Instructors: Cat Bennett & Bari Zaki

Dates: Saturday, May 3, 10, 17, 24 from 10am to 1pm (Chicago time)

This four-session workshop is the sixteenth Bookful collaboration between Cat Bennett and Bari Zaki. Our theme for this series is Japanese art. As Cat ponders, "What is it about Japanese art that so inspired artists like Van Gogh, Picasso and Matisse? The incredible sense of harmony, the flat, rich colors, the decorative patterns and the elegant, dramatic compositions changed the course of Western art and opened up new worlds of creative possibility.”

What you’ll make: A set of three slim landscape-format Japanese-style books with vintage Japanese paper covers from the BZS archives. The books all measure 5" x 8" x ¼", and each will be stitched with a different style of Japanese binding: Kangxi, Hemp Leaf, and Tortoise Shell. 

Workshop #1 – We begin, as always in our bookbinding classes, by getting acquainted with paper grain and its importance for the finished book. After an overview of the bookbinding tools you will use, we will create stitching templates from heavy cardstock for each of the three binding styles. Students will then transfer the stitching pattern onto each of the books using a medium awl. We will first practice stitching onto the template, then we will stitch each of the three books. 

Nota bene: As always, Bari will record all four lessons as they are happening, and the recordings will be available for you, with no interruptions or delay, almost immediately after each session.

Workshops #2, #3 & #4 – Cat will begin each workshop session with a curated slideshow of Japanese art inspirations. In our first book, we’ll interpret haiku. In our second, we’ll make nature paintings—from gorgeous blossoms and plants to leaves and twigs! And in our third book, we’ll illustrate a tea ceremony for our lives. We will explore several mediums as we create images that will make each book its own treasure: Japanese brush painting, ink line drawing, composition and color mixing, and collage.

Workshop fee includes all materials (but not the tools) you’ll need to make three Japanese-style books:

3 sheaflets of Cat’s favourite drawing paper (5 x 8 x ⅛ each)

6 Japanese decorative sheets for your covers (2 each of three patterns, 5 x 8)

5 lengths of 4-ply waxed-linen thread (mixy-matchy or complementary)

1 glorious glassine sleeve-ful of vintage Japanese ledger and book pages & 20-ish assorted remnants from vintage cover papers

3 pieces of cardstock for your stitching templates (5 x 5)

Tools needed: bonefolder, triangle ruler, metal ruler, lightweight awl, medium awl, Nº 18 bookbinding needle.

You will receive a 20% discount on any tools ordered for the workshop (via refund after your workshop purchase). You can purchase these tools individually here. As a bonus and ode to our love of art supplies à la japonaise, we are also offering a 20% discount on Sumi-e watercolour sets, Kuretake brush pens, Japanese glue sticks, and of course washi tape(!) for all Bookful sign-up’s (refunded after purchase).

Ancillary tools needed: pencil, cutting mat

I will select your trio of Japanese papers and their complementary array of 4-ply waxed-linen threads for each kit. If a particular pattern is speaking to you, please e me and I will do my best to accommodate.

If you’d like to purchase an additional set of materials, you certainly can. However, you cannot accomplish this in the dropdown menu (because one set of materials is included with the workshop fee). It’s $165 per additional set, with no shipping fee if you order at the same time as your workshop purchase. To order, please e me and I will be in touch extremely promptly. And I will be sure that you don’t receive duplicate sets for making your three Japanese-style books (unless you want to).

Cat and I look forward to sharing our love of bookbinding à la japonaise, drawing, painting, and collaging, with you in this four-week live Zoom workshop … and sipping cups of tea together from afar!