Dear Everyone ~
Bookful of Fanciful Faces, my 12th Bookful collaboration with Cat Bennett, begins Saturday, January 27—a mere fortnight hence! The book-ful structure students will make is a portfolder. This is part folder, part portfolio—with three gusseted paper flaps (top, bottom, and side) attached to the back cover. These flaps will encase various sizes of papers together, keeping your drawings, paintings, collages, and scraps organized, pressed & pristine.
As I type, Ruby is mixing & matching Cambridge Imprint duos for each kit. I love that some students have requested their preferred patterns, and I love that other students have entrusted us to pair up the patterns for their portfolder! Very soon, all the kits will be wrapped & packed, and dispatched to their destinations—far, wide, and nearby. You can read more about the kit in colourful detail in the shop listing here!
I’ve long been enamoured with Cat’s creative style, and her faces always bring a smile to mine from ear to ear. After several years of co-teaching, I am still fascinated by her creative process—and her natural ability to share her expertise and her positivity. I asked Cat how she developed her flair for drawing such fanciful faces, and she had this to say:
“When I was a kid, I loved drawing people. I’d use a photograph and try to render the person in pencil with realistic shading. I was so pleased when there was some resemblance and a little disappointed when my drawing was wonky. But very often I drew people simply from imagination. This was more cartoon-like and I could make the drawings funny.
These two kinds of drawing come together as we learn to both capture what we see and invent a world. For me, accuracy doesn’t really matter as much as communicating a certain joy in life. Drawing people always reminds me that no matter our ethnicity or where we come from, we share a beautiful, common humanity. It brings us closer to each other, I think.”
We are delighted to report that the first Bookful workshop of 2024 has already attracted… 24 students—and counting! If you are considering joining us, we still have time to ship your kit(s). 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 complete videos to watch and rewatch—all 12 hours-ful!)
Bookful of Fanciful Faces
As fancifully as ever, Bari