Christian Patterson

This studio-based workshop focuses on the often complex process of photographic bookmaking and the art of visual structure. Participants should arrive with photographic projects in an advanced stage of development and are strongly encouraged to bring work with some conceptual and narrative grounding. They should also be prepared to experiment with new approaches to editing, sequence, layout, and design.

All participants will make a short initial presentation of their work, introducing concepts and narratives at play, sharing existing challenges, and stating their own workshop goals. Christian will deliver an artist talk, providing insight into his work and methods, and use his own books as case studies in editing, sequencing, layout, and design. He will also share presentations on bookmaking best practices and introduce participants to novel approaches to photographic sequencing, rhythm, and visual structure.

Christian will also share his methodology for simplifying the often complex bookmaking process, developed over the course of over 20 years of bookmaking and teaching. Participants will be challenged to apply these approaches to their work, with a view to connecting with and complementing the conceptual and narrative elements at play in their work.

There will be much hands-on work editing, sequencing, and establishing the visual structure of participants’ book projects. Christian will work closely with each participant as they strive to find best approaches to shaping and structuring their work in book form. Participants may produce very rudimentary dummies during the workshop, and work closely with Christian to develop detailed plans for next steps in their work’s development, including dummies and maquettes to be produced following the workshop.

On the final day of the workshop, participants will make a second presentation of their work, reflecting on the workshop experience and any resulting new approaches or developments in their work going forward.