Category: Adult Workshops

Posted on

Adult Workshops

MCBA’s in-person and virtual workshops in book arts are designed for adults looking to spark their creativity and professionals aiming to hone their practice. Our in-studio workshops offer hands-on experiences with specialized equipment and small class sizes, and often include a physical takeaway like a book, poster, or handmade paper. Virtual workshops feature processes that require easy-to-source materials and the opportunity to connect with artists from near and far. Our teaching artists—who bring a wide range of experience and education—thoughtfully balance lecture, demonstration, work time, and group sharing.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Posted on

Woodcut Printmaking: Ages 7–12

with Leah Klister
Tuesday-Friday, July 16–19; 9am–12pm CT

Explore a new art medium in MCBA’s print studio! Experience relief printing while carving and printing your own design in this in-person workshop. Learn all of the steps, from copying your design to the printing block (a soft eraser-like block) to signing your name on your finished prints. Practice carving your block, printing with a baren (a smooth pad used to apply pressure when printing) by hand, and how to repeat the carving and printing process to achieve more depth and layers on your prints. Continue reading “Woodcut Printmaking: Ages 7–12”

Posted on

Cutting Equipment Orientation: July 16

Tuesday, July 16; 6:30-7:30pm CT

If you aren’t already trained to use our cutting equipment, here is your opportunity! Through hands-on training you will learn the capabilities of each piece of MCBA’s bindery cutting equipment, and how to use them correctly and safely. Completion of this training will allow you to rent this equipment and use it independently. This orientation was previously titled Cutting Equipment Training. Studio Labs are not eligible for Certificate credit.

Continue reading “Cutting Equipment Orientation: July 16”

Posted on

L’esprit d’escalier Accordion Book

with Sarah Nguyen
Wednesday, July 17; 4:30–6:30pm CT

L’esprit d’escalier or ‘staircase wit’ is a French term used in English for the predicament of thinking of the perfect reply too late. In this virtual workshop, create a hardcover pop-up accordion book that is pocket-sized, ideal for writing down those perfect comebacks. Learn how to fold an accordion book, practice folding and scoring techniques, and explore paper grain. Gain experience wrapping hardcover boards with decorative paper, attaching them to a book, and a method to dry your book flat. Continue reading “L’esprit d’escalier Accordion Book”

Posted on

Intermediate Hand Bookbinding (Evening)

with India Johnson
Thursdays: July 18, 25, August 1, 8; 6–9pm CT

In this in-person workshop, build on foundational bookbinding skills to make a hardcover book (also known as a case binding) with a rounded spine. This style of binding features decorative paper with a cloth spine and corners, known as a half binding. We will practice sewing and rounding two books, with the goal of finishing at least one book by the end of class.  Continue reading “Intermediate Hand Bookbinding (Evening)”

Posted on

European Papermaking: July

with Bridget O’Malley
Saturday, July 20; 10am–4pm and Sunday, July 21; 1–4pm CT

Learn the tools, terminology, and procedures of European-style papermaking in this in-person studio workshop. Participants will be guided through fiber preparation, the process of using moulds and deckles to form sheets, and techniques for pressing and drying. Our focus will be on consistent sheet formation and safe, effective beater use, empowering participants with a solid grounding in materials and techniques for future independent papermaking in MCBA’s Papermaking Labs.  Continue reading “European Papermaking: July”

Posted on

Introduction to Screen Printing: July

with Ben Etten
Saturday, July 20; 10am–4pm and Sunday, July 21; 10am–1pm CT

Get familiar with MCBA’s screen printing studio and practice the photo emulsion process, from positive creation and screen coating to exposure and reclaiming. Each participant will complete an edition of multi-layered screen prints and come away from the workshop with the confidence to work independently at MCBA’s Screen Print Labs. Continue reading “Introduction to Screen Printing: July”

Posted on

Letterpress 3: Two-Color Prints (July)

with Bethany Rahn
Saturday, July 20; 10am–4pm CT

Letterpress 3: Two-Color Prints focuses on printing multiple layers and building printers’ confidence using Vandercook presses through practice. Printing more than one layer involves printing the same piece of paper multiple times with unique forms (raised type or image) and ink colors for each layer. Careful registration to make each layer align as designed requires planning and troubleshooting. In this in-person workshop, learn how to choose colors and mix ink as well as techniques for adjusting color on the press to create unique effects. Participants will also be introduced to MCBA’s larger Vandercooks, the 219 and Uni 3, which have the capacity to print larger forms and can be more comfortable for taller printers. Procedures for maintaining a community print studio will be reviewed in addition to basic press operation, care, and safety.  Continue reading “Letterpress 3: Two-Color Prints (July)”

