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The Art of Japan – Paper Dyeing, Books and Scrolls Summer School

£340.00

This course is now full. You may contact us to discuss alternative courses or be added to the waiting list in case of cancellations.

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Location Leicester Print Workshop
Date & Time Tuesday 24th - Saturday 28th May  
10.30am - 4.30pm
Tutor  Lucy May Schofield 

This Summer School is ideal for those artists who enjoy working with paper and creating unique beautiful works using good quality materials under the instruction of an artist who is a current practitioner of the art.

Using Orizome and Suminagashi Japanese dyeing and marbling techniques, you will explore the effects of geometric folding forms and fluid lines on mulberry paper to create endless combinations of possible patterns and colour. The course promises an insight into several traditional Japanese practices which continue to be in use as a decorative techniques still mastered today. Moving on, the unique papers you create will be used to make covers for a series of 4 stunning Japanese stab sewn bindings (four hole, noble, tortoise shell and hemp leaf). Catering for artists with an interest in cross-processing, bookbinding, and a love of textile repeat pattern.

You will progress on to learning the traditional Japanese art of scroll making. This structure is the oldest form of book in Japan, combining washi (mulberry paper), nori (rice paste) and cloth. You will learn the techniques of backing cloth with paper to create your very own book cloth using the urauchi method, alongside the skills to attach sections of paper or prints together to create seamless pages stretching for meters, bound with silk ribbon and lacquered wooden ends. The materials used for the scroll are all archival and sourced in Japan. The traditional processes taught on this workshop will allow you to use these skills in contemporary book arts projects long into the future.

You can expect to leave the workshop with a series of beautiful hand decorated and sewn books and a traditional scroll and the skills and confidence to make more of each in the future at home. This course is ideally suited to those with some book making experience, however all the basic methods of Japanese binding will be covered.

Course Structure

Day One 

Introduction to Orizome paper dyeing and Suminagashi marbling, preparation of papers and creating decorative papers. Dye linen thread and leave to dry.

Prepare folded paper sections for our 4 stab sewn book bindings.

Day Two 

Introduction to the Urauchi method of backing cloth with paper, preparation of practice cloth samples and then backing our chosen cloth covers for our scrolls.

Prepare our patterned book covers, corners, folded sections and dyed thread. Measure and mark out the sewing pattern on each binding.

Day Three 

Sew our 4 binding structures together as a group.

Prepare our wooden dowels for the scrolls, attaching ends, preparing bishi (tail) paper to connect.

Day Four 

Line scroll cloths with bamboo rod, endpaper and ribbon.

Attach sheets of paper to one another and then to the scroll.

Day Five 

Complete scroll by gluing cover to main body of scroll.

If we have time, we will create a small Ori-hon (Japanese accordion) book from left over materials.

About the Tutor

Lucy May Schofield studied BA Print Media at London College of Printing before being awarded a two year Arts Council funded residency at Manchester School of Art. In 2015 Schofield was joint recipient of a grant from the British Council to exhibit a collaborative work at the IMPACT 9 Printmaking Conference. She has undertaken artist residencies in Japan, Iceland, California, Scotland and is currently based in rural Northumbria as part of a year long artist residency programme with VARC (Visual Arts in Rural Communities). Schofield’s work has been recently exhibited at The Manchester Contemporary, Art Toronto and The London Art Fair.

Drawn to isolated places and spaces that are at once remote or time extending, Schofield is interested in exploring how spaces impact on our sense of dislocation or belonging. Her practice explores language, impermanence, vulnerability and belonging in terms of the cultural narratives we inhabit. 

Leicester Print Workshop 

Leicester Print Workshop is the regional development centre for printmaking. Established by artists in 1986, we are a registered charity, supported by Arts Council England. Our RIBA award-winning building is situated in Leicester City Centre's Cultural Quarter and is home to a large, well equipped open access Printmaking Studio.

We have over 30 years’ experience of teaching people printmaking. Our programme offers the largest number and broadest range of printmaking courses in the region, with courses suitable for beginners as well as experienced printmakers, delivered by practicing artists and nationally renowned tutors. Participants learn in small and friendly groups in our purpose-designed studio.

Bookings

Early Bird: This course is eligible for a 5% early bird discount when booked online by 22nd November 2021. Don't delay, book today!

Online: You can book online here by credit / debit card or Paypal.

Telephone: You can pay by card over the phone during our opening hours (Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm). Call us on 0116 251 4174.

In person: Call in to Leicester Print Workshop during our opening hours (Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm) to book and pay by card, cash or cheque.

Pre-course information: We will send you details of how to find us and what to bring with you when we process your booking. 

Concessions

Full-Print Members of Leicester Print Workshop are entitled to a 10% discount on our inhouse courses. Interested in joining LPW as a member? Click here for more information.