Handmade bookbinding and photographic art supplies arranged on a black grid cutting mat, including dyed fabric, thread spools, photographic prints, needles, bone folder, brushes, cutting tools, and a metal ruler. Beside the supplies is text announcing a workshop titled 'INSPIRED DESIGN: Fabricating the Handmade Photographic Artist's Book' by Susan kae Grant, with workshop dates on Saturdays in January, studio time on Fridays, a follow-up session in February, a 12 participant limit, and $995 USD tuition, with application deadline December 11, 2026.
Assorted bookbinding tools and materials arranged on a black grid cutting mat, including dyed patterned papers, spools of blue and white thread, torn-edge landscape prints, a bone folder, needle tools, knives with wrapped handles, a paintbrush, and a leather roller with a wooden handle.

INSPIRED DESIGN:
Fabricating the Handmade Photographic Artist’s Book

Susan kae Grant

WORKSHOP DATES

Saturdays, Jan 9, Jan 16, Jan 23 and Jan 30

11am – 4:30 pm US ET

‍Studio Time & Individual Meetings

Fridays, Jan 15 and Jan 22

11am – 1:30 pm US ET

Follow Up Session

Saturday, Feb 27

11am – 2:00 pm US ET

LIMIT

12 participants

TUITION

$995 USD

‍

‍Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis. The final deadline for submissions is Dec 11, 2026.

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

Building on the practical information and inspiration gained during the Symposium “The Art of Photographic Bookmaking: Inspiration, Creation & Acquisition”, we are offering a 4-day online workshop with Susan kae Grant to learn how to physically create your own photographic artist's book or mock-up, incorporating images and text.

Drawing from memory, personal insight, and intuition, Susan will guide participants through the process of designing and constructing books that symbolically unify imagery, text, and materiality. Participants will engage in guided writing prompts paired with their images to further inspire their creative process.

Saturday classes include lectures, discussions, and hands-on demonstrations, focusing on the technical execution of three East Asian binding structures inspired by Kojiro Ikegami. You will learn step-by-step how to assemble a handmade photographic artist's book using these traditional and hybrid binding methods demonstrated while experimenting with editing, sequencing, and integrating your own photographs and text to create a compelling visual narrative.

Two Friday sessions include studio time and scheduled individual meetings for assistance and feedback with Susan and Danielle Khoury (TA) present.

This workshop is exclusively for those who attended the Symposium “The Art of Photographic Bookmaking: Inspiration, Creation & Acquisition” either in person during the live sessions or accessing the recordings. Enrollment is limited to 12 participants.

Participants will receive a supply list needed for the course one month prior to the start.

This workshop will be taught online via Zoom. All sessions will be recorded and available to participants for six months following the conclusion of the class.

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE *

Saturday, January, 9 from 11 am – 4:30 pm (US ET)
BRINGING FORM TO CONTENT

  • Welcome - Introductions
  • 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 Japanese book structures and identify key components of the artist’s book format
  • Lunch Break
  • 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 pages in advance of Week 2's Fukuro-toji (Japanese Stab) Book Demo and Q&A.

Friday, January 15, from 11 am – 1:30 pm (US ET)

Optional studio time & individual meetings for assistance & feedback with Susan & Danielle.

Saturday, January 16, from  11 am – 4:30 pm  (US ET)
BUILDING STRUCTURE: THE ART OF THE FUKURO-TOJI (JAPANESE STAB)

  • Project Shares - A quick round of 5-minute presentations introducing the concept of your book
  • Inspiration - Fukuro-toji (Japanese Stab) examples:
    Close-up views of selected artists’ books
  • Demonstration - The Fukuro-toji (Japanese Stab):
    Learn the basics of tearing, folding, and assembling a Fukuro-toji book
  • Lunch Break
  • Guided Studio Time:
    Create your own Fukuro-toji book, including tearing, folding, and assembling the pages, end sheets, and cover. Susan kae & Danielle available for assistance and meetings
  • Discussion - Class Handouts:
    Review technical books, exhibition catalogs, podcasts, and video tutorials
  • Assignment Prep & Discussion:
    Assemble your pages in advance of Week 3’s Multi-section Book Demo and Q&A.

