This book structure is an intermediate sewing technique for students who have experience sewing multi-signature book structures. Leather spines will be backed, punched and prepared for hand sewing signatures of artists paper. Covers will be prepared and attached to the spine. The binding is completed with a decorative cross stitch pattern using multiple colors of embroidery floss. Students will have options to design their book by combining their choice of different leather colors, decorative cover paper options and multiple colors of thread. The result is a binding unique to your design aesthetic! Additional leather spines will be available for students to make additional books at home.

The Book Arts League is a Colorado-based community of individuals who share an interest in letterpress printing, calligraphy, and bookbinding.

(kids 12+ must be accompanied by an adult)

All supplies and materials will be provided. 

Will be available to register on Monday, March 30 at 8:00am.

The Book Arts League is excited to announce that we will now offer open studio hours! Our shop will be available monthly for you to print your work. Below are the upcoming open studio dates. BAL board members will be your hosts and will assist you with your printing projects. Please bring your own paper and get ready to print! Book Arts League Members please RSVP to bal.workshops@gmail.com. If you are not a Book Arts League Member, register here!

WEDNESDAY May. 20thth — 4:30-6:30PM

WEDNESDAY June 17th — 4:30-6:30PM

Have you ever wanted to make your own underglaze transfers? This is the camp for you!  

In this 5-day camp, students will learn how to make screens for screenprinting and how to use them. We will then take our screens to the Clay studio and print both directly onto clay and using transfers. 

This camp will offer some instruction for hand-building, but the main focus will be learning how to print on clay. As such, we recommend that only folks with previous clay experience sign up. Print newbies are encouraged!

Ages: 16+

This class takes place at Groundworks Main at 3750 Canfield St.

Ready to explore the best of both worlds? Join us for a week of hands-on creation experiencing time in both wood and metal studios. The week will be split between the metal studio and our wood studio, learning the basics of blacksmithing and woodworking through a series of art form-specific projects. Whether you're interested in the sparks of the metal shop or the grain of the woodshop, you’ll leave with the skills to navigate both environments and a collection of finished pieces to show for it.

Ages: 16+

This class takes place at Groundworks Main at 3750 Canfield St.

For students that have never touched clay to those still learning the basics.

This class will cover the basic “how tos” of pottery. Students will learn the foundations of throwing, including how to confidently center, pull, and trim pots on the wheel. The class will also cover basic glazing techniques, attaching handles, and how to track your pieces through the studio.

PLEASE NOTE: This class runs for 3.5 hours, which includes 1 hour of work time at the end of each class period. You will not have access to the studio outside of the scheduled class time. You will also not have access to the Groundworks other locations.

Ages: 16 and above

Class meets weekly on WEDNESDAYS

Does NOT include Firing Fees. For details on our Firing Fees, please click here: https://www.groundworksartlab.org/firing-fees

All pieces will be fired to Cone 6 in an oxydation kiln.

This class is Pay What You Can with a suggested price of $270

Will be available to register on Tuesday, May 26 at 8:00am.

In this cross-studio class you will first have 4 weeks in the printmaking studio to learn the basics of carving into Lino to make a custom 9” x 12” print on paper.  You will achieve techniques that can be applied beyond this class and create a Lino block that you can print again.  

After completing your 9" × 12" print, you’ll build a custom hardwood frame in maple, cherry, or walnut to showcase it. Starting from rough lumber, you’ll mill stock to precise dimensions using the jointer, planer, table saw, and chop saw. You’ll cut accurate miters and assemble the frame with glued, splined joints in a contrasting wood species for added strength and a refined accent. Finally, we’ll apply an oil-based finish and install your print, so you leave with a professionally crafted frame ready to hang. All materials are provided.

All supplies and materials will be provided, but if you have extra elements you'd like to add, students are encouraged to bring them in. 

This class takes place in the print studio and wood shop at Groundworks Art Lab Main at 3750 Canfield Street Boulder 

Age 16+

**Schedule may shift, but it will be 4 weeks in each studio.

This class will be co-taught by Renate Mairie (print) and Tim Gordon (wood). 

Class meets weekly on Wednesdays. 

Students will NOT have access to open lab.

Will be available for registration Tuesday, May 26 at 8:00am

Level I Hand-building for students wanting to explore the basic techniques for hand-building functional, sculptural, or decorative pieces.

Learn about the various hand-building tools, and the three basic hand-building techniques: pinching, coiling, and slab rolling through a series of self-guided projects.

PLEASE NOTE: This class runs for 3.5 hours, which includes 1 hour of work time at the end of each class period. You will not have access to the studio outside of the scheduled class time. You will also not have access to the Groundworks other locations.

Ages: 16 and above

Class meets weekly on WEDNESDAYS

Does NOT include Firing Fees. For details on our Firing Fees, please click here: https://www.groundworksartlab.org/firing-fees

This class is Pay What You Can with a suggested price of $270.

All pieces will be fired to Cone 6 in an oxydation kiln.

Will be available to register on Tuesday, May 26 at 8:00am.

Come make a wall piece to cherish for years to come! In this 8 week class we will spend the first part of the session bringing our tiles to life in the ceramic studio. For these terracotta tiles we will use a variety of decorative techniques including slip, inlay, wax resist, underglaze, and additive and subtractive techniques. In the later part of the session, students will move into the metal studio learning how to forge and weld their tile’s custom frame! By the end of the session, you’ll have a beautiful wall hanging to show off to all your friends!

This class will be co-taught by Jess Fragrell (Clay) and Sresht Rengesh (Metal)

Ages: 16+

This class takes place at Groundworks Main at 3750 Canfield St.

This class does NOT include extra open lab time. All work must be completed during class time. 

Will be available for registration Tuesday, May 26 at 8:00am.