Bill Sienkiewicz was always our first port of call for an image to define the personal poems of Neil Gaiman. His mark making and his history with Neil made him a perfect choice for a print that would be the plate that we use then reproduce throughout the different editions. We discussed the idea of an image that would encapsulate the poems of Neil’s as a flowing of creative personal release of poetic expression. Bill’s idea of a release of creativity with a figure that was reaching and letting go into the abstract became the theme he followed.

He began as a series of line works, then he explored the use of colour. He was always aware that this was to be a silk screen print, he had access to any colour that would be printed in layers as flat colour as opposed to a litho four colour process reproduction of a painting. He ended up using five different colours. I love the way that his art now included a Fine Edition Print! The image only came together after all the colours were printed, I find it extraordinary how Bill can imagine how each layer, and the order of printing of those layers, can make a print that only comes to life after it is printed!

Here are some of his process works, from the first idea set in black and white line work to the exploration of colour pallets, to the final print. Each layer was made in black shapes. Each layer had a different specific colour. The final print has all these ideas combined! Stunning little image, each print felt like an original art work. Thanks Bill! You really did step up to the challenge.

All the prints were done over a week at Jealous Studios London.

Bill Sienkiewicz wrote some lovely words about our project:

‘Fans and lovers of Neil Gaiman.
I have been honored to be asked to to produce a silkscreen print for a very -and I mean very -limited edition collection of intimate person poems by my dear friend Neil Gaiman.
I’ve been asked to contribute to projects before, but this one is particularly near and dear to my heart. Neil and I go way back. Before Neil became “Neil Gaiman! ” and before I became “ That Polish Guy” courtesy of Clint Eastwood. [look,I’m trying my best here; stick with me , for crying out loud,)
This project is as close to a purely Bespoke Book as one can get. The only thing closer would be for Neil, me, and the folks at Areté Éditions to come to your house and create them at your kitchen table.
I’m not averse to that, but I would need to check Neil’s availability.
Again. This is such a gorgeous work of art, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it .’

Thank you Bill! I can’t seem to tag you, but thank you!

Here are some photos of when we checked the colour printing of the silkscreen print at Jealous Studios, Bill Sienkiewicz had done each layer as a black shape and then he nominated specific colours to those layers that was only combined when the silkscreen was actually printed! This is to be included in the portfolio edition of Neil Gaiman’s personal selection of his most intimate poems.

Here a picture of the portfolio which house the sheets of handmade paper, each one of Neil’s poems have been hand printed from metal type, each separate broadsheet a separate poem. The print is a five colour silkscreen print by Bill Sienkiewicz, printed by Jealous Studios! All signed by Neil and Bill.

Summer time is over! And we’re back (although Phil is still travelling in the middle of France somewhere and Rich and I have been nearly full time on Coraline). Sometimes we at Arete will make smaller projects between the mammoth books like Frozen Hell, Brave New World, Lud-in-the-Mist and Death and Honey, projects like this slim book of personal poems by Neil Gaiman. This project was all about the words. Letterpress is great for poems, the beauty of the printing from metal type, we think, enhances the power of the words by the poet. And although the cost of producing books of poems like these can only really be done for love of the language, we think Neil’s work deserves such printing. This personal selection of poems was chosen by Neil and we think you’ll find them as powerful as we do. Coming as soon as Phil is back!

Repost from Effra Press “Typesetting isn’t really all that glamorous on its own, but every time I set a job for another printer, I’m really proud to have a small part in making something great.

This is one of 30 galleys of 11pt Baskerville on a 14pt body (giving an effective 3pt leading without having to have a billion leads of all sizes in stock). It’s a new book, Frozen Hell, from one of the best printers there is: Phil Abel at Hand and Eye. It’s going to be brilliant, and immaculately printed. Have a look.”

More bees illustrated by Gary Gianni, this was created for Neil Gaiman’s ‘The Case of Death and Honey’ an Arete Editions project. 🐝📚

First page of the portfolio edition of Words of Fire written by Neil Gaiman an Arete Editions project. 📖
“This portfolio edition of Words of Fire is published in an edition of forty copies of which twelve are not for sale. The text is printed letterpress on a FAG proof press by Robert Hetherington and Phil Abel at Hand and Eye Editions. Hot metal typesetting in Monotype Bembo is by Nick Gill at Effra press. The image is screenprinted in five colours by Jealous print Studio. The paper is made by hand by Gangolf Ulbrict. Each copy is signed by the author and Artist.”