Asheville Bookworks

BookWorks is pleased to offer a wide variety of workshops in 2009. We look forward to seeing you in our studio this year. Please visit our Instructors area, for bios, additional images and links to artists' individual websites.

Exploring Narrative Through Image Transfers
January 8 - 11
Thursday & Friday: 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm (1-hour lunch break)
Instructor: Erin Johnson

$225 + materials fee $15

Register for this workshop

credit card payments

Workshop Attendee(s)

by mail: Download registration form

by phone: 828-255-8444

In this workshop you will learn more than 20 processes for transferring photocopied images, laser and inkjet prints, and magazine photos onto paper, fabric, wood and other surfaces. These processes will then be used to create a narrative (in book form, on wood panels, as a poster, etc).

Please bring the following items:

5-10 high contrast (very few gray/halftones) black and white photocopies, several highly saturated color photocopies or laser printer prints. None of the copies above should be made on All-in-One home printers. They are ink-jet prints, not photocopies. Try to get color copies made on regular black & white copy paper instead of color laser copy paper that is normally used.
5- 10 Ink-Jet prints on paper. These CAN be made on All-in-One home ink-jet printers, an Ink-Jet print on an Ink-Jet Transparency sheet, if possible (also available in class)
magazine photos on poor quality magazine paper (also available in class)
White or light color papers and fabrics. (Smooth surfaces and tightly woven fabrics work best)
scissors, masking tape, pen/pencil, notebook, wooden spatula or spoon or bone folder for burnishing

Intermediate Letterpress
Prerequisite: Introduction to Handset Letterpress Printing or equivalent experience or classes in printing
January 12, 19, 26 and February 2, 9, 16
Mondays: 3:00 - 6:30 pm
Instructor: Frank Brannon

$285 + studio fees $25
Limited to six students.
Studio fee covers all inks, solvents and other expendable supplies needed for printing and contributes to the on-going upkeep of the presses and paper cutters.

Register for this workshop

credit card payments

Workshop Attendee(s)

by mail: Download registration form

by phone: 828-255-8444

The goal of this class is to increase participant’s familiarity and comfort levels with regard to letterpress printing. Each student will produce a single signature, pamphlet stitched book using a text and theme of their choosing. We will focus on topics such as letterpress project planning, imposition, printing on dampened paper, multiple run registration and developing participant’s letterpress printing skills. We will also explore printmaking techniques using the Vandercook, including linoleum block cuts and Sandragraphs for illustrative purposes. Participants will have the option to explore photopolymer plate printing as well. The final result of this class will be the completion of a full letterpress printed book project and development of the skills needed to print independently.

Please bring the following items:

apron or smock
Pencil
Notebook
Project ideas/text
Paper – will not be needed for first class, purchased after discussion of project.

Relief Printing: Linocut
January 16 - 18
Friday: 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (1-hour lunch break)
Instructor: Laurie Corral

$255 + studio fees
Materials are included, covered in materials fee.

Register for this workshop

credit card payments

Workshop Attendee(s)

by mail: Download registration form

by phone: 828-255-8444

		In this weekend workshop, we will make relief prints using type high linoleum blocks and the Vandercook letterpress. We will learn carving techniques, image transfer, registration, and techniques for relief printing on the Vandercook letterpress. Students will be able to take their blocks home, and we will cover at home (press-free) printing methods. This class is appropriate for all levels – from first time explorers to more experienced printmakers. Our goal will be to create a class exchange portfolio. Each student will leave with an assortment of their own prints and proofs as well as a handmade portfolio that contains work from everyone in the class.

Please bring the following items:

Physical objects that will be your inspiration for your prints, such as drawings, photographs, favorite patterns or objects from nature
Some pens/pencils
Paper for taking notes and exploring ideas
An apron or smock if you have one!

Book Binding: A Primer
January 20, 27 and February 3, 10, 17, 24
Tuesdays: 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Instructor: Annie Fain Liden

$215 + material fee $30

Register for this workshop

credit card payments

Workshop Attendee(s)

by mail: Download registration form

by phone: 828-255-8444

This six session workshop is the perfect opportunity to make books for the first time or to renew a long lost bookmaking past. We will focus on developing a solid foundation in various binding styles, book binding vocabulary, and quality craftsmanship. We will begin with some classics: making a book from a single page, pamphlet and accordion fold book structures. We will move on to ripping a text block by hand, working with the grain of your paper, gluing a bubble-free cover and making accurate measurements without a ruler. Our last sessions will explore the versatile and lovely long-stitch and multi-needle Coptic bindings. Expect to go home with models and hand-outs for each technique, armed and ready to continue your journey into the land of hand-bound books.

Materials Fee includes:

Acid free, 100% recycled, Classic Laid text paper.
An array of snazzy decorative papers and heavy cover papers.
Davey board for covers.
Irish waxed linen in various colors for sewing bindings.
Bookbinders glue.
Waxed paper.
Collected images, fabric, color scraps and buttons.
Hand-outs.

