This is a two session online workshop.

The melding of the written word and the visual arts has profound potential to blend and create a synthesis of expression beyond the realm of traditional mediums. Turning the pages of an artist’s book embodies movement through time and presents an ideal space for text and image interaction.

In this workshop we’ll first examine the historic lineage of text/image work and also analyze how contemporary book artists have created work using this alchemy. Next, various approaches to communicating concepts with pictures and words will be discussed.

Participants will work on a series of hands-on writing and visual art exercises and homework assignments designed to encourage play and experimentation with the concepts presented. These rough drafts and prototypes will be shared in this process-oriented workshop with the goal of deepening participants’ understanding of text/image relationships and with developing skills to put these elements in motion in their future book projects.

Some prior experience in making artist’s books would be helpful (or taking previous online workshops Unfolding Narratives or Generative Measures).

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Materials to Bring: 

• Six (6)  3”x5” notecards
• Six (6)  sheets 8.5” x 11” text weight paper
• Two (2) sheets 11” x 17” text weight paper
• Writing tools, pens/pencils
• Drawing tools, pencils, colored markers, charcoal (your preferred tools)
• A small pile of cut out magazine images / papers / collage materials
• Glue stick
• Scissors

Workshop Fee: $100
Scholarships are available; please apply here.

Date & Time: 2 Tuesdays:: October 12 & 19, 2021 :: 4-6pm Pacific time

Location: Online over Zoom

SFCB online workshops are recorded; all registered students will have access to the videos for four weeks.

Please read over the SFCB Registration Policies before signing up for a class.

REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE START DATE OF THIS WORKSHOP.

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About the Instructor | Ellen Sheffield

Ellen Sheffield’s works on paper and artist’s books use text and image intersections to create unexpected readings. Her interest in the juxtaposition of visual language: materials; design; mark-making; and printing processes, with written language: essays: poetry; and hybrid writing, continues to motivate art/word collaborations with Lewis Hyde, Fanny Howe, and Andrew Grace among others.  Recently Ellen’s work explores themes of race and class in her rural community informed by research of local African-American history by her husband, Ric Sheffield, Kenyon College Professor of Sociology.  Ellen’s studio, Unit IV Arts, is located in Gambier, OH, where she teaches in Kenyon’s Art Department. Her artist’s books have been collected by the Beinecke Library, Yale Collection of American Literature at Yale University, by the Ella Strong Denison Library at Scripps College and by many others.

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Past Student Reviews:

“Ellen helps me think "way outside of the box." Her way of helping me find my voice is unique, quirky and wonderful.”

“I loved Ellen's easy-going style and the way she eased the group into the various writing exercises. Lots of good ideas that I am sure I will make use of in my book arts.”

“I didn't expect to come out of this workshop with so many ideas. I have been struggling with one particular artist book for many months and I feel like I have several directions that I can take now after this class. It felt like Ellen laid out a banquet of ways to generate ideas for content. Thank you so very much.”