Fine-Art Zine Making

This hands-on, weekend workshop in Santa Fe guides participants through the techniques needed to create their own fine-art quality zines. A balance of technical skill building and creative play, this workshop is intended for anyone who embraces DIY culture and values the detailed touch and handmade element of storytelling.

What is a zine? Traditionally, they are small, self-published works focused on sharing a specific message or story with the world. Structurally, zines can be anything. They are below the mainstream radar of social convention, advertising dollars, and political authority. There are no rules in this world where the weird, absurd, and unique are welcomed. Creating a zine is about getting thoughts and ideas down on paper and into each other’s hands. The physicality of it is what makes it special and unique.

Guided by accomplished printmaker and Santa Fe Workshops educator Zoe Peterson, participants learn to apply fine art practices to the medium-defying process of zine making. Throughout the weekend, Zoe demonstrates a variety of digital, mixed media, and collage techniques. Participants are encouraged to experiment with different processes to explore form, content, and the relationship between the two. Participants have the option of printing images from the Workshops’ Digital Lab or working with mixed media, collage, and found imagery.

On Saturday, participants are introduced to the basics of layout, materials preparation, and the initial steps of crafting your story. Participants have the option to work digitally with files brought from home, work solely with mixed media and collage, or integrate the two processes. Zoe first demonstrates a digital printing workflow in Photoshop with pre-created zine templates. Participants have the option to drag their own images into the template and learn how to correctly size and orient their files for print. Zoe then demonstrates cutting and folding techniques for a variety of different formats. Zoe also presents a collection of physical zines to showcase the infinite range of possibilities. 

Sunday is a day to practice and apply the digital and mixed media workflows, folding and cutting techniques, and work toward the completion of a zine. Zoe provides additional mixed media demonstrations including the basics of collage, tips for cutting and pasting, using DuraLar and paint pens, and incorporating found words. Everyone shares their work with the group at the end of the day.

Participants complete this workshop with an understanding of the zine-making process from start to finish. They leave with a working knowledge of digital printmaking through Photoshop, mixed-media techniques, and access to multiple zine templates which they can take with them for future use. 

In a world where we often experience pressure to create and complete extensive bodies of work, zine making frees up the artist from perfectionism, offers the opportunity for play and experimentation, and produces the same reward of seeing your vision come to life in a tangible product. The completed fine-art zine is a story you can take with you in your pocket and share with anyone who crosses your path. Join Zoe for a weekend of fun, technique, and creative expansion.