Intro to Bookbinding: Paste Paper Journal Making
Workshop Fee: $700.00
In this workshop, students will make decorative paper and a hand bound book from start to finish. Learning the techniques for creating their own decorative (paste) paper, covering the book boards, constructing the book block and finally sewing it all together, students will walk away with several beautifully bound journals in varying sizes. A historical paper making technique that has very practical modern art applications, paste paper is made by combining wheat paste (a flour and water mixture cooked to a specific consistency) and then mixing it with acrylic paint. Students will then take this acrylic paint and paste mixture and use it to paint on sheets of dampened paper using tools, stamps, sponges, their fingers, anything they want to make decorative patterns. The paste added to the paint seeps into the fibers of the paper and helps create an extra protective barrier to the paper, creating a more durable and protective paper excellent for covering books or other paper crafts.
After making several sheets of their own decorative paper, students will then be walked through the process of hand binding a book from start to finish. From covering book boards and creating the interior book block all the way to hand sewing everything together, students will learn foundational, traditional bookbinding techniques as well as being given room to experiment with modern, artistic design elements in their paper. Students are encouraged to bring any decorative paper they may already have and any bookbinding tools as well, but everything will be provided or made in class.
Skills and Techniques:
- How to make paste paper to use for bookbinding as well as other decorative art purposes
- How to properly construct a non-adhesive book structure (a book held together with sewing, not glue)
- A basic coptic stitching technique
Materials Fee: $75 paid directly to the instructor
Special Tools or Equipment: Students will be provided with all tools and materials required to complete several paste paper journals. However, any personal bookbinding tools or decorative papers that students own and would like to use or incorporate into finished objects are encouraged.
Workshop Policies: Please be sure to read our 2025 policies before you register for a workshop which can be found here Workshop Policies
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