This five-day intensive book arts workshop has participants bringing a book project from conception to completion, featuring the “Five Pillars” taught in the Book Arts Lab at MacOdrum Library: bookbinding, relief block printing, letterpress printing, paper making / marbling and calligraphy.

Open to novice or expert alike, participants explore the diverse world of Book Arts, create their own unique handmade books and contents, learn foundational skills and explore various materials and methods. Whether you are a beginner who is curious about the possibilities of book arts, a teacher looking to introduce active learning to your curriculum, or a seasoned artist looking to expand your repertoire, this workshop offers a fun and inspiring introduction to these versatile crafts.

Each day will be filled with new techniques leading you through the processes to a completed project. Open lab time will occur each day to finish up any work not completed during the day. There will be staff onsite for the open lab session that can assist with the projects of the day. We suspect that day 4 will require open lab time to complete typesetting and printing. Participants should account for this in their schedule.

Note: Lunch will be provided and all materials are included in the registration fee.

Dates: Monday, August 19 – Friday, August 23, 2024

Time: 8:30am – 4:30pm

Location: In-Person, Carleton University Campus – MacOdrum Library Book Arts Lab

Registration Fee: $1300.00 + HST

Registered participants will receive an email from the FLP team, sharing the room number and parking instructions prior to the first day of this series.

Schedule for the week: Book Arts Daily Schedule

Topics Overview:

  • Day 1: Introduction to Book Arts
  • Day 2: History of the book
  • Day 3: Calligraphy, typography and typesetting
  • Day 4: Assembling formes and preparing for printing
  • Day 5: Introduction to hard case binding and completing your book

Click HERE for more detailed information about what to expect throughout the 5 days.

About the Lecturers:

Sarah Pelletier. Sarah (she/her; they/them) is a settler PhD candidate in the Department of English at Carleton University studying transatlantic print history. Sarah has been working in and teaching letterpress printing since 2017. She started as a volunteer at the Bibliography Room in the Robertson Davies Library at Massey College (University of Toronto), and was one of the Book History and Print Culture Printing Apprentice Fellows for 2018-2019. While taking a break between her Master and Doctoral degrees, Sarah had a brief stint as a trade printer, printing and binding books at Coach House Press (Coach House Books) in Toronto. She is now the Senior Book Arts Lab Assistant in the MacOdrum Library Book Arts Lab and has been working there since January 2022. Sarah enjoys experimenting with form, creating printed objects (such as her paper airplane folding diagram poster), and working collaboratively to create magical printed materials. Sarah’s approach to teaching in the Lab often combines history with experiential learning practices, and she is committed to fostering a learning environment that is inclusive, accessible, collaborative, and affirming.
Susan Pinard. Minard worked for many years in Carleton University’s library, which included time in the rare book room. She enjoys making books, most of which lately have included her own calligraphy. Susan joined the Calligraphy Society of Ottawa in 1988, and has taken many classes and workshops, as well as attended some conferences. Nature is a favourite theme to do lettering on. Personal expression can be so rewarding.
Spike Minogue. Spike comes from an extensive offset printing background – tip-toeing into the graphic design field – and has come out as a trained hand bookbinder. Having taught the technical side of printing at Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario for 10 years, her interests shifted to bookbinding in 2012. Her initial training came from the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists’ Guild (CBBAG) earning her the Guild’s Core Course Certificate and then she went onward to the 2-year Bookbinding Diploma Program at North Bennet Street School in Boston, Mass. At Spike’s Bookbinding Studio she has trained many new up and coming bookbinders/book artists and has hosted many visiting instructors from around the country in the bookbinding arts.
Paul Demers. A fine artist by training and a conservator and gilder by vocation. I have twenty-five years of experience providing custom restoration, designing, fabricating, services related to various types of high value historical and ceremonial frames, artefacts, furniture, display cases and cabinets. I have provided framing and gilding expertise and services to large institutional clients such as the Canadian War Museum, Library and Archives Canada, the Senate, the Governor General, and numerous private collectors.I started binding books in 2009.Taking the skills in gilding and wood working, I have designed and developed wooden books from the coptic stitch book to a medieval gothic binding in full leather. This course will be an introduction to a simple wooden binding structure. You will be able to go home with a bound book and the confidence to create other books at home with your samples and handouts that will be provided.
Larry Thompson. The Master Printer in the Carleton University Library Book Arts Lab. He achieved his BA (Hons) in English Literature at Carleton, returning to his Alma Mater after a brief absence of 30 years. In the interim, he laboured as a freelance writer and editor, a letterpress book artist and wood engraver.