Where to Start with Esther K. Smith
Esther K. Smith is a book artist and educator based in New York City, where she co-runs Purgatory Pie Press with typographer Dikko Faust. Their handmade limited-edition books and prints have been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the National Gallery of Art. Smith has been teaching bookmaking for decades at institutions including Cooper Union, sharing her deep knowledge of paper, folding, and binding techniques with students at every level. Her books, including “How to Make Books” (2007) and “Making Books with Kids” (2016), are among the most accessible introductions to the craft available today.
Start here
How to Make Books
Esther K. Smith · 128 pages · 2007 · Easy
Themes: bookbinding, paper crafts, zines, journals, book arts
Smith’s signature book and the best place to start. It covers everything from one-sheet folds and simple zines to multi-signature bindings and experimental book structures, all presented with clear photography and step-by-step instructions. The projects are sequenced so that each one builds on skills from the previous, making it genuinely possible to go from zero experience to designing your own book structures by the end.
Why Start Here
This is the book that Smith is best known for, and it captures her teaching style perfectly. She starts with the simplest possible project, a single-sheet fold that requires no tools at all, and gradually introduces more complex techniques. The tone is encouraging without being condescending, and the variety of projects means you will discover which types of bookmaking excite you most.
The book also reflects Smith’s background as a fine artist. She does not treat bookbinding as purely functional; she shows you how to think about books as objects with aesthetic and tactile qualities. This perspective makes the learning process richer and more creative than a straightforward manual approach.
What to Expect
A 128-page hardcover with full-color photography throughout. Basic supplies needed: bone folder, ruler, craft knife, needle, and waxed thread. Many projects require nothing more than paper. Expect to spend 15 minutes to an hour per project.