Handmade Paper
Paper is probably the most disposable item in our lives today. I recycle this waste paper and transform it into useful and decorative works of art.
When I began papermaking, about 20 years ago, I went the whole nine yards. I collected plant material, boiled it for hours in harsh chemicals, pounded it by hand, and only then, start papermaking. I still do this occasionally; but I'd rather spend my time making more vessels.
Commercial paper companies have already spent millions on the science of paper. They’ve already added brighteners, strengtheners, bleach, dyes, etc. Waste papers are already the recipients of all of those technologies; why not take advantage of this? What a waste NOT to re-use them! Arnold Grummer, the foremost papermaker in the U.S. and possibly the world, and author of Easy Papermaking, states that people who believe that waste papers are inferior for papermaking are “simply victims of severally limited knowledge”. I agree.
Paper scraps, water and wallpaper paste are my magic ingredients. Very briefly, this is how one makes paper. Tear waste papers, blend with water, and add wallpaper paste. I may add inclusions, such as: flowers, leaves, grasses, beads, ribbon, foil or even stone flecks scrapped from rock. This is paper pulp (an oatmeal-like slurry). Then one can pour it into a vat and “pull” sheets of paper on a screen, drain and dry. I am always conjuring up new papers and ways to use it.
Handmade Paper VesselsI make my vessels in two different ways. In one, I use the wet paper pulp and mold it onto another bowl or other shape, press water out with paper towels, and dry for days. I never throw away the paper towels, I reuse them in my art work. In the other method, I “pull” my new sheets of paper and layer these directly in my form to make my new vessel. Sometimes I dry the sheets of new paper until I am ready to make a vessel. I use premixed wallpaper paste in my pulp and as my adhesive. This makes it strong and durable. They have several coats of clear finish that is water-resistant, but not waterproof. They can be cleaned with a damp cloth.
While one might expect paper vessels to be delicate and fragile, just the opposite is true. They are unbelievably lightweight; but unbelievably strong and durable too. The ultra light weight makes them inexpensive to mail as gifts. And they just bounce when dropped, rather than breaking.
If you have a specific question, comment, etc., please use Contact at bottom of every page
or email me: NansAlchemy@comcast.net
Thanks, Nan
More ↓
|
Featherweight Jewelry
I make my jewelry with either paper or paperclay. The paperclay that I use is Delight® from the craft store or at www.paperclay.com. Sometimes I use Crayola Model Magic® or Model Magic Fusion® from the Kids section at the craft store; or available at www.crayolastore.com. Both come in white and colors. I usually use white.
After I make my basic shape, I decorate it with dried flowers, or computer print-outs of my art or photographs, or foil, iridescent paints, micro-glass beads, etc. I fuse these to the face with Liquitex®
gloss medium. See www.Liquitex.com. Sometimes I sculpt in the round, like the elephant. I may also use a pointed tool to draw a design so that it is incised into the piece. All are coated with several layers of a clear finish for protection. Or I may use UTEE® - Ranger Melt Art® Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel™. More info at www.ranger.com.
If you have a specific question, comment, etc.,please leave on Comment section on Home page or on my e-mail.
NansAlchemy@comcast.net
Thanks, Nan More ↓
|
Pounded Petal Paper Art
The blank greeting cards shown are prints of originals made by pounding a flower and/or a leaf with a hammer onto handmade paper or watercolor paper. The pigments in the plants are transferred to the paper. Not all flowers will work and colors are often a surprize. Almost all pink flowers will turn a shade of blue. Blue pansies turn into a lime-green. This is all part of the fun.
I use all parts of the flower - the petals, of course; but also stamens, anthers (they collect the pollen, and are great for blond hair), stems, sepals, etc. My favorite is Spider Flower or Cleome. I love this flower anyway (yes, I love spiders also!) and the petals make great faces as they stay pink. I haven't found a good color for other races yet. I'm still looking. If anyone knows which flower works, please let me know.
These flowers are also called "spider legs", which are the projecting stamens and they make perfect arms and legs ( again, for white races).
Besides making Ballet Dancers and Forest Sprites, (I have almost one hundred of these),one could make a kind of botanical representation. I've done a few of these and intend to do more. I've also tried them on cloth and the colors faded. But now I know how to use a mordant to fix the color. I've made some landscapes with different flowers and some butterflies. No! Not pounding real butterfies. Heaven forbid! I could never do that! And I hope no one else could either.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I'll be happy to try to help.
Reach me at my e-mail: NansAlchemy@comcast.net.
Thanks, Nan
|
|
