FOBA 2026 - Raluca Iancu - Japanese Scroll Books

Focus on Book Arts 2026

Raluca Iancu
Japanese Scroll Books - Thursday & Friday, June 25-26, 2026

Read more about FOBA 2026 on their website!
https://focusonbookarts.org/2026-foba-conference/

Workshop Description:

During this two-day workshop, students will learn how to create traditional Japanese scroll books from beginning to finish, using traditional Japanese materials, including the Japanese Urauchi technique for backing cloth. The instructor will bring materials from Japan for this workshop (end caps for scrolls, clasps, cords , and cloth).

Students will learn how to determine grain direction for paper and cloth, how to back the cloth with paper (Urauchi), how to cut and combine several sheets into one continuous piece of paper, carve the wood dowel for the scroll book roller (jiku), prepare the cover, and assemble all the elements together into a Japanese handscroll, or scroll book. Each student will complete one Japanese scroll book by the end of the workshop. 

Students are encouraged to bring finished prints or drawings to bind into their books (the book height will be 9").

Materials/equipment to be provided by students:

• X-Acto knife
• Bonefolder
• Awl
• Pencil
• Ruler (12” or 18”)
• Glue brush (½” flat)
• Cutting mat (minimum 9” x 12”)

Optional: 

• Original art