Inkjet & Digital Printing
HP Helps Jane Le Besque Makes her Dreams Come True
Thursday 26. November 2009 - HP today announced that Jane le Besque, a British artist living near Geneva, used HP Indigo digital technology to cost-effectively print copies of her latest publication, Soufflé de Pollen.
Passionate about cooking, the evolution of religions and prehistory, Jane Le Besque has been painting and researching these subjects for twenty years. She lives in a quiet environment on the French border near Geneva where she finds inspiration for her art, using pencils, paints, brushes and canvas to create her work.
In 2006, a friend suggested she digitally print all her paintings and drawings as well as her increasing collection of recipes in one book. The concept of easily sharing her creations has always captured Janes imagination, and the idea of making a book and sharing her work with art and cooking enthusiasts across Europe seemed like a fantastic opportunity.
“When I started this book project 20 years ago, it was just a few recipes on paper, some pictures that I had taken at different occasions and a lot of canvases for drawings stored in my workshop,” said Jane Le Besque. “HP digital printing technology enabled me to easily gather all the content into one, high quality book, Soufflé de Pollen.”
“I never would have imagined that digital printing would open so many doors for my career. Being an artist, I usually use traditional techniques so I hadnt considered printing a book using digital technology. I had the misconception that printing was only being carried out by printing companies,” Le Besque continued. Soufflé de Pollen was printed by Eichut digital print, of Rehovot, Israel, on an HP Indigo press 5500. The cover, printed on textured paper (Fedrigoni, Tintoretto, 250g/m2), was printed on the same press. The book was perfect bound with a soft cover. The text was printed on Fedrigoni textured 100g/m2 Corolla Pentagram.
A year after Soufflé de Pollen was published, Le Besque was given the opportunity to promote her book more widely. The popularity of the book soon gathered momentum and it was nominated for the Eugénie Brazier Prize – “Prix de lIconographie,” awarded to an illustrator or photographer of a book about cooking.(1)
In 2008, The Contemporary Art Centre of Lacoux (France) held an exhibition, showcasing Le Besques book with recipes and paintings featured on the walls. During the show, she met a visitor who invited her to the Festival du Film du Goût of Louhans-Châteaurenard (France) hosted that year by Claude Chabrol, where she was invited to present her book to one of the most important French movie directors.
In January 2009, she sent her book to an art gallery in Belgium, which promptly contacted her to discuss exhibiting her work. In spring, the Television Suisse Romande made a documentary about her work and how her book became a springboard for her success.
“Digital print has given many customers the ability to create high-end products such as books in very small quantities. They can easily turn their own content such as stories, recipes, songs, etc. into high quality and impactful books. Jane’s book is a well put together combination of exquisite art and private recipes,” explained Asi Ben-tov, manager, Eichut digital print. “HP Indigo presses deliver high quality and fast print speeds, up to seven colours, cost-effectively for very short runs. We chose to use HP technology as we believe that the HP ElectroInk provides the best look and feel in the industry and quality is what we are known for.”
“Soufflé de Pollen has been a completely unexpected success,” said Le Besque. “As a snowball rolling down the hill and growing larger as it goes, Im still amazed by how digital printing has played such an important role in my artistic career and how a few copies of a book connected me with so many people. I now have a better understanding of how digital technology can enable the production of first-time and one-off publications. I have received an excellent support from Eichut digital print and their HP Indigo press deliver results that still surprise me” who provided an excellent service.”
Le Besque is currently working on two new projects, Evangile selon Saint Luc and Prehistoric Dainties, for which she is also considering digital print. Jane developed this book with the wide range of medias that digital printing can support in mind. Prehistoric Dainties will associate photographs, drawings and paintings printed on three different substrates, watercolour paper, photo gloss paper and translucent plastic film.
“These three media represent a true challenge from a technical standpoint but add a dimension to the reading as the pictures change personality according to the media. With HP Indigo Im confident that the result will be outstanding,” said Le Besque.
To print your own book, go to www.hp.com/go/pspnetwork.
(1) Eugénie Brazier (1895 – 1977), a leading chef and restaurateur received three Michelin stars each for two restaurants.