| Books, Boxes, and Wraps

Guided by Susan Kae Grant, learn how to create a unique photographic artist book, with its case or wrap, exploring techniques to seamlessly blend images and text. Perfect for both bookmakers and photographers.

Join lens-based artist Susan kae Grant for an immersive, hands-on workshop that explores the art of constructing a visual narrative through the creation of a handmade photographic artist book—complete with a custom case and/or wrap cover. Participants will engage deeply with both conceptual and material aspects of bookmaking, learning how design, structure, and presentation work together to tell a story.

Classes will emphasize methods for incorporating printed photographs into handmade books, and the design and fabrication of cases and wrap covers that protect, elevate, and extend the meaning of the finished work. Students will explore how enclosure design can serve as a continuation of the narrative, uniting content and form into a cohesive whole.

The workshop begins with an in-depth discussion led by Susan on the design and execution strategies of a curated selection of photographic artists’ books. Through hands-on engagement, participants will examine the nuanced interplay of materials, sequencing, layout, and the integration of images and text within these works.

Before the in-person session, participants will attend an introductory Zoom meeting, during which Susan will present key concepts and answer questions to help prepare for the week ahead.

Through guided writing prompts and conceptual exercises, students will illuminate the relationship between form and content as they create a working mockup and a fully realized artist’s book incorporating their own photographs.

Guided by Susan’s expertise, the workshop will combine lectures, demonstrations, and structured studio time, culminating in group reflections and feedback. By the end of the week, participants will leave with a completed artist’s book, custom case, and wrap cover—each designed to complement and enhance their visual narrative.

Who is the Workshop For?

This workshop is ideal for photographers, bookmakers, and creatives eager to expand their technical and conceptual understanding of the artist’s book. Whether new to bookmaking or refining an existing practice, participants will gain valuable insight into how structure, material, and enclosure design contribute to storytelling.

Through experimentation and studio practice, students will develop skills in designing, constructing, and presenting handmade photographic books, while exploring strategies for sequencing, material selection, and the integration of imagery and text. The workshop encourages both beginners and seasoned artists to explore innovative methods of presenting and protecting their books within the broader context of contemporary photographic book arts.

Purpose:

The purpose of this workshop is to create a rich learning environment where participants can explore their creativity while developing practical skills in bookmaking. Through a combination of hands-on engagement and guided instruction, participants will gain the knowledge and experience necessary to create their own unique photobooks. The workshop is structured around the following primary focuses:

• To provide participants with an immersive experience and ample studio time for creating a handmade photographic artist’s book, emphasizing the relationship between form, content, and narrative. 
• To gain an understanding of and experience creating multi-section bookbinding structures while integrating personal imagery and text.
  
• To explore best practices for designing and fabricating books, boxes, and wraps by hand, allowing for experimentation, contemplation, and idea sharing during immersive studio time.
• To offer Q&A sessions to discuss resources, best practices for production, and inspiration.
• To encourage participation in group reflections and feedback, enhancing the overall learning experience.
  
• To foster creativity and inspire new approaches to bookmaking by offering practical skills and conceptual tools to develop one’s unique book.

What will the students expect to learn?

Through lectures, discussions, demos, and guided writing exercises participants will:

• Engage memory, personal insight, and intuition to design and fabricate a handmade book of photographs that symbolically balances form and content.
• Utilize guided writing exercises to inspire creativity, explore materiality, and methodologies for editing and sequencing images for their book.
• Discover options for physically incorporating images and text into handmade books, including the technical execution of the DASS image transfer process.
• Identify paper grain and best practices for folding and tearing paper to create signatures for binding.
• Determine key elements for page layouts and fabrication of mock-ups.
• Gain insights into best practices for fonts, type size, line length, and other typographic considerations.
• Acquire hands-on experience with creating book enclosures.
  
• Examine original printed examples of best Inkjet papers for pages and the incorporation of photographs in handmade books.
  
• Discuss resource handouts for inspiration and information including technical books, exhibition catalogs, book fairs, websites, special collections & databases, book art centers, suppliers & supplies.

All images copyright Susan kae Grant.