Posts Categorized: Special Topics

May 25 | Bookbinding 101 (4 Hours)

This workshop focuses on styles of bookbinding that are low-cost yet dynamic, and well suited for poetry chapbooks and portfolio books. Students will learn how to choose materials and create simple book structures that best highlight the content within their book.

The lessons will address the logistics of organizing poetry or artwork into a book form, explore the book as a vessel for information, and how material choices can inform how the book is read. While the workshop will create blank books, each style of binding will begin with standard 8.5” x 11” paper to allow your poetry or artistic content to be easily printed from a common inkjet or laser printer. 

Students will complete four sample books: Two pamphlet stitch varieties, a perfect bound book, and a more elaborate Japanese stab binding.

In addition to learning hand skills, the class will discuss the history of chapbooks, their role in publishing over time, and ways to share and sell chapbooks. If you have writing or images you would like to promote, this is a great workshop to jump start your self-publishing!

May 29 | Drypoint Printing (4 Hours)

This workshop is great for ambitious beginners curious about intaglio techniques. The drypoint process covers the basic skills needed to become familiar with etching and other intaglio processes, and therefore would set students up for further success with intaglio in the future.

Students will learn drypoint techniques, plate wiping techniques, and gain familiarity with intaglio printing. Students will leave with a finished drypoint plate and print, as the class hours will be devoted to learning technique versus creating a perfected artwork.

June 3 | Linocut Block Printing (4 Hours)

Relief printmaking dates as far back as the 7th century and is considered the oldest form of printmaking. An image is carved into a block of wood or linoleum, which is then inked and pressed to transfer the image. The tools are simple and approachable, but the possibilities are expansive.

In this 4-hour workshop, students will plan, carve, and print a linoleum block. The class guides students through the process of transferring an image onto their block and techniques for creating line, shape, contrast, and texture. By the end of class, students will print their images by hand, taking home a small edition.