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I frequently
get questions regarding experimenting with papermaking at home. Below
are some of the answers. I recommend starting with a papermaking kit and
a basic papermaking book. You might be able to find a workshop or class
at a local art store, through community services or at a community college.
Additional resources are below.
What types of
items do you press the paper into to get a variety of textures?
Anything and everything can be pressed into wet paper to make an impression.
As an alternate, the paper can be pressed into the texture or shape.
I have used many found objects, from cookie cutters to bamboo. Craft
and hardware stores have all sorts of things. Plastic things are probably
the easiest to use. I make molds by gluing things together. Even the
glue makes an impression. You can water-proof items with shellac. Linoleum
blocks or wood blocks (carved for printmaking), make interesting impressions.
Can a normal
household blender blend cotton fabric for paper, or what could be used?
A blender can't be used for cotton fabric. The machine for that is called
a Hollander beater. The cotton linters that are sold in craft stores
and in art catalogs are the best for papermaking using a blender. Start
with ½ cup torn linters to a blender-full of water for pulp.
It helps to soak the linters for a hour before pulping. Using newspapers
are unsuitable since they contain acids and inks. (Using glue and torn
newspaper is paper maché, and is a modeling mixture, not a handmade
paper).
How do you get
the paper thick for sculpture?
You need to make the deckle deeper to hold more paper pulp. Larger,
heavier sheets can have additional pulp poured through the screen. You
can also experiment with pouring dyed pulps and creating sculptural
"paintings".
Your sculptures
look like ceramic or metal. How do you paint them?
I use paints, grounds, and varnishes that are professional and suitable
for paintings. The dry sheets are first painted with thinned gesso (all
sides). The surfaces are then painted with acrylic paints in several
layers. After drying, I varnish the surface with gloss acrylic varnish.
I recommend using inexpensive utility brushes since the surface is very
rough on brushes.
Carol Duvall Show
In 2001 the Carol Duvall Show on HGTV did an artist portrait of Marsh Scott, taped in the artist's studio. The program shows the cast papermaking process and many views of the studio (former location). The papermaking segment is the middle segment, show #1116. Check their website for the next broadcast. The link below goes to the show page on HGTV.
To
see the information on the Carol Duvall show, click the link below, then
put Marsh Scott into their search box.
http://www.hgtv.com/
Below are links to resources that carry cotton linters, kits, and books if your local craft or art store doesn't have them.
I have a limited supply of 2nd cut linters for sale by
the lb. (5 lb minimum)
Twinrocker
Professional papermaking supplies, handmade papers, books
http://www.twinrocker.com/
Daniel Smith
Linters and other papermaking supplies, general art supplies.
http://www.danielsmith.com/
Dick Blick
Papermaking kits, books, linters, general art supplies.
http://www.dickblick.com/
Basic papermaking
directions.
http://gort.ucsd.edu/preseduc/papermak.htm
Hand Papermaking
(publication)
Magazine, resources.
http://www.handpapermaking.org/
Slide Registry
http://www.handpapermaking.org/SlideRegistry.html
