Drum Leaf Binding and its Precedents

Drum Leaf Binding and its PrecedentsCourse Code: 26SBB102V This three week, virtual workshop takes place on Zoom on Mondays, February 16th to March 2nd, from 6PM to 8PM ET Monday, February 16th, from 6PM to 8PM ET Monday, February 23rd, from 6PM to 8PM ET Monday, March 2nd, from 6PM to 8PM ET Please Note: Registration for this workshop closes on February 2nd, at 11: 59pm Eastern Time. About the Workshop: Drum leaf bindings are lay flat structures ideal for displaying photographs and

Course Code: 26SBB102V

This three-week, virtual workshop takes place on Zoom on  Mondays, February 16th to March 2nd, from 6PM to 8PM ET

• Monday, February 16th, from 6PM to 8PM ET
• Monday, February 23rd, from 6PM to 8PM ET
• Monday, March 2nd, from 6PM to 8PM ET

Please Note: Registration for this workshop closes on February 2nd, at 11:59pm Eastern Time.

About the Workshop:

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: