, graphs, and charts.

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Brainstorm ideas for composition in your sketchbook.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS IN YOUR BOOK:​

• You must include the art elements and principles in some way throughout your book. You also must be able to explain how you utilized the elements & principles.

• You must use a variety of different techniques. You must research different MIXED MEDIA techniques. 

• Your cover and back of your book must be decorated or altered to represent your story in some way or form.

• You must reference at least one primary source in your story.

 

HERE IS A LIST OF TECHNIQUES YOU CAN USE: If you don’t know what some of the techniques are, look them up!
Painting
Drawing
Stitching
Weaving
Glazing
Adding drawers
Hanging embellishments
Fibers and beads
Pop-ups
Layering with collage elements
Folding origami or pockets
Folding pages
Adding inserts
Photo transfer
Cutting windows or doors
Cutting shadowboxes
Adding texture

RESOURCES:

Inspiration and ideas found here.
Click here to read a blog  that has lots of tutorials and ideas for mixed media techniques.
Some basic steps to creating an altered book are here.

Here is a great site to visit for more inspiration. 

Here is another great site.