How Fore-Edge paintings are done - a masterclass

Fore-Edge Painting is a magical art-form - Martin Frost shows you how they are painted to be hidden on the gilded edge of a book, only to be revealed by spreading its pages. As currently the only full-time artist working on fore-edges heritage craft award winner Frost, takes you though the skilled process of making these amazing hidden pictures.
For more information visit Martin’s website, www.foredgefrost.co.uk
Filming & production by Vision & Technology

[@johnpelham8710]

My father was an antiquarian book dealer in the last century, & he crafted many fore-edge paintings. He always made sure that that the fore-edge painting was only seen if you fanned the book back to front, because you naturally fan the edge of the pages when you flick through the pages. The whole idea is for the picture to remain hidden. Another thing he did was when the book was fanned & clamped he would size (diluted pearl glue) the area to be painted. This stopped any chance of colour creeping between the pages, When the painting was finished he clamped the pages unfanned & carefully washed off the paint on the gilt fore-edge. The size can be bought from artist supply shops ready mixed of the right consistency, sold for sizing absorbent paper for watercolouring. His book clamp had a wider adjustable middle support so that it supported nearly to the lower fanned edge of the fore-edge. He always tried to paint subjects relevant to the book subject.

[@israelbryce113]

I know im asking randomly but does anyone know a tool to get back into an instagram account? I was stupid lost the password. I would appreciate any help you can give me

[@israelbryce113]

@Guillermo Angelo Thanks for your reply. I found the site on google and I'm in the hacking process atm. I see it takes quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@israelbryce113]

@Guillermo Angelo it did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D Thank you so much, you really help me out!

[@guillermoangelo9096]

@Israel Bryce no problem :D

[@walterskinner527]

Hello John Pelham, can you tell me what Pearl Glue is and where to buy or make it. Thank you.

[@mrsamazed1327]

I’m blown away by this art form that I never knew existed. Absolutely magical. Stunningly beautiful. I can’t stop looking at them.

[@Schokoversum]

This was the best 8:32 minutes spend! Well done! ❤

[@davidhogan621]

What a great introduction to the Art. With reference to Mr Pelham's comment below. If a book is already gilded, the page edges are usually all ready sized ready for painting. Preparing the pages with a further Pearl (animal glue) size, risks sticking the pages together and is unnecessary.. Mr Frost showed that the secret is not to mix your watercolour paints to wet. You can also alter the angle of the book, by putting the clamped book on a table easel, so it is more vertical to help avoid paint staining the edges of other pages.

[@JPeeee]

I like these hidden ones better than the ones that are visible all the time. 👍

[@e.dnorth]

Awesome! I had seen a few fore-edge painters and they looked like they were using watercolors and I was so confused over how they weren't soaking through the rest of the paper. I'm so glad he answered that here!

[@Lic.en.derecho]

What an amazing an underrated art!

[@kanal.a.]

KZbin & internet asik dg konten2 seperti ini

[@Allenmarshall]

Wow. So glad this managed to fly into my radar because I had no idea. 💯

[@Spoomis]

He takes colored edges to a completely new level

[@jabadahut50]

could you bend it the opposite direction and paint a 2nd image or would you just be distorting the first one by doing so?

[@jessyj1408]

yes they can, it’s known as a two way double 😊

[@thibomeurkens2296]

Yes you can! Isn’t it amazing!

[@jacoabtweed789]

@@jessyj1408 woah!

[@normabeatrizmerlo2509]

No entiendo tu lenguaje ya que soy Argentina y hablo español. Pero es bello tu arte y mirando lo que haces lo entiendo perfectamente. Bello Bello, gracias por compartir tu arte

[@l3afeont3a81]

I'm going to learn to do this!

[@rebeccalongokura3575]

Holy smokes! Fabulous!

[@inkland2003]

thanks! this is amazing, beautiful work.

[@erykfreethinker7147]

Magnificent work, so many hours of experience are evident! I thought it would need a layer of thin gesso to prevent bleeding and then guage paint perhaps - I knew nothing :) Thank you for treating us to the workings of a miracle!

[@henrycastle1]

Thank you, Chris, Found you while looking for gilding for my pictures A very impressive masterclass

[@inekedusseljee3093]

WoW. I never knew about this art form. Super!!! 😍

[@marijabu]

Amazing! Gorgeous work.

[@susanfordyce3493]

Absolutely splendid!!!!!!

[@Phoenixx29x]

Beautiful work!

[@jacoabtweed789]

Oh my gosh. I had no idea that existed. Woah.

[@LuisMenechino]

Fantastic! Congratulations!

[@rentregagnant]

Congratulations to Frost on his New Year Honour! ()

[@sedumplant]

absolutely fascinating!

