Creative Book Arts

Course Overview

• Creative Book Arts is a structured 5-week course exploring the craft of bookbinding alongside the creative possibilities of artist books and contemporary book arts.

• Working with a range of traditional and modern techniques, you’ll develop practical skills in folding, stitching, cover-making, paper structures and binding methods while experimenting with typography, calligraphy and embossing.

• Throughout the course, you’ll progressively build confidence, create a collection of handmade books, and develop your own artist book project in a supportive studio environment.

• Classes take place in our North London studio, a short distance from Crouch End, Finsbury Park, Archway and Highgate.

Time
14.00 – 17.00
or
18.00 – 21.00

Day
Monday, Thursday

Course Duration
5 weeks
Students attend either the Monday evening or Thursday afternoon session for five consecutive weeks.

Tutor: Raquel Amat
email: artclasslondon.printmaking@gmail.com
mobile (WhatsApp): 07933084754

 

Booking details

Price: tbc
Each booking covers 5 weekly sessions (3 hours each).
Choose either the Monday evening or Thursday afternoon session.

Course Description

About the Course
Creative Book Arts is a structured 5-week course introducing the creative discipline of book arts through bookbinding, artist books and contemporary paper-based practice. Combining traditional craftsmanship with creative experimentation, the course explores how folding, stitching, paper structures, cover-making and binding techniques come together to create original handmade books.

Guided by artist and tutor Raquel Amat, you’ll work through a carefully planned programme that develops both technical skills and creative confidence. Alongside traditional and contemporary bookbinding methods, you’ll explore typography, calligraphy and embossing while learning how text, image and structure can be combined within artist books.

Throughout the course, you’ll progressively build practical skills, produce a collection of handmade books, and develop an original artist book project reflecting your own creative ideas.

Who Is This Course For
This course is suitable for complete beginners as well as artists, designers, illustrators, makers and creative practitioners looking to expand their skills in book arts and bookbinding.

Whether you’re interested in handmade books, artist books, creative paper structures or contemporary bookbinding techniques, the course provides a supportive studio environment where you’ll develop practical skills while exploring your own creative ideas. No previous experience is required—only curiosity, creativity and a willingness to experiment.

Course Programme
Over five weeks, you’ll explore a range of traditional and contemporary bookbinding techniques, including:

• Week 1: Non-Adhesive Bindings
• Week 2: Japanese Stab Binding
• Week 3: Concertina Binding
• Week 4: Wallet Journal
• Week 5: Coptic Binding

Alongside these binding methods, you’ll also explore typography, calligraphy and embossing while developing an understanding of artist books and contemporary book arts.

What You’ll Learn

• Traditional and contemporary bookbinding techniques.
• How to work confidently with bookbinding tools, materials and papers.
• Cover-making, soft and hard covers, stitching, paper grain, folding and paper structures.
• Ways to combine text, images, and textures in artist books.
• How to plan, design and develop your own artist book project.

Course Outcomes
By the end of the course, you’ll have:

• A solid foundation in traditional and contemporary bookbinding.
• A collection of handmade books demonstrating different binding methods.
• A completed artist book reflecting your own creative ideas.
• The confidence to continue developing your book arts practice independently.

Take Home
A collection of hand-bound books together with the practical skills, creative knowledge and confidence to continue exploring book arts beyond the course.