Learning From the Pros : A Surface Printing Workshop at Bookhou

I just completed a course at 

Bookhou given by the amazing teacher Arounna Khounnoraj and assisted by her very talented husband John Booth. Actually almost the whole family was there. Her young son was playing in the shop and studio area, Arounna had her 3 week old beautiful baby girl in tote and John's mom was there to lend her hands , make tea and serve delicious tarts. The artist couple have only been in this new location for about one month but they have already created a very inspirational and warm space to sell and make their goods and to also share their huge talents with others. Well on this day I was one of those others. I have never taken an art class in my life but they immediately made me feel at ease and were so wonderful how they listened to my vision and then helped me make it a reality. Arounna said what I had in mind is something usually reserved for advanced classes but she was game if I was. The workshop involved learning 4 different techniques for printing on surfaces. Linocut, making a foam material stamp, stenciling with paper and a screen and lastly and my favorite silk screening. There were only 3 of us in the class ( one was John's sister) so we received so much personal attention. First I want to show you some pictures of the shop filled with the art and handwork of this talented couple. The large paintings and furniture are made by John . He also draws the animals that are printed onto natural fabrics. Arounna does all the fiber art, printing and sewing. Her new industrial sewing machine is set up at the back of the shop. They live above the shop and studio which according to Arounna makes all this possible.

Those pictures were all of the shop. The next series are in the studio/workshop room. There is a very large inspiration wall . You might notice a few familiar other artists there. 

This is the wonderful teacher and her beautiful daughter washing screens.

Her adorable son was having a great time hiding in the art supply closet. 

I used my crochet covered stones as inspiration for my stencil and silk screen printing. You might also recognize the other inspiration, the picture I took of the Queen Anne's lace in the snow. I made some fern prints on linen paper but I didn't take a picture of them yet. I will try to get some more photographs tomorrow after I have heat set them. I have some very special plans for the stones on fabric. I can't wait to show you when I have it all worked out. 

If you live anywhere near the Toronto area I would highly recommend you take a workshop here . It was amazing!!

Comments

[mayaluna]

Thank you, thank you! I was holding my breath until midnight hoping for this post! What an amazing: day! space! teachers! experience! Your prints are stunning! I'm excited to see what you do with them, but they're also perfect right now! You know me so well... you know this is my dream! All of those beautiful textiles and images being printed and screened right onto them... heaven! I will have vivid silk-screened dreams tonight, I'm sure. Thank you for sharing this with us... thank you, thank you!

[Sam]

It sounds like you had a fabulous day. What a wonderful, inspiring studio/shop. I would love to try this, but I'm a little too far away ;-)
I love your prints - they look stunning.

[Pebbledash]

What a beautiful inspiring place to take a workshop...and your screen printing looks fantastic.

[Patricia]

Your prints are stunning--how amazing it must feel to translate your vision via yet another medium. Thanks for giving me another reason to visit Toronto--the space is amazing and inspiring and just the perfect aesthetic. That would be my dream space to create.

[Fabiola]

Oh the possibilities of living close to Toronto! what an awesome combination of talents! I LOVE your print :)

[nicole/astulabee]

This is such a wonderful new incarnation of your stones! Your documentation of the day is so lovely as are your prints! Honestly they were so lucky to have you in attendance... :)!

[Elizabeth bauman]

Wonderful photos, really inspiring.

[rebekah]

wow, your prints turned out amazing. it's so cool how the stones looks three dimensional on the fabric. i can't wait to see what they become, although they are a work of art all on their own. it makes me happy that you did this :)

[Monika Aebischer]

Arounna and John both are really talented, sweet, generous and cool people. I've known them for a few years (actually, used to see John around OCAD when I used to study there). You are so right, that they are an amazing couple. An inspiration of what is possible when two creative souls find each other.

I admire what you made in the workshop. I'm off to do jurying in Kingston on Saturday, but I'm taking a late train back into Toronto, so that I can come to see you and your wares at the trunk show on Sunday.

[Tiel]

i'm incredibly jealous. your work turned out beautifully. I'm very keen on screenprinting this year so it will be fun adventures together Yes?

PS haven't forgotten about our swap. Now the year is underway..(about to start my first full week of kids at school) I will be able to have the time to get some things done.

xx

[Rachel]

Wow, that is so cool! I'd love to learn, too!

[abby]

Yes, like Elizabeth said, your prints look 3 dimensional. A lot of depth came through. I have wanted to learn to silk screen for a while not but am not sure where I'd start! In the 3rd grade we had a day of silk screening. I wish I would have kept that T-shirt... a sunshine and rainbow with a few raindrops, something very simple, but very satisfying.

Thank you for sharing these beautiful photos. Their shop and workshop are very inspiring to me!

[Grace@PoeticHome]

WOW! Your special stones look beautiful screened onto fabric. The entire space and creative ambiance is quite inspiring. I loved seeing all the different textures in the inspiration board and amongst the lovely art.