[@thelionandthebee1933]

Thank 🌻 you so very much! It is fascinating! God has given you a unique talent! Blessings to you and your family! 😇

[@misstake6485]

Dunno how I get there. But I want to stop by and say you're very very talented!!! Ur work is amazing!!! Goodluck!

[@lotuseater7247]

Martin Frost, you are amazing

[@cristianmcgrath5904]

great video !

[@kimyuo6084]

Really awesome art 😻😻

[@beaulabix4914]

Amazing. Gratzi.

[@RobertSzasz]

A recent set of gimmicked cards for magicians used edge marking, a marking system based on foredge marking would be interesting to see, especially if it could be made compatible with a printing process.

[@fludrbywest3886]

Amazing! So may I ask please, does this press have a special name ? Foredge press? Your amazingly talented ❤️💫✨❣️💖

[@williamjhunter5714]

Wow, that's an amazing art form, great results. Have you done the double fore edge? I saw a video where the presenter showed the book had 2 fore edge paintings depending on which way you leaned the pages. (Would a brush of a smaller size prevent too much paint or water from getting on the leaf? I want to try this method you demonstrated. I have done detailed nature watercolors, 18"x 24" paintings using only a size #0, 00, 000, 0000 & 00000 sable brush and liner brushes. That's why I mention the small brush, yours appears to be a #2 or #3 round.)

[@martinfrost4416]

For more information and details of the work of a modern Fore Edge Painter, checkout the site of www.foredgefrost.co.uk

[@aconfusedkitten3044]

I came here from "A Great Big Story"

[@Spoomis]

Does he do commission work? I have a book or two I would like this done to.

[@wetdewlap8741]

Amazing artistry!! Anyone know of any workshops in the U.S?

[@rose_brier]

I want to practice this! Then eventually I want to get a bible with thicker paper and paint the crucifixion scene.

[@ah-ray]

Nice video!

[@ah-ray]

I like how he says:'And this is the noisy part', he obviously never worked in a metal working shop, I think in a library that maybe would be too hard haha

[@patconner619]

3

[@nania3109]

did he fore edge paint first before he gilted the book or is it the other way around?

[@thevdevitor]

I wonder...what type of paper is it? What if instead of gold foil, it was paint? Would it work?

[@luisamaria3233]

Proteges la acuarela con algo? Spray fijador?

[@v8cool231]

How do you correct errors ?

[@frankgyori2740]

Is there any special paper that works best for fore-edge painting?

[@meghanlayfield725]

How does the gold get on the outer edges of the books?

[@AMPreliures]

fantastique! I have made by myself the same press you use. As bookbinder, and as artist, i'm very interrest by your work; but I have a question : why don't youmade the guilding edge after the painting? If i've well anderstood (sorry i'm french), you paint on a gilding edge, usingwater color to whash the excess after the painting. My questionis just, why do you paint after the guilding? Can we paint begore? And finally, can we make a fore edge painting on a book with a color adge (red, marbling etc...) or a virgine edge? Thanks and congratulations, i hope i could meet you one day and practiss with you

[@nania3109]

i have the same question

[@NinthFeather]

According to Mr. Frost's website, he primarily works with books that were already gilded. So he finds books with gilded edges that he can paint. I have seen tutorials for doing hidden fore-edge painting on books that haven't been gilded, and in those tutorials, adding gilding is the last step.

[@books.andbrushes]

Where does the gold come from? It’s spray or some kind of paint?

[@avedurham]

Book edges that are gold are usually done with gold foil.

[@lorrainegunn4111]

@books andbrushes, Real gold is pounded into whisper thin flat sheets and sold in "books" with fine, tissue pages; removed with a badger-hair brush through static electricity (my dad used to rub the brush on his hair), then carefully pickup the 4" square of gold leaf, and place it on his Gold Leafed Signs -- in this case it would be placed along the book edge. A thin film of rabbit skin glue would already be on the black enamel, lettered portion of the sign, or the edge of the book, in this case. The attraction between the glued surface, and the gold approaching the area you want to cover hast to be "perfect" as it is INSTANT adhesion!! No do overs! On a picture frame, or larger object, the 4" squares can overlap slightly, then "burnished" for the final touch. I think my dad and my younger brother were among the very last of the Hand Painted Commercial Sign Artists in my area of Canada. His straight, or arched and perfectly spaced letters were a work of art In many Doctor's, Lawyers, and Dentist's Offices on glass doors and windows -- often having to be painted inside out, and backwards to protect them from the weather.

[@clarkelliott5389]

I came here from the article in Epoch Times. Very beautiful and clever!

[@avedurham]

So you're fore-edge painting books that are already gilded? I thought they had to be painted first and then gilded.

[@aconfusedkitten3044]

You made that image using dirty water....

[@sunlight.02]

Stop stop ask help