Knights of the Kitchen Table: A Book of Lessons
Dear Friends,
I’m thrilled to invite you into the next adventure from the Knights of the Kitchen Table—a new illustrated book that brings together art, story, and shared wisdom from our beloved community.
This time, we’re creating a Lesson Book: a hand-illustrated collection of our favorite projects from past classes, with step-by-step guides, artwork, and reflections on what each one taught us. Think of it as an illuminated field guide for young (and young-at-heart) makers—a celebration of imagination, traditional craft, and learning by doing.
Each page will be created by one of our students or collaborators, and everyone is welcome to participate: whether you’ve taken a class, joined us on Zoom, or simply love the idea of creative community in action. There’s room at the table.
This project builds on the beautiful success of our Knights of the Kitchen Table Cookbook, which many of you helped create during the earliest days of the pandemic. Remember that? We designed recipes, shared stories, and illustrated every page—entirely over Zoom, across continents and time zones. What began as a patchwork act of hope became something astonishing: a heartfelt, professional, and thoroughly useful book that people still return to again and again.
Now, with that same spirit, we’re gathering again—this time not around food, but around the lessons we’ve learned through art.
If you’re a student who wants to claim a project page, a fellow artist who’d like to contribute, or a curious friend who wants to follow along, we’d love to have you with us.
HOW TO JOIN: 1) Sign up for the project and choose a lesson to illustrate using the button below. 2) Sign up for all of the August Free classes and attend either live or watch the zoom recording. 3) Turn in your work!
Class Schedule Each Sunday will focus on a different element of the book project:
Sunday, August 3 — Design & Lettering
Layout ideas, page templates, and creative lettering for your book spread.
Sunday, August 10 — Illustration
How to clearly and beautifully illustrate your chosen project.
Sunday, August 17 — Technical Illustration
Diagrams, step-by-steps, and how to make your process easy to follow.
Sunday, August 24 — Photography, Layout & Submission
Finalizing your artwork, photographing, and assembling your spread for print.
❤️K
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This book will be a living treasure—an illustrated manual of our shared art adventures and philosophies. Each of you will contribute one full lesson, turning your experience into a beautifully illustrated how-to guide. When complete, our book will be a reflection of the courage, curiosity, and creativity of our Kitchen Table community.
What Your Section Will Include
Each student will create a 2-4-page spread (8.5” x 11” per page, portrait orientation). Each spread must follow this structure:
PAGE 1: Color Illustration (Finished Project)
Full color
8" x 10.5" centered (no bleeds)
This is a finished image that shows the essence of your project, not a step-by-step.
PAGE 2–3: Instructional Spread
These two pages will share all the important information about your lesson.
Title: Hand-illustrated or decorated title of the lesson
YOUR NAME
Inspirational Quote: Choose or write a quote that sums up the heart of your lesson
Lesson Description: 1–2 paragraphs explaining the project: What was it? Why did we do it? How does it fit our philosophy of art and kindness?
Skills Learned: A short list (3–6 points) of what this lesson helped us practice (e.g., shading, patience, storytelling)
Materials List: Include special tools and supplies
Tips & Tricks: Any advice to help someone else succeed with the project
These pages may include spot illustrations, borders, banners, or icons—but keep layout clear and legible.
PAGE 4: Black & White Step-by-Step
8” x 10.5” centered (no bleeds)
A series of step-by-step drawings that show how to do the project from start to finish
Number your steps or show progression through arrows, panels, or a path
No color—use linework, hatching, and contrast
Style & Theme Guidelines
Our book should feel like a magical field guide from a peaceful band of art-making adventurers.
Keywords:
Knights • Kindness • Myth • Peace • Art • Banners
Style:
Use handmade lettering and drawing
Think illuminated manuscripts, storybooks, and medieval marginalia
Include nature, symbols, maps, scrolls, borders, creatures, and tools
Let’s make it warm and generous!
Colors:
Earth tones, jewel tones, watercolor washes and all your favorite colors.
Fonts & Text:
Main text: Handwritten or neatly lettered
Keep it legible! Approx. 12–14 pt if typed
Use titles, subtitles, and lists for clarity
Checklist: Before You Turn It In
Page 1: Color Illustration
8” x 10.5” illustration, centered (no bleeds)
Shows finished project
Reflects lesson and its themes
Pages 2–3: Instructional Info
Hand-drawn or styled title
Inspirational quote
1–2 paragraphs describing the lesson
Skills list
Materials list
Tips list
Decorative or thematic spot illustrations (optional)
Page 4: Black & White Steps
8” x 10.5” centered
Step-by-step drawing
No color
Numbered or clearly sequenced
Triple check for typos! Especially with hand lettering. They are inevitable and unfortunate - have someone proofread for you ❤️
Choosing Your Lesson
Pick a project from our past classes or make up your own! Watch the class video on the Knights of the Kitchen Table page and take notes. You may want to sketch as you watch or pause and draw each stage. Or just take the inspiration and run with it.
Feel free to take liberties and make it your own! There is no right way. Only discovery.
Instructions for Photographing and Submitting Your Book Illustrations
1. Taking the Photos
Use your phone camera (no special equipment required).
Lighting:
Best is indirect natural daylight from a window.
If indoors, use two lamps angled at 45° from either side to reduce shadows.
Avoid flash and overhead lights (they cause glare).
Stability:
Hold the phone steady directly above the work, edges aligned.
If you struggle with shaky hands, balance your phone on a tripod, or make a simple stand (ex: a ruler laid across two stacks of books or paper towel rolls). This helps keep the photo sharp and square.
Clarity:
Take 2–3 shots of each page and choose the sharpest, most in focus.
Make sure the full artwork is visible with a little border.
2. Resolution and File Size
Resolution for print: Set your phone to the highest quality available. I need files at 300 dpi (print quality), which usually means original full-resolution phone photos.
Do NOT shrink or compress the images when emailing (if your phone asks “Small/Medium/Large/Actual Size,” choose Actual Size).
File size will likely be 2–5 MB each — that’s fine.
3. File Labeling
Each student is sending 4 pictures. Please label them in the exact order you want them printed (include page number/order in file name).
Format:
LastName_FirstName_ProjectTitle_Page#.jpg
Example:
Cammell_Karima_CastleintheAirPart1_Page1.jpg
Cammell_Karima_CastleintheAirPart1_Page2.jpg
Cammell_Karima_CastleintheAirPart1_Page3.jpg
Cammell_Karima_CastleintheAirPart1_Page4.jpg
4. Sending the Files
Email subject line: Illustration Submission – Your Name
Attach all 4 files in one email (do not paste images into the body of the email).
If the attachments are too large:
Send via Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud link.
Make sure the link is set to “Anyone with the link can view.”