Drum Leaf Binding and its Precedents – Fall 2022

Event Info

This virtual workshop takes place on Zoom on Tuesdays, December 6-20, from 6pm–8pm:

• Tuesday, December 6, 6-8pm
• Tuesday, December 13, 6-8pm
• Tuesday, December 20, 6-8pm

Please Note: Registration for this workshop closes on Tuesday, November 29 at 11:59pm.

About the Workshop:

In this three-session online workshop with CBA Instructor Scott McCarney, participants aged 13+ will learn to make three types of lay-flat books ideal for displaying photographs and prints.

The three techniques– a Japanese Album, a Japanese Butterfly book, and a Drum-Leaf binding– have similarly easy and ingenious modes of assembly. All three books join single folded folios in distinct ways using a minimum of glue, limiting the amount of moisture to speed the binding process considerably. Participants will case their Drum-Leaf books into easily assembled quarter-cloth covers with throw-back spines. Since each page spread is a single folded folio, participants can print their images across the gutter with no interruption, making these techniques very popular with printmakers and photographers. Once completed, these books lie flat when opened, making them easy and comfortable to view.

Session one: Participants will make a Japanese album and a Japanese butterfly book. Using the drumming technique, participants will also make covers for these books.

Session two: Participants will drum a stack of folded folios to create the book block for the Drum-Leaf binding.

Session three: Participants will make the cover and case-in the Drum Leaf book block.

Required Materials:

Supplies:

• 20 sheets of text weight paper (24 lb. copy paper or equivalent) – measuring 5.5 x 8.5 inches folded in half to measure 5.5 x 4.25 inches
• 1 piece of book cloth measuring at least 3 x 7.5 inches
• 6 pieces of medium weight book board (or equivalent) – measuring 5.5 x 4.25 inches
• 6 pieces of decorative paper (or text weight papers) – measuring 5.25 x 6.5 inches
• a scrap of decorative paper or book cloth measuring 2 inches square
• 12 sheets of medium weight paper (60# or 80# cover weight or equivalent [a standard manilla file folder is a good weight]) – measuring 5.5 x 8.5 inches folded in half to measure 5.5 x 4.25 inches

Optional Materials:

• 2 sheets of medium weight paper (60# or 80# cover weight or equivalent) of a contrasting color – measuring 5.5 x 8.5 inches folded in half to measure 5.5 x 4.25 inches for end papers
• 4 sheets of text weight paper (24 lb. copy paper or equivalent) of a contrasting color – measuring 5.5 x 8.5 inches folded in half to measure 5.5 x 4.25 for end papers
• Colored pencils, stamp pads, and make-up sponges can be used to add more decorative elements to your book.

About Scott McCarney

Scott McCarney is an artist, designer, and educator based in Rochester, New York. His primary art practice has been in book form since 1980 and spans many media, from offset and digital printing to sculptural and site-specific installation. His bookworks can be found in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Victoria & Albert Museum, London; and Yale University Art Gallery, among others. His work is shown internationally (Sao Paulo, Brazil; Melbourne, Australia; Baku, Azerbaijan) as well as closer to home (Hallwalls, Buffalo NY; Everson Museum, Syracuse NY; Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester NY). His teaching and lecturing itinerary is varied and eclectic, carrying the banner of artist’s books to Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Mexico, and South America. He recently concluded 16 years of teaching in the College of Art and Design at Rochester Institute of Technology.  

All images courtesy of the instructor.