Helen Hiebert's Blog, page 21
October 9, 2021
Illustrated Bookmaking
October 10, 2021
The Paper Year is open for registration quarterly, and now is one of those times! Here you see the final three projects we’ll be making in 2021. This would be a great time to join and get a sense of what our community in preparation for 2022, when I’ll be adding a few more fun elements to this membership program. Registration is open through the end of today!
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Last weekend, I attended the Movable Book Society (MBS) conference, whose members include pop-up book collectors, paper engineers, artist’s book makers and lovers of paper movables. Several of the designers mentioned in The Story of MoMA Holiday Cards are MBS members. Rob Kelly was at the conference, and he is well known for designs that, when easily assembled by the recipient, transform into small paper sculptures representing objects such as a pinball machine or a cuckoo clock. This year, Kelly’s Holiday Harmony assembles into a vintage upright piano adorned with a holiday centerpiece.
Holiday Harmony, by Rob Kelly, available at MoMA
–——————————————————————————————–––––––
I recently attended an online lecture by Kelli Anderson through the University of Michigan, Dearborn campus (click through to watch the recording). Anderson has done some really interesting projects with paper, and I decided to sign up for her 10-week (gulp) paper engineering class through Cooper Union, since it is online. We started this week!
———————————————————————————————–––––––
How fun to discover this article about Jenny Pinto, who came to work with me in Portland in 2000. I remember opening an e-mail that was on the book arts listserv with the subject line of paper lighting and natural fibers. Pinto is a pioneering force in India’s sustainable paper and lighting sector. Today, her company sells products ranging from elegant lighting to creative home accessories, all made from recycled materials.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
This looks like a great book by Ellen Knudson of Crooked Letter Press. Knudson wrote Illustrated Bookmaking for her own educational and instructional purposes over years of teaching her Book Arts class. Creating diagrams helped her understand the structures better, and she can teach them in a more complete way as a result. The diagrams included in this publication are intended to supplement in-person (or online) bookmaking instruction and practice.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Paper Tidbits:The Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking is hosting a virtual talk and discussion series entitled “The Book: Past, Present, and Future.” The 2nd lecture in the series, The Present, takes place this coming Tuesday. Register for this free lecture here.Listen to my interview with Jenny Pinto on Paper Talk.I’ll be attending Paper For Water’s annual fundraiser next Saturday online. If you live near Dallas, you can attend in person. I love what these girls are doing! Click here to secure your Remember Celebration tickets today.———————————————————————————————–––––––
In & Out of the Studio:Our son Will has been waiting throughout the pandemic to see whether a scholarship he received from the Japanese government would come to fruition. He was supposed to spend his senior year of college in Japan, but instead her spent it here, taking classes online and graduating from DePaul University. A week ago, he got the news that exchange students would be allowed to travel into the country. It was a bit of a scramble, but on Tuesday, he got a rapid covid test, tested negative, received his Visa, and here we are at the airport in Denver, sending him off for 9 months in Tokyo! He’s currently quarantining for 2 weeks and will then be taking classes online, but we hope that might change to in-person at some point. And at least he can explore Tokyo, and he might have to visit Itoya to do some paper shopping for his mom!
———————————————————————————————––––––
Papermaking with Garden Plants, now enrolling: The Paper Year, translucent abaca, and Water Paper Time.
———————————————————————————————––––––
If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper? Or, perhaps you’re interested in promoting your business in The Sunday Paper.
Thanks to everyone who has already pledged your support!
———————————————————————————————––––––
SHARE THIS blog post with your paper-loving friends!
I occasionally have affiliate links in my blog posts – links to products in which I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!
The post Illustrated Bookmaking appeared first on Helen Hiebert Studio.
October 2, 2021
Polar Landscape
October 3, 2021
The Paper Year is open for registration quarterly, and now is one of those times! Here you see the final three projects we’ll be making in 2021. This would be a great time to join and get a sense of what our community in preparation for 2022, when I’ll be adding a few more fun elements to this membership program. Registration is open through October 10th.
