I have been a mixed media book fan for decades. It all began when I started making “junque journals” back in 2009/2010.
One of the (fun) challenges of working in mixed media is that we often end up with lots of beautiful experimental papers. Painted papers, printed papers, papers covered with marks, patterns, and more!
They’re fun to make, but they add up quickly and can make you feel quite overwhelmed. One of my favorite solutions is turning that pile of papers into a usable mixed media book.
Turning those experimental surfaces into handmade books gives them a purpose and a structure.
That’s exactly what we’ll be exploring in my upcoming 4-day in-person workshop “Making Mixed Media Books” at Dillman’s Art Workshop Retreat in northern Wisconsin.
You can read more about the workshop HERE.
What Is Mixed Media Bookmaking?
Mixed media bookmaking combines surface design techniques with simple book structures. Instead of starting with blank pages, you create your own papers using techniques like:
- painting
- collage
- printing
- drawing and mark-making
- layering transparent materials
Those surfaces are then transformed into colorful handmade books, which can be further worked into, exploring materials, texture, and visual rhythm across a sequence of pages. For artists who love experimenting with materials, bookmaking is a wonderful way to turn those explorations into finished pieces.
Make a Single Sheet Folded Book
If you’ve ever made painted or printed papers, here’s a simple way to turn them into a book. All you need is one sheet of paper.
- Start with a sheet of paper.
- Fold it in half lengthwise.
- Fold it again in the opposite direction.
- Fold once more so you have eight rectangles.
- Cut a slit along the center fold between the middle panels.
- Refold and push the pages together.
Watch the video if you’re more of a visual learner:
You now have an eight-page handmade book.
This structure works beautifully with painted or collaged papers, because the design flows across the folds and pages.
Join Me at Dillman’s Bay in May!
In my upcoming workshop, Making Mixed Media Books, we’ll spend several days exploring both surface design and simple book structures.
We’ll create painted and printed papers, experiment with layering and mark-making, and then transform those surfaces into handmade books, like the one I’m holding in the photo below:
Dillman’s Art Workshop Retreat has been hosting artists for decades on the shores of White Sand Lake in northern Wisconsin. It’s a beautiful setting to step away from daily life, focus on your art, and spend time with other creative people. This is a photo of one of their classrooms:
You can come with your family with a vacation. Lodging options include cabins as well as motel-style accommodations. While you come to class, your partner and/or family can fish, hike, relax, and otherwise explore the area!
If you’d like to join me, you can find all the details HERE.
And if you try making a folded book from one of your own painted papers, I’d love to hear how it goes.
