Bookbinding - Artist Scrapbook for the Year Ahead

‘What I realised is that you make books not for the past or for the present… but for the future.’ Irma Boom (Dutch graphic designer).

Spend an afternoon exploring the creative possibilities of the artist book as we build a personalised scrapbook for the year ahead. This workshop offers a hands-on introduction to working with images, materials, and simple collage techniques to create a book that can hold ideas, plans, inspirations, and moments from the coming months. Together, we’ll look at how an artist book can become a functional, evolving space for shaping your intentions and collecting what matters to you.

We will begin by examining the artist book as a physical and conceptual object, considering its potential as a space for diaristic expression. Through looking at photographic and collage-based practices such as Katrien de Blauwer, Odette England, and my own work, we will reflect on how artists use fragments, repetition, and sequencing to create emotional resonance. From there, the session shifts into hands-on making: participants will work with both existing and provided materials—photographs, notes, textures, ephemera—to plan the structure of a book. The workshop will result in the creation of an artist scrapbook that incorporates collage elements, allowing each participant to develop a personal and tactile (open) narrative object.

All materials will be provided but participants are encouraged to bring personal material from home. This material can be used physically within the scrapbook or simply as inspiration.

About Francesca:

Francesca Faulin (1985) b. Venice, Italy, graduated in Sociology from University of Milan in 2005, and completed a Master level course in Fine Art Photography at IPCI in Lisbon. Francesca's practice focuses on photography, writing, research and manipulation of archives and results in handmade artist books and unique prints as well fine art prints reproduced digitally. Solo shows include: L’Ombra, L’originale e la ripetizione, DOPPO, Coimbra, Portugal (2024); L’Ombra, L’originale e la ripetizione, studio seco, Lisbon (2024). Collective shows include: undomesticated ground, studio seco, Lisbon (2025); Não estar nem aí, Encontros da Imagem, Braga, Portugal (2024); fértil, studio seco, Lisbon, Portugal (2023); Postepisteme, Emotiva Festival, Barcelona, Spain; Remapear as margens, f/est Amarante, Portugal (2022). In 2023 Francesca founded Studio Seco, a creative studio and exhibition space, promoting art by facilitating artist-led workshops and curating exhibitions with local artists.

Collage Working Club (CWC) is a weekly open workspace for artists working in the medium of paper. Organised in the format of alternate ‘drop in’ sessions and workshops masterclasses, it has both a regular facilitator, whilst also involving the artist community in the sharing of knowledge and skills. Providing materials, education and connections is the primary aim of CWC, and it will do this through the interdisciplinary art of collage as both an art form and a tool for personal growth.

O Collage Working Club (CWC) é um espaço de trabalho semanal aberto a artistas que trabalham com o suporte papel. Organizado no formato de sessões alternadas e masterclasses, tem um facilitador regular, ao mesmo tempo que envolve a comunidade de artistas na partilha de conhecimentos e competências.Fornecer materiais, educação e ligações é o principal objetivo do CWC, e fá-lo-á através da interdisciplinaridade da colagem como uma forma de arte e uma ferramenta para o crescimento pessoal.

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