INSPIRED DESIGN:

Fabricating the Handmade Photographic Artist’s Book

A four-day online workshop with Susan kae Grant

DATES: Saturdays, Sept 6 - Sept 27, 2025
11 am to 6 pm (US EDT)

Follow up Session: Oct 25, 2025
11 am - 2 pm (US EDT)

Welcome to our Course Homepage. Here you will find:

  • WELCOME LETTER:
    A copy of the PDF welcome letter that was sent to you before the start of this workshop via email. Please click HERE.
  • ZOOM LINK:
    The Zoom link to log in will be posted here prior to each session. We will also send the link via email the day before. Please check your spam folder and save us as your contact to be sure to receive our emails.
  • VIDEOS:
    Video recordings of each session in chronological order. Videos will be posted within 48 hours of completion of each session. Please note that these videos are intended for your personal use only and will be available until September 7, 2025.
  • RESOURCE DOCUMENTS AND HANDOUTS:
    Downloadable PDFs of resources discussed during each session.
  • ZOOM CHAT:
    We will upload a copy of each session’s chat so that any important resources, questions, or comments that may have been shared during the session will be saved and downloadable.
  • PARTICIPANT LIST (Optional):
    Here you can find a shared document where you and all other participants have the option to add your information to connect with each other. Please click HERE.

WEEK 1: BRINGING FORM TO CONTENT

Date: Saturday, Sept 6 from 11 am - 6 pm (US ET)

  • Presentation - Communicating with Structure, Materiality, and Design: Examine and define appropriate binding structures to synthesize form and content
  • Inspiration - Book Design and Philosophy: Explore how form, structure, and materials symbolically support content
  • Hands-on Demonstration - Structures and the Mini Mock-up: Create four simple book structures and identify key components of the artist’s book format
  • Generative Session - From Image to Insight, Developing Visual and Material Direction: Respond to guided prompts using your proof prints to generate language and ideas for design and structure
  • Discussion - Visualizing and Planning the Final Book Form: Refine your concept through mind mapping, design principles, typographic considerations, sequencing strategies, and image/text methodologies using a planning worksheet
  • Assignment Prep & Discussion: Assemble your materials in advance of Week 2's Pamphlet Stitch Book Demo and Q&A.

Handouts from Susan

  1. Image Writing Prompts
  2. Mock-up & Design Work Sheet
  3. Selected Material Suppliers
  4. Inkjet, Velum & Tracing Papers for Books

Resource Document from Susan

Resources mentioned in Class

Zoom Chat

WEEK 2: BUILDING STRUCTURE: THE ART OF THE PAMPHLET STITCH

Date: Saturday, Sept 13 from 11 am - 6 pm (US ET)

  • Welcome, Introduction to Week 2
  • 2-minute Participant Presentations: Introducing the Concept of their Books
  • Inspiration - Pamphlet Stitch Examples:
    Close-up views of selected Artists’ Books
  • Hands-on Demonstration - The Pamphlet Stitch:
    Learn the basics of tearing, folding, and assembling a Pamphlet Stitch book
  • Guided Studio Time:
    Create your own Pamphlet Stitch book
    (Tearing, folding, and assembling the pages, end sheets, and cover)
  • Assignment Prep & Discussion:
    Assemble your pages in advance of Week 3’s Multi-section Book Demo and Q&A.

Handouts from Susan

  1. The Pamphlet Stitch Book
    (you received this PDF via email prior to the class, and Susan screen-shared it during our session)
  2. Image and Text Methodologies

Resources mentioned in Class

Zoom Chat

WEEK 3: THE ART OF THE FRENCH-LINK KETTLE STITCH BOOK

Date: Saturday, Sept 20 from 11 am - 6 pm (US ET)

  • Welcome, Introduction to Week 3
  • Participant Book Shares: 2-minute Pamphlet Book Show & Tell
  • Inspiration - Multi-section Examples
    Close-up views of selected artists' books
  • Hands-on Demonstration: The French-Link KettleTearing and folding papers, sewing signatures
  • French-Link Kettle demo continued - creating soft book cover
  • Guided Studio Time - Create your own French-Link Kettle book
    (tearing, folding, assembling and sewing signatures, and cover construction)
  • Assignment Prep & Discussion
    Materials needed for Week 4 Accordion Hybrid Demo, mock-ups & Q&A

Handouts from Susan

  1. Creating Signatures for Book Pages with 10" x 26" BKF Rives Paper
  2. French-Link Kettle Stitch Demonstration

Resources mentioned in Class

Zoom Chat

WEEK 4: BUILDING STRUCTURE: THE CONCERTINA & HYBRID BOOK STRUCTURE

Date: Saturday, Sept 27 from 11 am - 6 pm (US ET)

  • Welcome, Introduction to Week 4
  • Participant Book Shares: 2-minute French-link Kettle Show & Tell
  • Hands-on Demonstration: Concertina & Hybrid Book
  • Guided Studio Time:Create a Concertina book or Concertina Hybrid book using techniques demonstrated earlier
  • Inspiration: Concertina & Hybrid Examples
  • Hands-on Demonstration (continued)
  • Participant Book Shares: 6-min In-progress Mock-up Show & Tell
  • Assignment Prep & Discussion: Prepare for Week 5 follow-up.

Handouts from Susan

  1. Concertina & Hybrid Book
  2. Flat Back Case Construction
  3. Time Management Resources

Resources mentioned in Class

Zoom Chat