Drum Leaf Binding and Its Precedents

Drum Leaf Binding and Its PrecedentsCourse Code: 26MBB102V This three week virtual workshop takes place online on Mondays, June 1st 15th, from 6PM to 8PM ET. Monday, June 1st, 6PM to 8PM ET Monday, June 8th, 6PM to 8PM ET Monday, June 15th, 6PM to 8PM ET Please Note: Registration for this workshop closes on May 18th at 11: 59 pm. About the Workshop: This virtual class at Center for Book Arts is taught by instructor Scott McCarney. Drum leaf bindings are lay flat structures ideal for

Course Code: 26MBB102V

This three week virtual workshop takes place online on Mondays, June 1st - 15th, from 6PM to 8PM ET.

• Monday, June 1st, 6PM to 8PM ET
• Monday, June 8th, 6PM to 8PM ET
• Monday, June 15th, 6PM to 8PM ET
  

Please Note: Registration for this workshop closes on May 18th at 11:59 pm.

About the Workshop:

This virtual class at Center for Book Arts is taught by instructor Scott McCarney.

Drum leaf bindings are lay-flat structures ideal for displaying photographs and prints. This workshop will introduce techniques for constructing book blocks for a Japanese Album, a Japanese Butterfly book, and a drum leaf binding which all have similar and ingenious modes of assembly. 

After learning these structures, participants will case-in their drum leaf book blocks with easily assembled quarter-cloth covers with throw-back spines. Since each page spread is a single folded folio, images can be printed across the gutter with no interruption, making this structure popular with printmakers and photographers. Once completed, these books lie flat when opened, making them easy and comfortable to view. No previous bookbinding experience required!

Fun Fact: Drum leaf binding is a structure developed by artist and bookbinder Timothy Ely. He was inspired by his studio of vellum binding in England, where he observed how vellum was drummed to boards to minimize pulling.

Required Materials:

Some supplies have measurements beside them, please have these items measured and cut prior to the workshop to ensure you will have time to complete the entire project.

• 20 sheets of text weight paper (24 lb. copy paper or equivalent) – measuring 5.5 x 8.5 inches folded in half to measure 5.5 x 4.25 inches
• 1 piece of book cloth measuring at least 3 x 7.5 inches
• 6 pieces of medium weight book board (or equivalent) – measuring 5.5 x 4.25 inches
• 6 pieces of decorative paper (or text weight papers) – measuring 5.25 x 6.5 inches
• a scrap of decorative paper or book cloth measuring 2 inches square
• 12 sheets of medium weight paper (60# or 80# cover weight or equivalent [a standard manilla file folder is a good weight]) – measuring 5.5 x 8.5 inches folded in half to measure 5.5 x 4.25 inches

Tools:

• Bone folder
• UHU glue stick
• PVA adhesive
• Small glue brush (1/4” is great)
• Metal ruler
• Scissors
• Scrap paper to control glue mess 

Optional:

• 2 sheets of medium weight paper (60# or 80# cover weight or equivalent) of a contrasting color – measuring 5.5 x 8.5 inches folded in half to measure 5.5 x 4.25 inches for end papers
• 4 sheets of text weight paper (24 lb. copy paper or equivalent) of a contrasting color – measuring 5.5 x 8.5 inches folded in half to measure 5.5 x 4.25 for end papers

About the Instructor

Scott McCarney is an artist, designer, and educator based in Rochester, New York.

His primary art practice has been in book form since 1980 and spans many media, from offset and digital printing to sculptural and site-specific installation.

His bookworks can be found in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Victoria & Albert Museum, London; and Yale University Art Gallery, among others. His work is shown internationally (Sao Paulo, Brazil; Melbourne, Australia; Baku, Azerbaijan) as well as closer to home (Hallwalls, Buffalo NY; Everson Museum, Syracuse NY; Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester NY).

His teaching and lecturing itinerary is varied and eclectic, carrying the banner of artist’s books to Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Mexico, and South America. He recently concluded 16 years of teaching in the College of Art and Design at Rochester Institute of Technology.

All images courtesy of the instructor unless otherwise noted.