Books as Art: Carol Owen's mixed media

Carol Owen has been a professional artist for 30 years, working initially as a weaver and papermaker, and now in mixed media. She has exhibited throughout the United States and her work has appeared in many publications, including Collage for the Soul, and magazines including Mary Engelbreit's Home Campanion (Dec/Jan 2008), Somerset Studio, Legacy and Country Living. 


Her creations, which she calls "altered books," have a "found-object" and Victorian feel.


Her interview with The Baltimore Sun is reprinted below:

How long have you been working with books and/or paper? I’ve been working with paper for a long time. I made my own paper for several years, and created wall pieces with it. And with the shrine Spirit Houses I do, I use handmade Japanese rice paper, and collage with various papers.

What is it about books that connects with you – and with buyers? I got into altered books about 5 or 6 years ago. I’ve always had a love of books, since I was a child. And with the altered books, people are fascinated with holding a book in their hands and turning pages to reveal the art work.

Name a favorite book, and tell us why you liked it. Nick Bantock’s books, specifically the Gryphon and Sabine series, started me on my fascination with altered books. And I collect Robert Sabuda’s pop-up books.

What have you read lately that you’d recommend? I’m in a book club (actually, I’m in two book clubs!), and my favorite read lately was The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. It really grabs your heart.