Altered Books and Journals
March 20 @ 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
$260.00A 3-Week In-Studio Workshop!
Fridays, March 20, 27, and April 3, 2-5pm
View our current in-studio Health and Safety and Cancellation Policies >>
About this Workshop:
Transform existing books of different types into your own beautiful, three-dimensional, mixed media art pieces! In this class we will focus on techniques using paint, papers, fabric and other materials to add interest to book covers and existing pages, as well as create inserts and pockets to add personalized items. You’ll also experiment with alternatives for bindings and closures, including leather, hinges, buttons, cords and ribbons. Keep your final creations as personal journals or personalize them for special gifts using photos and other memorabilia.
Level: Beginner—No previous experience necessary
Registration closes March 15, 2026. Material fees are included with your registration to cover the supplies provided in class. Students may/will need to gather/purchase additional materials for class (see the materials list below). This list will also be provided with the registration confirmation email.
Sample image by Sharon Robinson
CLASS MATERIALS LIST:
Registration includes a $24 materials fee to cover consumable materials provided in class, including assorted books, decorative elements and hardware, papers, paints, adhesives, and access to various binding tools. Students will need to supply additional materials of their own, including:
- (optional) Personal apron (we’ll have extras) and/or wear clothes that can get messy
- Small jar of gloss or matte gel medium
- Any favorite photos or other memorabilia (making laser copies of anything precious is recommended)
- (optional) Old books or book covers; collage materials, beads, buttons, old jewelry or other found materials you’d like to use from your own collection
YOUR INSTRUCTOR:
Sharon Robinson is a mixed media, collage and assemblage artist residing in the Washington, D.C. area. She earned a Master’s of City Planning degree from MIT and worked in the urban transit and development field for 20 years on the west coast prior to becoming a full-time artist in 1999. She has also been a muralist, instructor, gallery manager and arts program administrator. She has exhibited her work extensively on both coasts, and teaches mixed media classes at the Smithsonian, The Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, VA, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center. Her community activities include serving on the board of Pyramid Atlantic, the Mt. Rainier, MD Arts Commission and SCRAP-USA, a network of nonprofit creative reuse centers. Learn more about her work at www.therobinsonstudio.com.
“Sharon is a wonderful instructor!! We learned a number of new techniques and worked on several projects.”
—Workshop Participant, Gel Print Journals—Plus! with Sharon Robinson