Book arts workshops taught by Midcoast Maine Book Arts members.
Artists listed below teach on a regular basis and offer private mentoring. If you don’t see the workshop you are looking for, please feel free to reach out to the artist you are interested in learning from.
Joelle Webber
Mermaid Bindery
Westport Island, Maine
Email: joelle.mermaidbindery@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joelle.mermaidbindery
Workshop link: https://www.facebook.com/joelle.mermaidbindery/events
Accordion Artist Books
Joelle Webber
Many creative styles!
Thursdays, October 15, 22 & 29, 5:30-7:30pm
We will explore three variations of the accordion artist book, the Simple, Window & Pamphlet Accordions. These books include three different text & cover techniques. We will also touch on the basics of book binding vocabulary & where the accordion book structures came from historically. Tools & materials provided.
Place - Merrymeeting Community Adult Education, 35 Republic Ave, Topsham, ME 04086, 207) 729-7323
Class link - https://merrymeeting.coursestorm.com/course/accordion-artist-books2?search=accordion+artist+books
Star Books
Joelle Webber
A fun artist book!
Saturday, October 24, 1-4pm
Learn to make this complex, layered accordion book, also called a carousel book. In this class, we will design the background, middle ground & foreground of our star books. We will finish the book by stitching the three layers together and adding decorative covers with ribbon ties. Tools & materials provided.
Place - Waterfall Arts, 256 High Street, Belfast, Maine 04915, 207-338-2222, info@waterfallarts.org
Class link - https://waterfallarts.asapconnected.com/?org=5686#CourseID=329467
Paper Holiday Ornaments
Joelle Webber
Paper sculpting fun!
Thursdays, November, 5, 12 & 19, 5:30-7:30pm
Join us for three weeks of making several styles of paper ornaments for the holidays. We will start with making festive paste papers. Then see how many different ornaments we can make in the rest of our time. Tools & materials provided. Extra $10 kits will also be available for purchase, to share the handmade fun at home!
Place - Merrymeeting Community Adult Education, 35 Republic Ave, Topsham, ME 04086, 207) 729-7323
Class link - https://merrymeeting.coursestorm.com/course/paper-holiday-ornaments?search=paper+holiday+ornaments
Karen Olson
Photography, paper sculpture and artist books
Hope, Maine
Email: karen@karenolsonphotography.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenolson.photography/
Workshop link: https://www.karenolsonphotography.com/classes-workshops
Wild Light Retreat
Karen Olson
Paper Sculpture and Artists Books in San Miguel de Allende.
October 7-13, 2026
San Miguel de Allende offers a wonderfully diverse culture and a thriving arts scene, and I’m delighted to return to teach this workshop.
This immersive, retreat-style workshop invites participants on a transformative creative journey—one that opens the heart-sense and awakens intuitive awareness. Through discussions and demonstrations, we’ll discover ways to let the inherent qualities, textures, and characteristics of each material guide the creative process and shape unique compositions.
Linda Laino will be our host in San Miguel. Full details below.
The Sculptural Book
Karen Olson
Form, Place, and Presence in Salento, Italy
October 3-19, 2027
The Sculptural Book: Form, Place & Presence is a five-day immersive retreat designed for artists and photographers who wish to expand the expressive possibilities of the book.
Together we will explore how sculptural form, sequence, material, and structure can transform photographs and works of art into unique, three-dimensional artist books that tell a story. Throughout the week, you will create two to three sculptural books inspired by your own chosen theme, developing work that reflects your individual artistic voice.
Participants are welcome to work in their chosen medium. You will have the opportunity to print photographs or reproductions of your artwork for use in your books, while artists working with original media will learn how to create templates that adapt their imagery to each sculptural structure. Through demonstrations, individual mentoring, and generous studio time, you will discover innovative ways to expand the traditional book form into sculptural works of art that invite touch, movement, and discovery.
Companions are warmly invited to come along. While retreat participants are working in the studio, non-artist companions will have the opportunity to experience Salento with Piero and Alex as their local guides. Hosted by Italian Tours.
Retreat details and registration:
https://www.italianatours.com/karen-olson-2027
Cynthia McGuirl
Printmaking, artist books
Accordio Hinge Book Workshop
Cynthia McGuirl
Learn a two directional kozo hinge
September 18 or 19, 11 am - 2:30 pm
Learn how to attach pages using a kozo hinge. You can make accordion and sculptural
books with this technique. The hinge moves in both directions and is especially
suitable for heavier papers. The process includes techniques such as accurate cutting,
measuring and gluing. Quality precut papers and kozo strips will be provided. Each
student will make a sample trifold book. We will learn hinging, edge binding, doors
and windows. If you took my spring course, you can make the Pyramid Book (on right
above). It folds flat and has a kozo tab to hold it’s sculptural shape. As time allows,
students can use collage and writing to complete their books. Students will go home with instructions for making and figuring their own books. Bring a bag lunch.
$60 - Choose either Friday or Saturday September 18th or 19th
Cynthia McGuirl’s studio - 36 Fox Farm Rd, Thomaston, Maine
Register via email dancingblanket@gmail.com