A Fore-Edge Painting in the Making

For a satisfactory fore-edge painting a book with trimmed, thin pages is essential. Select a detailed painting with an appropiate subject to copy. Use tablet watercolours in bright shades and a fine brush to get the best results. The book is prepared for painting by first clamping the page block whilst fanned. Sometime a size of starch can be applied to the fore-edge to prevent the paint from soaking through or sticking the pages together.

Once clamped, a border and outline are roughly sketched in. This can done directly onto the fore-edge, or via a tracing for the novice.

Blocks of colour can now be filled in to build the picture.

Slowly the image is built with layers of colour. This can often take several days, increasing the depth of colour.

The detail of the picture is enhanced by outlining the images. Finally the border is completed with complementary colours.

When dry, release the clamp and allow the book to resume its natural shape. The book should not be clamped in a fanned position for too long as this may result in the mis-shaped page block.