Learn basic bookbinding structures and stitches that every beginning book artist should know!

Students will learn five staple structures of the bookbinding world: pamphlet stitch, two versions of one-sheet wonders, accordion folding, and a Japanese stab binding. If you’ve been curious about book arts basics, this is a great starter class; in three hours, you’ll gain the know-how to start making books of your own.

Students also learn about local resources, bookbinding tools, and SFCB’s Bookbinding Core Program, as well as protocol for studio rental. 

SFCB's Windgate Scholarship Fund is dedicated to providing need-based financial support to individuals interested in learning bookbinding, letterpress printing, and related book arts. Click here to apply.

Prerequisite: None

Materials to bring: All tools and materials will be provided.

About the Instructor: Mimi Zycherman (she/her) is a Book Conservator at a Bay Area Institution. She graduated from the North Bennet Street School’s Bookbinding program in 2023. She also received a BA in Art and Materials Conservation from Columbia College Chicago. In addition to a fellowship at the Boston Athenæum, she has interned in conservation labs at Dartmouth, Harvard, and New York City’s Municipal Archives. She specializes in fine design bindings that have been exhibited throughout the U.S. Mimi is also a member of the Guild of Bookworkers and the Hand Bookbinders of California.

If you have heard about letterpress but are not really sure what it is or how it works, this class will allow you to peer inside the rich history and engaging techniques of letterpress printing.

This class introduces the process, the materials, the machines, and the satisfaction of printing by hand on a Cylinder proof press. Participants will learn the basics of setting type using SFCB’s vast collection of lead type and decorative ornaments as well as inking, locking up and pulling a print.

SFCB's Windgate Scholarship Fund is dedicated to providing need-based financial support to individuals interested in learning bookbinding, letterpress printing, and related book arts. Click here to apply.

Prerequisite: None

Materials to bring: None

About the Instructor: Brian Lieske (he/him) wandered into SFCB many years ago and continues to haunt the place. He completed both the bookbinding and letterpress cores as well as several of the summer historic structure classes. He enjoys making fully hand-sewn books and still fights to not over-tighten his kettle stitches. He’s lived in San Francisco for more than 20 years having arrived shortly after completing an MFA at the University of Texas at Austin.

This workshop is an introduction to the Japanese marbling technique of Suminagashi or “floating ink”.

Participants will learn paper and ink preparation, as well as brush application techniques used to create a series of uniquely marbled ink prints on masa and kozo papers.

Students will leave this one-day workshop with a collection of prints that they can use as bases for additional drawing or printing applications, or as standalone works of art. If they want to sign up for Solange's Contemporary Gilding class the following day, they can then gild their marbled designs.

Experimentation is encouraged and all are welcome!

Prerequisite: None

Tools/Materials to bring: All necessary materials will be supplied, but please bring additional papers you would like to experiment with as well as alternative mark-making tools such as branches, a straw, toothpick, fork, etc.

About the Instructor: Solange Roberdeau is a visual artist and freelance art educator and she works primarily in paper, sumi ink and with contemporary gilding in her own studio practice. Solange received a BFA in Printmaking from RISD in 2005 and an MFA in Studio Art from MICA in 2012. She teaches private classes as well as has taught workshops in contemporary gilding at institutions including locally at Kala Art Institute, Berkeley; nationally at the Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore and internationally at Cairo American College, Egypt. More information about Solange can be found on her website: www.solange-roberdeau.com.

Gilding is the process of applying metal leaf to a surface. This contemporary approach to an ancient process allows for makers from every background to explore a painterly approach to using metal leaf.

Learn the technical aspects of this gilding technique in this one-day class. Gilding can be used on any material surface from paper to wood to stone and in any application from fine art drawings on Japanese paper to holiday cards!

This workshop will provide students with the step-by-by process of incorporating metal leaf and loose pigment into compositions on varied material surfaces. As a jumping-off point, students will complete projects designed to familiarize students with the nuances of applying and trouble-shooting working with metal leaf on paper and mixed media collages.

Prerequisite: None

Tools/Materials to Bring: All tools and materials are provided by the instructor. Please bring a pencil or preferred drawing tool, and small objects, papers or other materials to experiment on.

About the Instructor: Solange Roberdeau is a visual artist and freelance art educator and she works primarily in paper, sumi ink and with contemporary gilding in her own studio practice. Solange received a BFA in Printmaking from RISD in 2005 and an MFA in Studio Art from MICA in 2012. She teaches private classes as well as has taught workshops in contemporary gilding at institutions including locally at Kala Art Institute, Berkeley; nationally at the Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore and internationally at Cairo American College, Egypt. More information about Solange can be found on her website: www.solange-roberdeau.com.