In the intersection of visual art and literary expression, something magical has emerged. My collaboration with a local master printer – Derek Lamb, printer at The Officina Athelstane, Rockampton; has resulted in a limited edition poetry book that marries surreal fine art portraiture with meticulously handcrafted printing techniques and an interstate poet who scripted: The love song of Miss Katie King.
The Genesis of a Vision
What began as a collection of surreal portrait photographs has transformed into something far more profound. Each portrait in this series pushes the boundaries of conventional portraiture—where the subject becomes a canvas for exploring deeper emotion. Distorted perspectives, unexpected elements, and dreamlike qualities characterize these images, creating visual poetry before any words were even considered.
The Printer’s Craft
The collaboration with our local printer brought an additional dimension to this project. Rather than mass production, each book has been lovingly handcrafted using traditional techniques that date back centuries. The printer’s expertise in letterpress, hand-binding, and artisanal paper selection has elevated these images to tactile experiences.
Each page has been individually printed using methods that create subtle impressions in the paper—textures you can feel with your fingertips. The binding has been hand-stitched, allowing each spread to feel the sorrow and pain of the poem that showcases each portraits without interruption.
Where Image Meets Word
The poetry that accompanies each portrait emerged from verbatim quotes from ‘Researches in the Phenomena of Spiritualism’. These words don’t simply describe what can be seen but extend the emotional journey beyond the frame. The interplay between text and image creates conversations—harmonious, sometimes deliberately dissonant—that invite readers to linger in the space between seeing and reading.
The Limited Edition Experience
With only 50 copies in existence, each numbered and signed, this book represents something increasingly rare in our digital age: an artifact that cannot be replicated on screens. The weight of the paper, the scent of the ink, the subtle variations that make each copy unique—these sensory experiences complete the artistic vision.
An Invitation to Slow Down
In creating this collaboration, we’ve extended an invitation to engage with art in a more deliberate, intimate way. To hold something crafted by human hands, to turn pages that reveal surprising juxtapositions, to discover details that might be missed in a casual viewing—this is the antithesis of scrolling through digital galleries.
This limited edition book stands as testament to what happens when artists across disciplines come together with respect for tradition while pushing creative boundaries. It reminds us that in an age of mass reproduction, there remains profound value in the unique, the tactile, and the meticulously crafted.
What an incredible honour it was to collaborate with such a talented and masterful printer and poet.
https://melissamillsstudio.com.au
