final papermaking project

Final project completed! The Envelopes need to be folded and glued still and the large paper needs to be pressed at the larger press at CCAD, but I love the result of mixing flowers in the pulp!!

Print Paper


This week I made 60 sheets of paper for myself to use for printmaking this semester. The paper is made out of Abaca and recycled printmaking paper. I still need to put it through the press to flatten it.

Pulp painting Experiments

I tried making sheets of paper with a "pulp painting" method. I was interested in the collage-like approach of using pulp for painting. The end results looked a lot like colored paper collages. To begin, I couched the base sheet onto a felt, then chose a different color and arranged it on top of the base sheet. I experimented with pulp applications (using a turkey baster, squeeze bottles, ect.) and cut a few stencils out of mylar. I had to use a temporary vat that was not very deep which made it difficult to pull the base sheet of paper properly. After all 8 sheets were designed and stacked, I placed them in the press and hung them to dry. I would be interested in doing more pulp painting if it were in a studio that is well equipped to do so.






Learning Goals

1. Papermaking: learn basic terms/process/skills. Make stock for future. (wallpaper?) Make different types of paper. Feel comfortable to do the process alone by the end of the summer.

2. Pulp Painting: murals, sheets of paper, collage, community project aspect. Understand color mixing and concepts. Trial/Error with wallpaper design.

3. Sculpture: Use pulp for 3D sculptural pieces.

4. Make envelopes for personal use.

Pulp Sculpting



After casting a few shapes and letting them dry, I began mixing colored pulp for some sculptural pieces. The pulp will be laid on the mold and then I will press all the water out with sponges. After it dries over night and all the water evaporates the pulp contracts nicely from the mold. I will be selling the pulp sculptures at ComFest next weekend here in Columbus.











700 pieces of paper! what a way to learn....

I have been cranking out sheets of paper over the last week for a large commission, 675 sheets to be exact! I made 70 of them today. A magazine called Prism in New York has asked for a limited edition handmade magazine cover. It has been a great way to practice the art and I feel comfortable doing the process by myself now. After the paper is finished we are also going to screenprint an image for the cover. I will be relieved when it is finished so we can move on to something new!

Summer Mentor

This week kicked off my requirement for a mentor outside of CCAD. I will be working on Parsons Ave with Dan Colvin in his papermaking studio. I will be learning the ancient process of making paper and the more contemporary art of pulp painting. This week has involved research and reading about the history and traditions of making paper. Today I accompanied him to an elementary school that is making a pulp painting mural. It was a long day but I learned the basic concepts of working with the pulp, mixing colors, and other process oriented details. Because I was learning as I went and instructing kids at the same time I feel like I gained a lot of knowledge in a short amount of time. It was nice to go to a school and see kids excited about creating and having fun with the pulp. Next week we will be in the studio with a crash course on all the papermaking basics and finer details. There is so much to learn! I am looking forward to painting with the pulp and seeing where that takes me with my thesis project.