Instructors: Cat Bennett & Bari Zaki

Quarter No. 1: Sundays Aug. 3, Sep. 7, Oct. 5, from 2–4pm (Chicago time) 

Club Artful is our new monthly art club via group Zoom. We will convene the first Sunday afternoon of each month at 2pm for two hours. In the first hour we will make a simple paper structure: a stitched booklet, or hand-folded envelopes, or an origami box, or even…  In the second hour, Cat will lead us in a range of drawing & painting techniques to fill your papery treasure. Each month will have a different creative theme. We will announce the theme via email and IG three weeks ahead, and again one week before the session as a friendly reminder. 

How this works: You are welcome to join us on a per-session basis or with a 3-month subscription at a slight discount. Enticement: Your quarterly subscription comes with a set of three postcards (4" x 6") illustrated by Cat. For Quarter No. 1, she has chosen three of her most inspiring artists: David Hockney, Sonia Delaunay, and Vincent van Gogh. On the backsides are interesting facts about each artist with an inspirational quote. You will receive these via mail in a hand-folded envelope (made by me) using imported papers.

Backtrack yak: If you’d like to join us in September for your first Club session, but would like to sign up for the 3-month subscription, you absolutely can. You will receive the live recording for August and then begin with the live session on Sunday, September 7. And, of course, you will receive the trio of Cat’s postcards.

You will not need a specific kit of materials for the project. This is an opportunity to use papers you’ve collected and art supplies you have on hand. We will provide a list (right after you register) detailing exactly what you will need paperwise, including dimensions, and what supplies and tools we will use during the session.

What you’ll make September 7: A hand-folded envelope, which we’ll make without a template. It measures 4¼ x 6¼, a perfect size for holding a postcard or two. We will also learn to neatly line an envelope with a piece of decorative paper. Cat will lead us in painting & collaging whimsical botanical images for our postcards. 

BZ (first hour) will lead the group in hand-folding an envelope without a template, and then lining it with a piece of decorative paper. For your envelope, you can use any decorative papers, or watercolour papers, at any weight you wish. (We will begin by hand-folding an envelope with plain paper for practice.) I will explain during my demo how best to adhere your side flaps and to seal them for mailing, depending on the weight of paper you are using. 

Scene at left: Hand-folded envelopes I’ve made using an array of decorative papers ranging in weight from light (100gsm) to heavy (170gsm)—from Carta Varese papers (Italy) to Cambridge Imprint papers (UK), from Papier Mirchi (India), to Grafiche Tassotti (Italy) and Wanderlust (UK). If you’d like to use these for your envelopes and linings, we have assembled and pre-cut a double binder’s dozen (26!) of them precisely for this purpose: one sheet each of 24 patterns & 2 sheets of Cat’s favourite drawing paper for practice, all pre-cut to 8 x 10¼ ". You can read more about our Perfect Project Packet here.

CB (second hour) will lead us in drawing, painting and collaging whimsical flower images. “We’ll use actual flowers or photos of flowers as our take-off point then use our imaginations to push the color, lines and shapes to bring a little fun to them. We’ll focus on brush drawing and how we can wield the brush with confidence. We’ll also use scraps of decorative paper or ephemera to create a collaged flower. In the hour we have to explore, we’ll work quickly and experience how to get into the flow of creative thinking. We’ll make our images on heavyweight paper that we can pop into one of our handmade envelopes and mail to a friend. Or we can prop them up on our art table to enjoy and further inspire us in whatever art we make!”

NOTE: As always, Bari will record the complete lesson as it’s happening, and the recording will be available for you, with no interruptions or delay, later that same afternoon. If you have any questions, now or later, you are welcome, and even encouraged, to call or e me.

Previewing October Club Artful

Sunday, Oct. 5: 2–4pm (Chicago time) Simple Pamphlet-Style Book + “Find Joy in Small Things”

Select your session(s) from the drop-down menu below.

Cat and I look forward to sharing camaraderie and creative inspiration through making paper treasures and filling them with art!

About Cat: She was an illustrator for over 25 years for newspapers, magazines and book publishers. Cat now makes and teaches art. All three of her wonderful books are available in our shop & online: The Confident Creative, Making Art a Practice, and The Drawing Club of Improbable Dreams.

“I believe that drawing and painting create happiness. I love teaching because I get to see people discover their own creative genius!” – Cat Bennett