Dear Everyone ~
Bookful of Painted Paper Collage will debut in a little over three weeks, on Saturday, October 1. Students will make an 8" x 8" accordion book with a small recessed panel on the front cover. Last week I began to organize & assemble all the materials for the Bookful kits. The extra-long (8" x 40") sheets of Stonehenge paper for the accordioned pages, were rolled into party poppers for shipping purposes. The cover papers are a selection of Cambridge Imprint papers, paired with Japanese bookcloth. The center table looked increasingly like a patchwork quilt as I organized the materials for each one-of-a-kind colour combo. This inspired an additional embellishment to complete the ensemble: I hand-lettered each student’s initials on a Cambridge Imprint small label, affixed to the Cambridge Imprint envelope that enveloped a handful of Cambridge Imprint scraps (for collaging)!
As I type this, five overseas parcels are now en route to their destinations, one to Austria and four to Canada. Some of the parcels also include kits for my upcoming bookbinding workshops: Triptych of Coptic-stitch books and Screw-post binder with see-through window. One of the parcels includes a duo of Bookful kits; and another includes a trio of Bookful kits. It was a feat—neat, but not petite—of kit-assembly engineering.
I am typically eager for each of our Bookful adventures to begin, and this series is no exception. I personally love to paint papers for creating collage. And I first learned about this process from Cat when she taught this technique in-person on her maiden voyage to Bari Zaki Studio back in 2018. It immediately grabbed my attention and curiosity. The mixing of paint colours as you are swashing them on a sheet of paper to create your very own palette is a process I find immensely & endlessly mesmerizing. I asked Cat to share what she enjoys about this medium and why this is a favourite process for her:
“ One of the reasons I love doing painted paper collage is I get to paint papers! It’s very relaxing and always a pleasure. And I love the way I can explore color. Sometimes I’ll paint blues and add a little brown or green or purple. No matter how many blues I paint, no two are ever the same, which makes it interesting. The depth of color depends on how much water we use. It's an intuitive process, and I find having a good selection of colors really opens up possibilities when I make art. ”
Three Bookful all-timers have already signed up for Bookful No. 8, in addition to several students who have completed several previous Bookfuls, and a handful of first-timers. As always, Cat & I like to emphasize, especially if you are a Bookful newcomer, that absolutely no drawing, painting, collaging, or bookbinding experience is necessary. The pace and camaraderie are truly zen. (Plus you will have the videos to watch and rewatch—12 hours-ful!) If you are still considering joining us, there is plenty of time to ship your kit(s).
Bookful of Painted Paper Collage
Autumnally, Bari