Andy Warhol worked as a commercial artist in New York during the 1950s.  In order to advertise his skills, he created handmade promotional books.  ‘A Gold Book’ was produced in an edition of 100, and sent out to potential clients at Christmas 1957.  Exquisite hand-coloured pages from 'A Gold Book' can be seen at RCFA as part of our Christmas exhibition.
 
In ‘A Gold Book’, Warhol used the blotted line technique.  He made a line drawing on tracing paper, then hinged the drawing to a sheet of more absorbent paper.  Using an old fountain pen, he inked over the drawing, and pressed the sheets together to transfer the image. This was then printed onto watercolour paper using the offset lithograph technique.  Some of the images were then coloured by hand - Warhol's mother often helped with the hand-finishing.