Make a Tiny Book: Miniature Bookbinding and Illustration
A course by Evan LorenzenMultidisciplinary Artist
A course by Evan Lorenzen, Multidisciplinary Artist
Learn how to tell your story intricately by making a teeny tiny book from scratch and filling it with precise, micro-scale illustrations
The challenge of making miniature art has fascinated humans for centuries, and artist Evan Lorenzen is no exception. From tiny tarot cards to dime-sized pet portraits, he specializes in micro-scale illustrations and books. His work has led him to collaborate with the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Amsterdam, Cat Art Show L.A., and hundreds of individual collectors.
In this online course, Evan teaches you the intricacies of miniature bookmaking, from cover to cover. Learn to develop a concept and tell a story through small-format illustrations, as well as how to bind the pages and design a hard cover to encase them. Turn your big ideas into tiny works of art.
What will you learn in this online course?
17 lessons & 36 downloads
Tools and Materials
6 minutes, 49 seconds
Brainstorming the Story
8 minutes, 19 seconds
Thinking About The Design of the Book
4 minutes, 32 seconds
Making a Tiny Softcover Sketchbook 1
18 minutes, 38 seconds
Putting the Ideas to Paper
12 minutes, 53 seconds
Illustrating the Final Pages
17 minutes, 0 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin by getting to know your teacher, Evan Lorenzen. Hear about his creative journey, from animation to miniature art, as well as the influences that inspire him.
Get an overview of course materials before diving into the techniques and terminology of bookbinding. Evan also shows you how to create a page layout.
Come up with a concept for your project and play around with materials until you land on a design. Then, make a small, softcover prototype to sketch your ideas and plan out the compositions.
Time to build your book. Create the final illustrations, write in the text, and sew together the separate sheets. Evan then walks you through the process of making a hard cover and attaching it to the bound pages.
Wrap up the course with some tiny tips on how to care for and showcase your illustrated book, as well as produce a multicopy edition.
What is this course's project?
Create a miniature, hardbound book filled with tiny illustrations and text.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone interested in bookmaking and working on a miniature scale.
Requirements and materials
Basic drawing skills are recommended, but not essential.
As for materials, you need simple drawing and bookmaking supplies, which your teacher will specify during the course, along with household alternatives for some of the more specialized items he uses.
Reviews
- 3 days ago
Me encanta este curso
- 5 months ago
I really loved the course. It’s both an accessible and incredibly inspiring experience. The miniature format removes a lot of pressure—you feel free to experiment, try things out, make mistakes, and ultimately create something very personal. The instructions are clear, well-structured, and make you want to start right away, even if you have no prior experience in bookbinding.
- 1 year ago
A very interesting course. I started to explore the bookbinding and it was amazing. I'm sure to continue improving my skills. Thank you Evan!
- 1 year ago
I found this course very inspiring. The lessons were clear and concise and I picked up many tips and ideas for book-binding in general.
- 2 years ago
Me encantó el curso. Las explicaciones muy claras y los videos son llevaderos.
Throughout his career, Evan has had the opportunity to collaborate with organizations like the Miniature Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Amsterdam, Cat Art Show L.A., and hundreds of individual collectors. His work has been featured in exhibits across the US and abroad, including the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil and the Nucleus Gallery in Portland, Oregon.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Materials and Essential Concepts
- Tools and Materials
- Bookbinding Terms and Techniques
- Breakdown of the Book Layout
- U3
The Design: From Idea to Paper
- Brainstorming the Story
- Thinking About The Design of the Book
- Making a Tiny Softcover Sketchbook 1
- Making a Tiny Softcover Sketchbook 2
- Putting the Ideas to Paper
- U4
Making a Hardcover Book
- Illustrating the Final Pages
- Assembling the Text Block
- Making the Cover 1
- Making the Cover 2
- Attaching the Cover
- U5
Sharing and Developing Your Work
- Display and Presentation of Your Work
- Creating a Multicopy Edition
- FP
Final project
- Make a Tiny Book: Miniature Bookbinding and Illustration
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for beginners and covers foundational techniques for making miniature books, including both softcover and hardcover structures.
You’ll need basic bookbinding tools like a bone folder, X-Acto blade, archival ink pens, thread, paper, coverboard, book cloth, glue, and watercolor supplies. The course provides guidance on selecting and testing materials.
You’ll learn how to design, bind, and illustrate miniature books, create softcover and hardcover structures, test and select materials, and apply storytelling techniques for small formats.
Miniature bookmaking is the art of creating books at a small scale, often less than three inches. It requires precision, creative adaptation of traditional techniques, and offers unique opportunities for storytelling and illustration.
No prior experience is necessary. The course begins with basic techniques and gradually introduces more advanced bookbinding and illustration skills.
Yes, the course covers techniques for both softcover and casebound hardcover miniature books, including folding, stitching, and covering methods.
You’ll learn methods for accurate measuring, cutting, folding, and assembling, as well as ergonomic tips for working at a small scale to ensure precise results.