Posted on

Making Tools for Book Arts

with Rachel Payne
Saturday, July 20; 10am–4pm CT

So many tools used in the book world are specialized, meaning they are hard to find at your local arts and crafts stores. Come to this in-person workshop to learn how to make some of them at a fraction of the cost at most retailers. We will discuss how to make a laying press, wood and plexi press boards, bone folders, punching cradles, and box corner jigs. Depending on time and interests, we will also make a corner trimming jig, bent needles, and/or soft weights (also known as ‘snake weights’) with plenty of time for questions. Continue reading “Making Tools for Book Arts”

Posted on

Collecting & Creating Collage Assets

with Jennifer Price
Tuesday, July 23; 6:30–9pm CT

We can easily find or imagine collage in many applications—as content for artists’ books or graphic design, for eclectic endpapers or covers of handmade books, or to plot murals and textiles. Whether your collage practice is analog, digital, or a combination, you need assets—the materials you select and manipulate with your unique aesthetic in mind. During this virtual workshop, we will look closely at the collage asset itself by defining a strategy for sourcing found materials (like books/magazines, consumer packaging, and ephemera) and creating new ones (using techniques like mark-making, sewing, paper-weaving, and photography). First, we’ll reverse-engineer our individual collage practices by discussing how we go about acquiring assets and what those assets reveal about our histories and habits. Next, we will write “asset strategy” statements before following prompts to create or plan five to ten collage assets inspired by our opening idea swap. Continue reading “Collecting & Creating Collage Assets”

Posted on

Box Building Magic

with Erin Maurelli
Wednesdays: July 24, 31, August 14; 7–9pm CT

Inspired by the Jacob’s Ladder, the magic box is a double-hinged container made of book board wrapped in paper that opens in two directions, revealing unique compartments on each side. Designed for functionality, the box contains compartments big enough to hold a standard deck of playing cards. The magic box can also serve as a jewelry box or a beautiful container for other small, important items. 

In this virtual workshop, learn how to build this unique and playful structure with an artist who has fine-tuned this box design over the last several years. Build both an unwrapped model and a finished box in this workshop. Learn how to source materials to make more magic boxes independently after the workshop ends. Participation in any other boxmaking workshop is required so participants come with experience wrapping boards and can check to make sure boards and compartments are square. Continue reading “Box Building Magic”

Posted on

Experimental Letterpress: Texture & Pressure Printing

with Bethany Rahn
Thursdays: July 25 & August 1; 6–9pm CT

Learn experimental techniques in letterpress through this in-person workshop focused on texture and pressure printing. Participants will work together to create pressure prints using different masking techniques and learn how to safely print experimental textures. This hands-on experience is tailored for individuals seeking to expand their skills and creativity in letterpress printing. Continue reading “Experimental Letterpress: Texture & Pressure Printing”

Posted on

Beaded Books

with Delia Touché
Saturday–Sunday, July 27 & 28; 10am–4pm CT

Interested in expanding your bookmaking abilities by adding surface texture with beads?! This in-person workshop focuses on how to create and adorn book cloth with size 10/0 seed beads. Participants will learn the ‘lazy stitch’ method to adhere beads onto a surface. We will learn about and utilize Coptic-stitch binding to create books out of our beaded book cloth. Coptic is a simple sewn book that is extremely flexible. Because of its ability to fold back onto itself, it is the perfect structure for sketchbooks, journals, and datebooks. We will go over different design methods for beaded patterns, beading terms, bookmaking basics, as well as the various methods to create your book cloth once the material is beaded. We will walk through each step as a group with the instructor providing individual support as needed. Continue reading “Beaded Books”

Posted on

Mini Marbling

with Parry Cadwallader
Saturday, July 27; 10am–4pm CT

Honey, I shrunk the marbling combs! Experience the patterns and designs you know and love, but now at a smaller scale. Work with combs much smaller than the average nonpareil comb—all the way down to 1/16 of an inch between tines. Watch how patterns you’ve been doing for years shine in a new light when reduced to one fourth the size. Continue reading “Mini Marbling”

Posted on

Criss-Cross Binding (AKA Secret Belgian Binding)

with Rachel Payne
Tuesday, July 30; 10am–4pm CT

Come learn this not-so-secret binding designed by Belgian bookbinder Anne Goy who named the structure “Criss-Cross Binding.” Fun fact: This structure was re-created by an English binder who didn’t know the source and decided to call it “Secret Belgian Binding,” which is what this structure is commonly referred to as today.

In this in-person workshop, learn how to make a criss-cross binding and explore how this structure uses sewing similar to that of a Jacob’s ladder to create a binding that opens flat and allows the cover to flip to the back. The criss-cross binding is great for thin books, sketchbooks, and artist’s books. Come away with one completed binding, a second partially or fully complete binding, and the know-how to make more independently after the workshop. Continue reading “Criss-Cross Binding (AKA Secret Belgian Binding)”