Book art courses for beginners and artists of other disciplines now taught in Cambridge UK. The previous book art workshop was held on the 16th of July 2011 and was a great success, you can read about it HERE. Please register your interest in future courses by EMAIL.

NEXT COURSE:
“Artist’s Book – exploring your creativity”
Time: Saturday 9th June 2012, 9.30am-6pm
Place: ArtSpace, Cambridge UK
Cost: £60 course fee + £15 material fee (total £75)
Suitable for: anyone interested in creating artist’s books
For registration & payment info, please email: courses@leijonstedt.com

Course description:
As a structural vehicle for our creative exploration on this course, we’ll be using the historical palm-leaf book, but making it with wooden covers (alternatively you can also choose leather or paper collage for covers). The format lends itself perfectly for a wide range of imaginative treatments and in the end you’ll be taking home a gorgeous, sculptural art object – your very own unique artist’s book.

We’ll cover many creative techniques, starting from exploring your own visual language to translate a theme into a physical book object. During the day, we delve into the world of sumptuous materials, textures and colours. I will coach the course participants through various initial exercises to connect with their individual creative core, so that during the day everyone will be deepening their personal connection to their work and finding ways of visual expression that most resonate with their own artist soul. In short, I will be introducing aspects of the creative process that I use in my work, which is then something you can take along if you wish when creating your artist’s books later on. There will be an opportunity to work with melted tin, leather, beads and threads, as well as paper in many forms. You are also welcome to bring along any of your own materials and found objects that you might feel inspired to include in your artist book.

To give you an idea what you can creatively do with the palm-leaf structure, take a look at these artist’s books I’ve made using the same format as the course will be based on – one shown below and these two in the gallery section: “Under the Ice” and “Invisible Moon“.

I hope that the day will be inspiring, enjoyable and thought-provoking for everyone – I’m looking forward to it very much myself!

What to expect on Leijonstedt bookbinding courses

These creative bookbinding courses are intensive days that cover a lot in a short time, so be prepared to work hard. You will use fine, good quality materials and be encouraged to stretch your imagination. You’ll get thorough notes (on those courses that involve specific structural techniques) to take with you when you leave so you’ll be able to carry on independently after the course. You’ll also receive information on where to obtain suitable tools and materials to keep you making books. All techniques are thoroughly explained and demonstrated, and as group sizes are small, there is always time to answer individual questions. After this bookbinding course, you can always email at any time with further questions you might have.

THIS IS WHAT PAST PARTICIPANTS
ON LEIJONSTEDT BOOKBINDING COURSES HAVE SAID:

“I had a thoroughly enjoyable day”

“I am very proud of my book”

“A massive and heartfelt thank you for the absolutely wonderful course”

“I am very pleased with my first attempt”

“I was amazed at how professional my book looked”

“I had a fantastic day”

“I felt that I progressed quite rapidly”

“It felt like a whole new world being opened up”

“I came home truly inspired”

Popular bookbinding courses on offer include:

BOOKBINDING FOR COMPLETE BEGINNERS
(1-day beginners’ course in making a hard cover book)
Cost: £65 plus £10 materials fee (participants may bring additional materials)

You’ll be making a small hard cover book covered with your own choice of paper or book cloth – or a combination of both – and will be guided in the use of traditional tools and materials. You’ll end up with a delightful book that can be used as a sketch book, notebook or anything you come up with! If you have never made a book but would love to try, you’re guaranteed to be surprised at what you can achieve. And you’ll be able to make more books independently later. This is also a good refresher course for those who may have some experience.

CREATIVE BOOKBINDING
(1-day course in making a unique, soft-cover book)
Cost: Course A – book with paper covers £75, Course B – book with leather covers £95 (incl. all materials)

You’ll be making a blank page book suitable for use as a diary, notebook or photo album. The covers will be your own choice of paper, leather or suede. You’ll also customise your book by your chosen decorative details to make it truly unique – including beading, braiding, collage, mixed media, metalwork. The day will be fast-paced and full of new techniques, but is suitable for total beginners as well. You’ll discover a new world of creativity, making beautiful, functional objects – no limitations!

BOOK AS ART
(1-3 day course in making artists books)
Cost: 1-day intensive, 8hrs £75 (incl. materials) / 3-day course, 20hrs £165 (optional £15 materials pack)

You’ll delve into the creative world of books and your individual artistic expression by making a selection of book objects that draw inspiration from your personal life. Through a series of exercises we build up themes and continue to interpret those into a variety of materials. Many creative techniques will be covered as well as knowledge about different materials and structures. You’ll explore the creative process of making an artist’s book and follow through to a truly unique work of art full of personal meaning. (Description referring to the 3-day course.)

OTHER BOOKBINDING COURSES OFFERED INCLUDE:

photo albums, keepsake boxes, intermediate and advanced bookbinding techniques, historical and multicultural book structures, etc.

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If you’re an individual who’d like to attend a bookbinding course or a book arts workshop in the future (either in Dubai or in the UK), you can register your interest by email. Please mention whether you’re a beginner and what type of books you’d be most interested in learning. I will keep your details and let you know if a suitable course is planned on a future date.