You may not be in school anymore but the back-to-school season has us feeling ready to get back to classes at The Art League! The end of August always makes us want to go shopping for new art supplies, sketch pads, and books–that’s why the Book Fair at Emerging Writers Festival hosted by Visit Alexandria and Old Town Books is the perfect time to peruse books and also find out more about our hot-off-the-presses book illustration and book binding classes directly from new book arts faculty members: Jovana Ivezic and Kate Samworth.
Book Arts Classes:
Illustration/Visual Story taught by Kate Samworth. In Illustration/Visual Story students develop their skills in visual story-telling using traditional materials and personal style through a series of demonstrations and guided exercises. Coursework includes exploration of limited palettes, perspective drawing as a basis for invention, and expression through body language. Participants examine classic and contemporary examples of illustration at its best, from Renaissance painting to today’s picture books.
Kate Samworth is an artist inspired by a love of nature and adventure. She has illustrated books for children and adults and for exhibits at the International Spy Museum in DC. She gathers ideas from around the world and has found unusual ways to travel: touring Europe with her band in the 80s, translating for a hiking guide in Brazil, and volunteering on organic farms in Spain and Turkey. She teaches annual workshops in Spain. Kate is currently working on a new series about a revolution led by bears. She is represented by Le Mieux Gallery in New Orleans, LA and exhibits in various galleries around the US.
Foundation Bookbinding taught by Jovana Ivezic. In Foundation Bookbinding students learn the foundations needed to make their own books. Basic bookbinding terminology, several binding structures of varying complexity, and how to make customized protective enclosures for finished books are covered. Each structure and project is taught with thorough, step-by-step demonstrations preparing the student to tackle a final project of their own design. Bookbinding offers a wide range of creative outlets. The instructor guides students through construction of sketchbooks, journals, and more.
Jovana Ivezic is a book binder, aspiring conservator, and artist from Bethesda, Maryland. She graduated from MICA with a BFA in Printmaking and concentrations in Book Arts and Illustration in 2016, and currently works as a Library Technician in the Collections Conservation Care Section at the Library of Congress. She repairs both general and special collections within the Library and takes pride in knowing her work facilitates patrons’ access to the vast resources that the Library has to offer.
Book Fair at Emerging Writers Festival:
Join us for August 17, from 1:00-6:00 PM at the Emerging Writers Festival Book Fair (Carlyle House, Magnolia Terrace) to celebrate all things literary! Meet representatives from literary arts organizations, small and independent presses, and vendors selling hand-bound books, gifts, and more. The Art League illustration and book arts faculty (Jovana Ivezic and Kate Samworth) will be on hand to discuss our upcoming Fall book arts class offerings.
About the Festival: The Emerging Writers Festival aims to celebrate, educate, and inspire emerging writers over three days of free and low-cost literary arts programming. The goal of the festival is to connect readers to new writers, and emerging writers to new opportunities, skills, and to each other.