David Barton

David Barton

How did you become involved in artist’s books?


From 1964 until his death in December 1966 I was a student of the late Anton Ehrenzweig and began a series of what he called “Tease & Worry” books. In these notebooks, drawings, paintings and written texts were accumulated in order to explore and test ideas. Moving freely between different media became a tense, complex and rewarding way of searching for hints and clues around emerging thoughts and sensing and recognising meaningful imagery. I soon realised that images surfacing in my notebooks were primarily concerned with my own need to work and that the most meaningful imagery was not mine but, as if by accident, happened within the working process.The image as a discovery, a gift from the work, to be gratefully received, analysed, probed and tested in order to precipitate further transformation. My purpose as an artist, to continue from day to day in pursuit of the continually evolving image; keeping the contact alive.The pursuit continues – work is never still.


What is the focus of your practice?

Work is a dialogue between myself and the unconscious, in which the
unconscious must take precedence.


What are you working on at the moment?

At the moment I am working on the layout of an A4 book which will be
between 50 and 60 pages of full-page line drawings. I am also working on an A4 book of drawings and paintings which relates to
two other books already published.