Here’s a testimonial from a current member, along with the amazing book she created based on the project we explored in May:
“Because of COVID, there wasn’t much to do. I couldn’t visit my kids who are on the East Coast. It was a hard time and I didn’t have the motivation to go into my studio and work. Then I decided to sign up for The Paper Year, figuring at least I would do one thing a month. But it turned out to be more than one thing a month and I am working and creating in my studio nearly every day.”And she says this about her piece: “Lift the lid of this polar bear box and inside you will find a Polar Landscape – ice, snowballs, and of course, polar bears. This sculptural book is made using Helen Hiebert’s ‘bubble paper’, COVID-19 face shield material, and polar bears cut from screen printed Lokta. All sections are sewn using a pamphlet stitch. The only glue involved was used to adhere the bears. Scotch dry mount adhesive worked best for attaching paper to plastic. The colors, textures, patterns and sounds of papers (and in this case plastic), are what influences most of my work. The papers become the images that I bind into books. It is my way of preserving the papers that I love. Thank you Helen for teaching me this structure.” Maggie Heineman, Running With Scissors Press and Bindery.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
You’ll never guess what this paper is made of… elephant poop. There are 2,500-4,000 wild elephants in Sri Lanka, so there is no shortage of droppings. And due to the pachyderm’s incomplete digestive system, the heaps of waste contain a high percentage of intact fibers, making it a perfect raw material for paper production at Eco Maximus.
–——————————————————————————————–––––––
I’m at the Movable Book Society conference in Denver this weekend, an in-person and virtual event, which is pretty awesome because we have some presenters who are streaming in from distant lands. I met Katherine Belsey (in person) who runs MakePopUpCards.com, a site for paper engineers to share their designs with the world (for free or a small fee). You can even find instructions for creating this no sew face mask.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Hong Hong is a contemporary paper artist who is making large scale pulp paintings. She currently has recent work on view at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. 
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Suzanne Seiler creates exquisite paper mosaics. Click though to see for yourself!
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Paper Tidbits:Every so often, I make a batch of translucent abaca sheets. It’s that time again, and you can order them in sets of 5 sheets that are 12″ x 18″ for $50. Click through to place your order by October 3rd, and your paper will ship by mid-October.Have you listened to my interview with Miri Golan on Paper Talk?Hand Papermaking is hosting a Swap Meet, where you will find bargains on more than 50 amazing papermaking- and paper-related items, including:———————————————————————————————–––––––
In the Studio:I was a bit distracted on Thursday, when I left the house without my laptop for this 4-day trip to Denver for the Movable Book Society conference, so I am writing this blog post on a friend’s computer, and I don’t have easy access to my photos. As you read this, I’ll be taking two short workshops: Making Pop-Ups with Kyle Olmon and Preservation Enclosures with Andrew Huot. I’ll post some images on Instagram.
———————————————————————————————––––––
Featured this week in my Studio shop:Papermaking with Garden Plants, now enrolling: The Paper Year, translucent abaca, and Water Paper Time.
———————————————————————————————––––––
If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper? Or, perhaps you’re interested in promoting your business in The Sunday Paper.
Thanks to everyone who has already pledged your support!
———————————————————————————————––––––
SHARE THIS blog post with your paper-loving friends!
I occasionally have affiliate links in my blog posts – links to products in which I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!
The post Polar Landscape appeared first on Helen Hiebert Studio.
September 25, 2021
Origametria: Geometry + Origami
September 26, 2021
Every so often, I make a batch of translucent abaca sheets. It’s that time again, and you can order them in sets of 5 sheets that are 12″ x 18″ for $50. Click through to place your order by October 3rd, and your paper will ship by mid-October.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
I had a lovely interview on Paper Talk with Miri Golan (this is episode #80)! Golan an entrepreneur, educator and origami artist who hopes that her installations are a catalyst to unite people of different religious and cultural backgrounds. Many of her works use the book as a symbol of education, wisdom, and spirituality—ideas that can be used to help bring people on opposite sides of conflicts together. Her sculptures incorporate a variety of spiritual texts in unexpected ways and suggest that despite religious differences, people are fundamentally the same.
She is the founder of the Israeli Origami Center and Folding Together, an organization that encourages Israeli and Palestinian children and adults to fold paper forms as a team, turning origami into a collaborative expression of hope for a more peaceful world. She also designed and developed a mathematics curriculum called Origametria that has been accepted into the curriculum by the Israeli Ministry of Education, in which children learn geometry principles by folding origami models. Enjoy our conversation!
——————————————————————————————–––––––
It is so fun to discover art in public places. Check out these giant origami forms (fabricated in steel, but designed in paper) in New York’s garment district. Created by California-based artist Hacer, the installation will be on display along Broadway between 36th and 39th Streets through November 23.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Also in NYC, at the Morgan Library & Museum, Another Tradition: Drawings by Black Artists from the American South, opened September 24, 2021, and runs through January 16, 2022. This exhibition celebrates the Morgan’s 2018 acquisition of eleven drawings from the Souls Grown Deep Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting Black Southern artists and their communities.
