My Personal Artwork

Book-Making

Meaningful artwork is the goal of every single one of my lesson plans. When a student is content to throw away what they have made at the end of the lesson, I see a wasted opportunity.

When a person makes a book, it is an exercise in patience, problem-solving, and creative expression. A book is made to last, to serve as a place to collect our progress as we grow and change. A book tells a story with its whole self - not just the words on the page, but the care in the folds at the corners, the stitches set in the signatures, the evenness of the paper or fabric covering. Every choice in the bookmaking process is a reflection of its maker. And every aspect of bookmaking is highly beneficial from a teaching standpoint.

When I teach book-making, it is as early in the school year as possible. The students then collect samples of their work and use the book as a combination scrapbook and sketchbook. In this way, the book itself is a learning experience that contains other learning experiences. As the pages are turned, the student can see his or her progress over time and use it as motivation to improve even more.

Pages printed with daily planners, bound and covered by hand.	Pages printed with daily planners, bound and covered by hand.	This book was made for my little brother as a gift. The pages inside are all made of different papers, so that he can experiment with drawing on different surfaces. The hardcover binding was made from an old pair of jeans.
Here are some of the different papers from the experiment book.	When I am interested in an art form, I do as much research as I can! Here I am attending a workshop on multi-signature hardcover binding.	I hand-made the guestbook my husband and I used for our wedding. I used a modified Coptic stitch so the pages would lay flat when opened.
I pre-printed the pages inside and wrapped the covers in handmade paper.	The book was designed with prompts throughout so that our guests could leave us comments and messages.	I made a series of paperback notebooks that feature my drawings on the covers. This one shows "Wilt."
I made a series of paperback notebooks that feature my drawings on the covers. This one shows "The Left Doesn't Know What the Right is Doing."	I made a series of paperback notebooks that feature my drawings on the covers. This one shows "Snip the Munchers."	I made a series of paperback notebooks that feature my drawings on the covers. This one shows "Fromages du Quebec."
I made a series of paperback notebooks that feature my drawings on the covers. This one shows "Maple Road."	I made a series of paperback notebooks that feature my fan-art on the covers.	I made a series of paperback notebooks that feature my fan-art on the covers.
I made a series of paperback journals with abstract watercolour covers.	My early versions of these books fastened with a bow, which some people found inconvenient.	To fix the bow issue, I added a button closure with a wraparound string instead. It was a good idea, but I didn't trust the stitching to hold in the cardstock alone without eventually ripping out.
To reinforce the button, I added a small strip of linen tape on the backside of the flap before sewing the button on. Then, I added further decorative reinforcement with handmade long-grain paper. This made for a much sturdier, more attractive and user-friendly book!

Natassja King

Art Educator

My Personal Artwork

Book-Making

Pages printed with daily planners, bound and covered by hand.

Pages printed with daily planners, bound and covered by hand.

This book was made for my little brother as a gift. The pages inside are all made of different papers, so that he can experiment with drawing on different surfaces. The hardcover binding was made from an old pair of jeans.

Here are some of the different papers from the experiment book.

When I am interested in an art form, I do as much research as I can! Here I am attending a workshop on multi-signature hardcover binding.

I hand-made the guestbook my husband and I used for our wedding. I used a modified Coptic stitch so the pages would lay flat when opened.

I pre-printed the pages inside and wrapped the covers in handmade paper.

The book was designed with prompts throughout so that our guests could leave us comments and messages.

I made a series of paperback notebooks that feature my drawings on the covers. This one shows "Wilt."

I made a series of paperback notebooks that feature my drawings on the covers. This one shows "The Left Doesn't Know What the Right is Doing."

I made a series of paperback notebooks that feature my drawings on the covers. This one shows "Snip the Munchers."

I made a series of paperback notebooks that feature my drawings on the covers. This one shows "Fromages du Quebec."

I made a series of paperback notebooks that feature my drawings on the covers. This one shows "Maple Road."

I made a series of paperback notebooks that feature my fan-art on the covers.

I made a series of paperback notebooks that feature my fan-art on the covers.

I made a series of paperback journals with abstract watercolour covers.

My early versions of these books fastened with a bow, which some people found inconvenient.

To fix the bow issue, I added a button closure with a wraparound string instead. It was a good idea, but I didn't trust the stitching to hold in the cardstock alone without eventually ripping out.

To reinforce the button, I added a small strip of linen tape on the backside of the flap before sewing the button on. Then, I added further decorative reinforcement with handmade long-grain paper. This made for a much sturdier, more attractive and user-friendly book!