The Beekeeper's Garden Book

Materials & Information

Learn to make an AMAZING multifaceted circular book form and fill it with the most beautiful cut paper flowers and foliage! Add in some busy, buzzy elements with birds, bees and butterflies for a garden the bursting with energy. This book form can easily be adapted into a simpler structure to use as a greetings card.

During this workshop you will learn how to build your book (plus numerous adaptations and options) as well as methods of creating loads of bits to fill the pockets. I'll show you some really easy and very addictive abstract paper patterning techniques from which you can create your own collaged floral elements. What sort of garden design might you go for? We will be creating a garden for a bee keeper but it could quite easily be transformed into the garden of an artist, jam maker, herbalist, florist or wild gardener! There is so many options making this a really fun and versatile project for all abilities and creative backgrounds.

This is a relaxing workshop suitable for all...and you don't need to be able to draw! ...promise!!

• Book onto this session and you will receive a zoom link to the live session.
• You will be sent all printable references, templates and instructions a few days before the live workshop.
• You don't have to attend live. After the event, you will receive a video link of the recording so you don't need to be there in person if you prefer to watch and work at a time of your choosing.

What do I need?

• Fine liners (waterproof, variety of nib sizes small so 0.1mm or smaller if possible such as 0.05mm) in black
• Pencil 2B/HB, eraser, sharpener
• 3-4 A4 sheets of smooth watercolour paper OR heavyweight cartridge paper or card (approx 140lb/220gsm) *
• A few pieces of A4 copier paper (You can use a better sheet of of A4/A3 paper for the finished book and experiment with unusual papers, packing paper, wrapping paper etc. During this session we will practice the book folds on copier paper)
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Double sided tape
• Tracing paper
• Scapel/craft knife, cutting mat and ruler
• Bone folder/blunt butter knife
• Something to colour with: coloured pencils, coloured fine liners, watercolour, gouache (palette water pot, small brushes (size 1 or 2) if you're using paint)
• Small Posca paint pen (ultra fine, 0.7mm nib) in white and/or other colours OR gel pens in various colours
• Knitting needle or Metal skewer
• Optional: A sheet of acetate or transparent plastic from food packaging.
• Optional: Scraps of vintage paper or magazine pages, junk mail, old music, newspaper, old books, wall paper wrapping paper, paint chip colour cards from a hardware shop, floral wrapping paper, pages from a garden magazine.
• Optional: If you'd like to make hard covers: Grey board (like you get on the back of a sketchbook) approx A5 size, PVA glue and decorative paper (approx A5)
• Optional: An eraser/potato/lino, stamp pad and lino tool

I will show you how to make some really quick coloured textured paper to chop up. If you'd like to do this you'll need:

Some form of paint: Watercolour,  acryclic or gouache, mixing palette, water pot, kitchen roll, large brush size 6/8/10, Some newspaper or a plastic cloth to protect your work area 

OR

Dig around in your art box and find a selection of things to try and experiment with! You could literally use anything for this!! Even wax crayons, run out felt tips, ink oil pastels..I'll show you how!

Click here for more information about sketchbooks and materials.