Thornton Dial, Ladies Stand by the Tiger, 1991. Watercolor on paper. Gift of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation from the William S. Arnett Collection and purchase on the Manley Family Fund. Photography by Janny Chiu, 2021 © Thornton Dial / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
This is a fascinating article about a shortage of craftspeople who can preserve national treasures and important cultural properties in Japan. The list is dominated by fields where the skills and materials are endangered, such as lacquerware and samurai armor restoration, the production of handmade paper used in hanging scrolls and paper screens, and Japanese indigo dyeing. The average age for these experts is 73, and their priceless technical knowledge could be lost forever at any time.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Paper Tidbits:My membership program, The Paper Year, opens for registration October 1-10!———————————————————————————————–––––––
In the Studio:I’ve had an intern in the studio for the past 10 days and we’ve been exploring the properties of abaca. Here you see a wet sheet on the left that is nailed to a board, and on the right you can see how it dried. There are some interesting pleats that are created between the two nails. I’m just beginning to think about a new book that will document the ways that I’ve experimented with abaca over the years with actual samples that show off the potential of this wonder fiber.
———————————————————————————————––––––
Featured this week in my Studio shop:Papermaking with Garden Plants, Tangential, an artist’s book, translucent abaca, and Playing With Pop-Ups.
———————————————————————————————––––––
If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper? Or, perhaps you’re interested in promoting your business in The Sunday Paper.
Thanks to everyone who has already pledged your support!
———————————————————————————————––––––
SHARE THIS blog post with your paper-loving friends!
I occasionally have affiliate links in my blog posts – links to products in which I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!
The post Origametria: Geometry + Origami appeared first on Helen Hiebert Studio.
September 18, 2021
The Pulling Force Transmitted Axially by the Means of a String
September 19, 2021
How do you reconstitute paper pulp? I’ve been recording a series of papermaking tip videos that I’m posting on my youtube channel. This is a one-minute video.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
The Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking has an impressive set of online resources. Check out the Paper Play series, but you’ll also find a teacher’s handbook, info on the history of papermaking, lecture recordings and coloring sheets under Resources.
——————————————————————————————–––––––
I learned about Hank Fleischer in this article, but had to find out more. Fleischer creates intricate paper structures built entirely out of colored file folders. He began working with paper at age 87 (he’s now 97), and this year he entered a trilogy of creations in ArtPrize, a competition in Grand Rapids, MI.
© Hank Fleischer, Orange Segments (Deconstructed Turkey) 2’6″ x 2’6″ x 1’7″ (3’3″ with platform)
———————————————————————————————–––––––
This piece caught my eye, and I love the way this group of artists is connected by paper: “Paper Cuts is a group show, guest curated by Alexander Deschamps, that brings together artists from multiple backgrounds and disciplines. This group of artists includes painters, poets, a costume designer, a sculptor, and other creatives, glued together by a common interest: paper.”
© Christian Joy, 2021, on view at The Art Closet Gallery in Chappaqua, NY.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Dieu Donné recently hosted a series of lectures on Global Perspectives in Hand Papermaking. Here’s the last one about Japanese Paper: History, Export and Challenges.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Paper Tidbits:Each month I do a video recap of what participants in The Paper Year do with the project I introduce them to. Here’s the August video, featuring V-Pockets, designed by our guest artist Paula Beardell Krieg.The Movable Book Society is meeting in Denver at the end of the month (I’m going). You can attend virtually.My Flexible Book Structures online class tomorrow, 9/20. It isn’t unusual to sign up at the last minute!———————————————————————————————–––––––
In the Studio:I had the idea for my artist’s book Intensio 5 or 6 years ago when I made the first mock-up. I produced two other artist’s books between then and now (Tangential and Prism) but this has been one of my long haul projects during Covid-19. There are many steps in producing an edition of handmade books. Here you see the title page with a hand-cut window (I love how all 30 copies look stacked), the first few copies being collated (they are now at the binder), all 8 string drawings, and the back of one of the string drawings (can you guess which one?) with the ends of the strings glued down with little paper dots (insurance)! I can’t wait to get a finished copy back from Claudia Cohen, who will bind and box the books.
In case you’re curious, the title page (pictured below) reads, “In physics, a prime example of tension is the pulling force transmitted axially by the means of a string”. When I read that (after designing the book pages) it made so much sense! This type of tension is literally put into play when you open and close the pages of this book, i.e. as they move across the axis of each page. Stay tuned for a video as soon as I put my hands on that first copy.
