Making Paper & Fabric Rubbings: Capturing Designs from Brasses, Gravestones, Carved Doors, Coins & More

by Cecily Barth Firestein

A longtime teacher of the art, whose work has appeared in galleries and publications, shares her intense enthusiasm and knowledge in a lavishly illustrated guide to techniques, materials (specialty papers, crayons, inks, waxes, graphite), and projects. She shows how to make rubbing projects with children, create souvenirs while traveling, and store and display the finished work.

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, "Making Paper and Fabric Rubbings" is so fitting on this grey day. It starts out with a wonderful chapter on historical rubbings. It shows rubbing styles from all over the world, including those Japanese fish prints. I guess you are rubbing a dead fish?


The rubbings are from many sources, the obvious gravestones, to architectural details, coins, jewelry, floor tiles, etc. The tutorials discuss, teaching rubbings (to both adults and children), the different papers and waxes, etc. She also discuss doing "tourist rubbings" when you travel, plus there is more and more in this book. My copy today was from the library, but I'll be buying this book, I may even buy her earlier one too.

This reminds me that I saw a quilt at a big show once that featured gravestone designs. It was not too impressive from across the room in it's shades of grays, beiges and grayish greens but was fascinating up close. I'll have to look at my picture file and see if I can find it.

Nevertheless, thanks to this book this morning, I will go looking at the world today a whole different way.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me go all around the house with paper and crayons and rub over anything with a raised surface! Lots of fun!