Art of Bookbinding (WPG Artist Book Club) with Adele Ross

This class will give Artist a foundation to explore their creativity through the Art of Bookmaking. A total of two books will be created in this class using a variety of materials and stitching techniques influenced by the Japanese Stab Book.

Class Syllabus:

Day 1 – Project 1: Traditional Japanese Stab Book Binding Techniques

Design and prepare book covers for the first book using traditional Japanese

techniques for book binding.

Pros and Cons of different papers that can be used for bookmaking.

Paperfolding, cutting techniques, and demonstrate tools used.

Demonstrate pasting papers to the book covers.

Day 2 – Assembling Book 1

Demonstrate cutting, folding, and punching of signature pages.

Demonstrate stitch techniques and materials.

Assemble and stitch the book.

Day 3 – Project 2: Artistic Japanese Stab Book Project

Design a Stab Book using fabrics, papers, and found objects provided by the instructor.

Introducing fabric for book cover materials.

Demonstrate the pasting of fabric and found objects to book boards!

Day 4- Assembling Book 2

Demonstrate the cutting, folding, and punching of book signature pages.

Assemble and stitch the book.

(Photo courtesy of Washington Printmakers Gallery)