I Have a Garden

The Netherlands: Double Dutch Design, 2021. Hardcover. Fine. Hardcover. This is a unique artist's book from the highly regarded book artist, Merike van Zanten. Merike focused on book arts, letterpress design and printing in the United States beginning in 2003 in the US, but re-established studio in The Netherlands around 2020. She has participated in numerous exhibitions, residencies, and workshops during her career. Her work can be found in a number of libraries, including the Bainbridge Museum of Art, The Walker Library of the History of Human Imagination, Boston Atheneum, Stanford University, Baylor University and the University of Miami. Merike is an accomplished artist in using eco printing techniques. Eco printing is a process whereby only natural materials are used such as leaves and flowers that transfer their pigments onto a substrate when subjected to heat and pressure. The process produces exceptionally beautiful designs and colors. This work, which she describes as an eco printed book displays the beauty of this technique, which creates various designs without the use of paints and ink. The text of this book is taken from a poem titled A Garden Song by the Irish born poet Thomas Moore: "I have a garden of my own, Shining with flowers of every hue; I love it dearly while alone,But I shall love it more with you."

Bound in book boards with an eco printed leather cover with green, brown, and cream eco designs of leaves and flowers. The eco printed pages are printed on tissue papers and parchment paper. The artist also incorporated handmade abaca paper with embedded leaves and coffee filters. Handwritten text and colophon. An exquisite book in fine condition. Measures 7.5 x 6 inches. Unpaginated [38 pages] ARTB/031524.