Paper Art Process

I started in my kitchen, pulling sheets of paper from recycled paper pulp. I quickly tired of producing flat, one-sized pieces. I then started experimenting with draining the pulp and working it like clay. In many instances the pulp molded easily into three dimensional pieces. Soon, I outgrew the kitchen. A finished room in our barn became my studio. Overtime, I discovered limitations to the pulp as my pieces became more complex. Those limitations have only challenged me to overcome them and produce the visual art I see in my mind. I still have a lot to learn about this medium and look forward to what it teaches me every time I work with it.

The Paper Art Process

I recycle paper to make my art. Junk mail, printer/copier paper, tissue paper, wrapping paper, and brown paper sacks become pulp in my blender. This provides me with a sense of helping the environment as well creating something of beauty. I sometimes add bits of natural elements such as seeds, dried flowers, straw, twigs, even spices to the pulp.

Once the pulp is ready, I either pull sheets of paper to make book covers and note cards, or I layer the sheets over molds to form bowls and vases.

I also drain the pulp and use it as "paper clay" to create sculptures, wall hangings, and jewelry. These pieces are sometimes painted or left natural. I often embellish them with raffia, sticks, beads, and wire.

For paper paintings, I use a turkey baster and very thin pulp. The pulp is basted onto a large window screen to create a design and allowed to dry on the screen. This process leaves the paper with a wonderful texture. Depending on the pulp and thickness of it, the texture can range from a sandpaper-like feel to small, rough peaks.

What I create is different from papier-mache in at least a couple of ways. I do not mix my paper with glue and my pieces are not made over a form, such as wire. My pulp is just paper mixed with water and my sculpted pieces are solid paper. I do use glue sometimes to help appendages adhere or to attach embellishments. Because the pieces are solid paper, they are extremely sturdy, yet lightweight.