Friday, January 22, from 11 am – 1:30 pm (US ET)

Optional studio time & individual meetings for assistance & feedback with Susan & Danielle.

Saturday, January 23, from 11 am - 4:30 pm (US ET)
THE ART OF THE JAPANESE RETCHŌSŌ STITCH BOOK

  • Book Shares - A quick round of 2-minute Fukuro-toji book. Show & Tells
  • Inspiration - Multi-section Book Examples with windowed images
    Close-up views of selected artists’ books
  • Hands-on Demonstration: Japanese Retchōsō Stitch Book.
    Learn to create a Retchōsō Stitch book with optional windows by tearing, folding, assembling, and sewing signatures and covers
  • Lunch Break
  • Guided Studio Time:
    Apply techniques learned in the demo to create your own Retchōsō Stitch book. Susan kae & Danielle available for assistance and meetings
  • Discussion - Class Handouts:
    Review resource materials to support your ongoing projects
  • Assignment Prep & Discussion:
    Assemble your pages in advance of Week 4’s Sewn Japanese Orihon (concertina with windows) and Q&A.

Saturday, January 30, from 11 am - 4:30 pm (US ET)
BUILDING STRUCTURE: THE SEWN JAPANESE ORIHON BINDING (CONCERTINA WITH WINDOWS)

  • Book Shares - A quick round of 2-minute Multi-section Book, Show & Tells
  • Inspiration - Concertina & Hybrid Examples:
    Close-up views of selected artists’ books
  • Hands-on Demonstration - Orihon Binding:
    Learn to fold and join structure pages with optional windows, create hybrid pamphlet attachments, and explore soft and hard cover options.
  • Lunch Break
  • Guided Studio Time:
    Create a sewn Orihon Binding (Concertina with windows)using techniques demonstrated earlier. Susan kae & Danielle available for assistance and meetings
  • Discussion - Class Handouts:
    Review resources such as book fairs, websites, collections databases, and Book Art Centers
  • Assignment Prep & Discussion:
    Prepare for “Reflections - Show & Tell” in Week 5 follow-up and engage in Q&A session.

FOLLOW UP SESSION:
Saturday, Oct 25, from 11 am - 2 pm (US ET)

  • Reflections & Progress - Sharing Your Book Projects:
    A follow-up session to reflect on and share your completed bookworks or mock-ups.
  • Project Reflections - A Final Show & Tell:
    Each participant will have 15 minutes to present their bookwork or mock-up, sharing insights, questions, and ideas for future development.

‍

*This schedule is subject to change at any time.

Stack of four handmade books with visible stitch binding: top book has a gray cover with gold leaf pattern and a needle with white thread resting on it, second book has a light blue cover, third book has a white cover with pink and gold edges, and the bottom book has a textured pink cover.

TO APPLY FOR THE WORKSHOP

This workshop is exclusively for those who attended the symposium “The Art of Photographic Bookmaking: Inspiration, Creation and Acquisition” either in person during the live sessions or accessing the recordings.

The Symposium recordings are available for purchase HERE.

1. TEN IMAGES

Please submit 10 images that you envision will become part of your book (JPGs 72 dpi, 1080 pixels longest side).

2. BIO & SHORT STATEMENT OF INTENT

Submit a short bio (up to 200 words) followed by a brief statement (up to 200 words) telling us why you would like to take this workshop, as a single Word document. At the bottom of the document please include the following:

  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • Profession
  • City and Country of origin / City and Country of residence
  • Previous photography studies, including recent workshops attended (if any)
  • A link to your website and/or Instagram
  • How did you hear about this workshop

Please email your application to selma@laluzworkshops.com. Since we receive applications for a variety of workshops at the same time, please be sure to specify the name of the workshop you are applying for.

Upon acceptance, participants are required to pay the full tuition. We prefer payments via wire transfer or check. PayPal would be accepted only as a last resort. If you choose to use PayPal, please note that any commission will not be returned to you in case of a refund.

If you need to pay for this class in installments, please mention this in your application.

Please read cancellation policies here.

If you have any questions about this workshop please reach out to: selma@laluzworkshops.com