mixed media artist & illustrator
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Handmade Paper
Bloom, 2022
Illustration
About
CV
mixed media artist & illustrator
Home
Handmade Paper
Bloom, 2022
Illustration
About
CV
In the spring semester of 2023, I was taught to use the papermaking studio at MICA. Over the duration of two different courses, I was formally introduced to hand papermaking and book binding, something which I had been doing on my own since 2019. Since then I have utilized handmade paper as an intentional, conceptual element in my work.
repurposed cotton, rose
assorted plant fibers harvested from Stony Creek Trail in Wyman Park, Baltimore, MD
rose, cotton, abaca fibers
Pink Paper Batch, 2023
This batch of paper was created from the repurposed cotton fabric of pink and red t-shirts. Over the course of a week, I used MICA’s paper studio and Hollander beater to beat and size pulp to create a batch 8.5 x 11” sheets of pink cotton paper with a pour mould. I have since used this paper in many projects, including “Thank You For Seeing Me”, which was selected for the 2024 Printmaking Department Juried Exhibition .
colored pencil on handmade rose and cotton paper
5 x 8.5”, 7 x 10.5”, 3.75 x 8.5”
Stony Creek Batch, 2023
8.5 x 11 x 0.25”
This batch of paper is by far the most challenging papermaking project I have done so far. Assigned by my papermaking professor to make an experimental batch of paper from local plants, I collected plant fibers from Stony Creek Trail in Wyman Park, collecting the stems and flowers of dead plants. After a lot of research, I identified the plants as mainly bulrush and Black Needlerush. I soaked and rinsed the raw plant fibers, cooked them in an alkali (soda ash), rinsed them again and then beat the plant fibers by hand using a wooden 2x4.
Using an 8.5 x 11” pour mould, I then made approximately three sheets of paper. In order to retain the three-dimensional quality and texture of the plant fiber, I did not use any formation aid and instead used a hose to spray the sheets off of the pour mould’s mesh. While I expected the sheets to be quite delicate, the sheets are firm and hold together well.
Rose Paper Batch, 2023
I created this batch of paper using a cotton linter and a bouqet of roses. The roses were first dried out, and then I separated the stems and leaves from the petals. I then rinsed and cooked the plant fibers in soda ash and rinsed again.
I beat the stems and leaves by hand. Then I set aside about half of the rose petals, and beat the rest of them with cotton fibers in the Hollander beater. I then used the remaining rose petals and plant fibers to experiment with inclusions.
I was very curious about the different ways that inclusions could be used as parts of future illustrations, so I experimented with different placements of the petals. The result was a batch of paper that I have used in many projects. Particularly, I use the textures from this batch as overlays in digital work, and have used this paper to create “Roses From You”.
Various Experiments
Various Experiments
colored pencil on handmade rose and cotton paper with rose fiber inclusions
4 x 6.5”, 8 x 10.5”, 6 x 8”
More Drawings on Handmade Paper
“I’m Right Here”, 2023
colored pencil, marker on handmade cotton paper
colored pencil, marker on handmade cotton paper
“Butch Fairy”, 2023
colored pencil on handmade rose and cotton paper
colored pencil on handmade rose and cotton paper
“Butch Butterflies”, 2023
colored pencil on handmade cotton paper
9 x 11”
colored pencil on handmade cotton paper
9 x 11”
“Deep Red Sinew”, 2023
colored pencil on handmade cotton paper
colored pencil on handmade cotton paper