Please bring the following items:

4 curved binding needles (1.5’’, 2’’ or 3’’ needles are fine)
Pintool or Slender Pointed Awl
Bonefolder
Pencil, eraser, and scissors
Exacto knife w/ extra blades
A medium sized, metal (not plastic) “L” square
Self healing cutting mat, any size
A journal for note taking

Book-A-Day
January 26 - 30
Monday - Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (1-hour lunch break)
Instructor: Dan Essig

$525 + studio fees

Register for this workshop

credit card payments

Workshop Attendee(s)

by mail: Download registration form

by phone: 828-255-8444

Learn to make 5 different book structures over the course of one week.

The emphasis of the class will be low tech, you will need few tools other than the basic bookbinding kit. Starting with an overview on various papers, you will learn to tear precise text blocks and various folded book structures.

The workshop will cover Coptic, longstitch, sewn tapes and variation bindings.

Please bring the following items:

Wood pencil
Prismacolor white PC938
Mechanical pencil
White eraser
6-18" metal ruler
4-6" plastic triangle
Glue brush
Exacto knife and extra blades
Small self-healing cutting mat
small sharp scissors
bone folders
awls
Japanese paper drill
1/4-inch palm chisel
Thin or light weight collage materials: decorative and text papers, photos, insect wings, leafs, feathers, etc

Suminagashi, Marbling and Box Making
February 13 - 16
Friday: 6:00 - 8:00 pm (Suminagashi)
Saturday, Sunday & Monday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm (1-hour lunch break)
Instructor: Steve Pittelkow

$325 + materials fees $40

Register for this workshop

credit card payments

Workshop Attendee(s)

by mail: Download registration form

by phone: 828-255-8444

This class begins with an optional Friday evening session of suminagashi, the beautiful method of Japanese marbling. On Saturday, continue with a marathon day of acrylic marbling designed to create a portfolio of beautiful papers for projects. On Sunday and Monday, you will use your papers to cover boxes as we learn to make simple but elegant structures with ordinary tools. Finally, we'll create an amazing three level hexagonal box that will be the envy of your box making friends.

Please bring the following items:

all materials are included in the materials fee

Handset Letterpress Printing I
February 26 - 28
Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (1-hour lunch break)
Instructor: Frank Brannon

$285 + studio fees $25
Limited to six students.
Studio fee covers all inks, solvents and other expendable supplies needed for printing and contributes to the on-going upkeep of the presses and paper cutters.

Register for this workshop

credit card payments

Workshop Attendee(s)

by mail: Download registration form

by phone: 828-255-8444

This three-day class will explore the basics of letterpress printing and hand typesetting, including type composition, mixing ink, press set-up, and printing on the Vandercook Proof Press. Students will design and produce a small project of their own such as a business card, greeting or post card as well as participating in a group broadside project. Weekly open studio hours offers extra time to develop projects and skills. This class is designed as a stepping stone to advanced classes and future projects with BookWorks. Explore the ways that letterpress printing can add texture, words and a new dimension to your print and book work. Good introductory class for poets and writers who wish to see their own words in print!

Please bring the following items:

small book or journal for notekeeping
pencil
printing paper, (paper will not be required on the first day) instructor will guide you to the best options for your personal letterpress printing projects
a favorite quote, haiku or word to help get ideas flowing

Encaustic Intensive
February 28, March 1 - 3
Saturday, Sunday, Monday & Tuesday:
10:00 am - 4:00 pm (4:30 pm on last day; 1-hour lunch break every day)
Instructor: Celia Gray

$255 + materials fees: $40
Materials fee covers all wax, paint, brushes, wood, paper and other expendables of the process.
Limited to six students.

Sorry, this workshop is full.

In this 4-day workshop we will cover all of the possibilities encaustic painting can offer. We will begin with the basics of this ancient technique of painting with pigmented beeswax, including tools and safety, making the encaustic medium and paints, and fusing layers. We will go on to explore the many ways to create imagery and texture by carving, incising, scraping, branding, collaging, transferring and using gold leaf. There will be demonstrations, discussion of historical and contemporary works, lots of work time and exploration, and plenty of time to learn from each other's results. All levels welcome.

Please bring the following items:

10 wood panels no larger than one foot on any side (i.e.: pre made panels from art supply stores or plywood)
scissors
needle tool (clay needle tools work well and can be found at High Water Clay)
scraping tool (again, High Water Clay has great options but a small knife will work)
PVA glue
optional: flat porous material for collage, materials to apply to a board for low relief (found objects, scraps of wood, etc), fresh photo copies for transferring

Journaling and Your Creative Voice
March 4, 11, 18, 25 and April 1, 8
Wednesdays: 6:30 - 9:00 pm
Instructor: Heather Allen-Swarttouw

$235 + materials fee $10
Materials fee provides cover papers, text block papers, and waxed linen thread.

Register for this workshop

credit card payments

Workshop Attendee(s)

by mail: Download registration form

by phone: 828-255-8444

Please bring to the first class - any bookmaking supplies that you have on hand, no need to buy as there will be some available

book making needle
stiff glue brush
plastic meet/veggie tray
awl
ruler
bone folder