Instructors: Bari Zaki & Cat Bennett

Quarter No. 2: Sundays Nov. 2, Dec. 7, Jan. 4, from 2–4pm (Chicago time) 

Club Artful is our ongoing monthly art club via group Zoom. We convene the first Sunday afternoon of each month at 2pm for two hours. In the first hour, we make a simple paper structure: A slim paper portfolio, a hardcover accordion, or an origami-esque accordion, or even something unexpected. In the second hour, Cat leads us in a range of drawing & painting techniques to fill your papery treasure. Each month’s Club has a different creative theme. We announce the theme via email and IG three-ish weeks ahead, and again one week-ish before the session, as a friendly reminder.

How this works: You are welcome to join us on a per-session basis ($58) or with a 3-month subscription at a slight discount ($150). You do not need a kit of specific materials for any of the Club Artful projects, so you can decide on a whim to join us. These projects are an opportunity to use papers you’ve collected and art supplies you have on hand. We will provide a list (soon after you register) detailing exactly what you will need paperwise, including dimensions, and what supplies and tools we will use during the session.

Enticement: Your quarterly subscription comes with a set of three postcards (4" x 6") illustrated by Cat. For Quarter No. 2, she has created a trio of her signature blend Paradiso Tea Co. collages: Rise Above It, Optimism, and Good News. The backsides are blank so you can send them—or keep them, or steep them. You will receive the trio of postcards via real mail, in an envelope hand-folded by me, made from imported paper.

What you’ll make November 2: A slim paper portfolio measuring 5½ x 7½ x ¼. It has three interior flaps and a ribbon tie. The spine and flaps are gusseted to accommodate about ten pieces of cover-weight paper in random sizes. Cat will lead us in painting fanciful birds using a mix of loose watercolor techniques.

BZ (first hour) will lead the group with a series of measuring, scoring, folding,  and trimming techniques to create your slim paper portfolio. We will use two pieces of paper, one light-ish (70lb text) and one thick-ish (100lb cardstock). We will then attach the ribbon on the interior covers with a charming paper patch that you will have created when trimming the corners of your cover. For the finale we will gently adhere the cover & flaps together, and voilà your portefeuille!

Scene at left: Three slim paper portfolios made from a range of papers: French Paper Co cardstock (100lb), Cambridge Imprint (70lb text), and Shizen (90lb text). If you’d like to have a luscious selection of these splendid papers in hand for your slim paper portfolio-making, we’ve put together three palettes of Papers for Folding & Beholding.

You will receive a 20% discount on any tools ordered for the workshop (via refund after your workshop purchase). You can purchase these tools individually here.

CB (second hour) will lead us in making images with loose watercolor techniques. She previews, “It’s easy when making observational drawings to get caught up in getting things ‘right’ and sometimes our images can feel a tad overwrought. So we’re going to practice loosening up and going beyond the true details of bird images we have on hand. We’ll exaggerate and make our bird images wildly vibrant and fanciful. These will be birds of character and color!”

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 Dec. and Jan. Club Artful

Sunday, Dec 7: Observational plant drawings in a hardcover accordion

Sunday, Jan 4: Botanical silhouettes in an origami-esque accordion

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