Course Overview: A book is a perfect object: portable, compact, full of paper, sequential, dimensional, with pre-printed content to work with (or not). In this online course, books become creative playgrounds as we explore a range of approaches, effects, and techniques for altering and transforming them. Your instructor, Kim-Lee Kho, will demonstrate techniques and media, introduce design concepts, and art-thinking that will propel you in your process. For inspiration, you'll view slides featuring examples from contemporary artists, as well as Kho's own samples, to spark ideas and encourage experimentation. By the end of the course, you’ll have created a unique, personal altered book—an artwork to display, explore, and share.

Skill Level: Some art-making experience is helpful, but this can be your very first altered book or your tenth.

Dates:

Five weekly sessions
Wednesday, March 4, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Wednesday, March 11, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Wednesday, March 18, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Wednesday, March 25, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Wednesday, April 1, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Important Notes:

This course takes place online via Zoom. A Zoom link and instructions will be shared closer to the start date.
HST and material fees included in price.
A refund (less $20.00 administrative fee) will be issued if you withdraw from a class at least seven days before the start date of the class. After this deadline, no refunds will be issued.
If a course is cancelled by Loyalist College, registered students will be provided with a full refund. College decisions to cancel a course will be made one week before the start date of the class.
If you have any questions or issues, please reach out to art@loyalistcollege.com

Supply List:

ESSENTIALS

One hardcover book (i.e., sewn binding, not glued), 50 to 350 pages of uncoated paper (feels like paper you could draw on); needs to be structurally sound (not broken or mildewy) – Thrift stores are good sources. Your book should be pre-printed with text, possibly diagrams, illustrations and/or photos. The existing content gives you something to work with. You can test the paper inside the book for its tolerance for wet and dry media to arrive at your final choice
Pencil
Eraser
Ruler (metal edge is useful),
Sharp craft knife with extra blades. Recommended: An Olfa knife with snap-off blades. Not the big size meant for home repair and DIY (those can be used for cutting thick material like covers), but the precision kind that’s about 3/4” wide; there are dollar store versions; X-acto knives are also good, but have extra blades on hand!
Painter’s tape (often green or blue)
Sharp scissors and a cutting surface (cutting mat or sturdy cardboard, like a sketchbook backer (bigger than your book)
Good glue stick (medium size), and some liquid glue (e.g., white glue (yellows over time), acrylic medium, traditional starch glue, or PVA glue)
A few plastic pages (pref. a little larger than your book) could be: page protectors, plastic binder dividers, a good quality plastic bag cut into pages, or waxed paper.
Paint: gouache OR acrylic OR watercolour (note: only acrylic is not re-soluble in water, which can be a pro or a con)
A few brushes, including flat 1”
Palette; one or more plastic palette knives if using acrylic
Paper towel
Water container
Drawing: something water-soluble and something dry, e.g., coloured pencils (available as either), PENS (so many kinds!), inktense sticks, oil pastels, etc.
Collage: some magazines and/or other printed or coloured paper (thinner fabric is also a possibility) that can be cut up and collaged into your book
Stamping: At least one white eraser so you can create your own pattern stamp

OPTIONAL

Another book: consider a board book or other children's book
Stencils: any stencils you already own and/or material to make your own custom stencil, e.g., a plastic sheet, Dura-lar, Tyvek, or smooth paper that will stand up to a bit of moisture
Stamping: rubber stamps you already own
Personal items or embellishments you would like to include in your book
Drawing tools – more options to choose from: china markers, wax crayons, water soluble crayons, paint pens, gel pens, pigment pens, watercolour pens, conté crayons, felt pens, gel pens, brush pens, ballpoint pens (if you have different colours, bonus!), India ink, other inks
Bone folder or stainless steel soup-size spoon for crisp folds
Foam roller and/or small-pore household sponge or a cosmetic sponge

These optional items are just that: to provide ideas and to help you review what you already own for things that might be useful. If you see something that sounds appealing and wish to buy it, that’s great too, and might energize your creative juices.

Altered Books: New Art from Old Books with Kim-Lee Kho