———————————————————————————————––––––
Featured this week in my Studio shop:Now registering: Flexible Book Structures Online Class, The Paper Year (hold your spot), Curated Paper Collection #3, and The Papermaker’s Companion.
———————————————————————————————––––––
If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper? Or, perhaps you’re interested in promoting your business in The Sunday Paper.
Thanks to everyone who has already pledged your support!
———————————————————————————————––––––
SHARE THIS blog post with your paper-loving friends!
I occasionally have affiliate links in my blog posts – links to products in which I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!
The post The Pulling Force Transmitted Axially by the Means of a String appeared first on Helen Hiebert Studio.
September 11, 2021
The Art of Paper Engineering
September 12, 2021
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Ooh, la la! Mekeka Designs has curated a line of pillows and meditation cushions that are made exclusively with bark cloth (a paper-like material) from Uganda, plaited palm and loom woven textiles. All of their barkcloth is sourced from the members of the Bukomansimbi Organic Tree Farmers Association (BOFTA), led by 9th generation barkcloth expert Paul Bukenya. Watch the video at the link to find out more about how bark cloth is made.
Detail of the bark cloth production process. The soaked bark is beaten for several hours with nsammo.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Julie Wilkinson and Joyanne Horscroft of Makerie Studio are a duo of creatives who are exploring the imaginative possibilities of how paper can be cut, assembled, and delicately arranged into delightful artworks inspired by nature. One of their first big joint efforts together was making a paper sculpture of this peacock, inspired by a finely bound volume of Persian poems known as The Great Omar. The book was lost in the ill-fated sinking of the Titanic in 1912, but the peacock sculpture was purchased by Shepherds Bookbinders in London, where it lives now.
——————————————————————————————–––––––
Daniele Roberts, a Gwinnett County Public Schools bus driver, and her husband and two daughters have folded 2,977 origami paper cranes which will be used to create a stunning public art memorial. The installation is taking place as I type this – these blue paper cranes will be suspended from a large oak tree at Lilburn City Park – I’m guessing you’ll be able to find online images of the display when you are reading this. Each paper crane has one victim’s name handwritten on it, along with the 20th anniversary date of 9/11/21.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
I attended a fantastic talk yesterday by Kelli Anderson, who thinks about paper in really interesting ways. This was hosted by the Stamelos Gallery Center at the University of Michigan, Dearborn, which is currently hosting an exhibition that features some of Anderson’s work, along with that of other paper engineers. The talk should be available on the website soon, but in the meantime, you’ll find lots of interesting info about paper engineering there.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Paper Tidbits:The Movable Book Society is meeting in Denver at the end of the month (I’m going). You can attend virtually.Have you listened to my interview with June Tyler on Paper Talk?My Flexible Book Structures online class begins next Monday, 9/20. It isn’t unusual to sign up at the last minute! In fact, I have a few supply kits left and if you register today, it will most likely arrive before class begins.A few years back, I did a series of “Best Of” books about paper. Find the series here.———————————————————————————————–––––––
In the Studio:On the twentieth anniversary of 9/11, there’s a lot to reflect on. I did not listen, watch or read much news back in 2001, because I was busy with a 2-year old and 2-week old. My mother and father had come to visit and flew home to Texas on September 10th, running into friends of ours from Brooklyn who were on the the first leg of their flight and had visited us in Portland the day before in Portland. So many of us have close call stories like this, and many others lives were changed forever on that day.
This is a haunting image that is reproduced within the pages of Nicholas Basbanes book, On Paper. As an investigative journalist, Basbanes traveled the world (literally) to uncover all sorts of intriguing facts and stories about paper. He tells us how paper has been civilization’s constant companion, preserving our history and giving record to our very finest literary, cultural, and scientific accomplishments. Without paper, modern hygienic practice would be unimaginable; as currency, people will do almost anything to possess it; and, as a tool of expression, it is inextricable from human culture.
The book ends with a touching story about a piece of paper with a handwritten note on it that was found on 9/11, took 10 years to get processed, and due to a blood stain, was identifiable. The story that unfolded has a tragic ending, as so many did that day, but the discovery of the note gave the family of Randy Scott a bit of closure. Can you imagine? For 10 years they hoped he died instantly when a plane struck the tower he was working in, but this piece of paper confirmed for them, that he died trying to save the people he was with. The fragment is at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. I hope you’ll read and enjoy Basbanes’ book, but in the meantime, here’s the story that broke on the 10th Anniversary of this day.
———————————————————————————————––––––
Featured this week in my Studio shop:Now registering: Flexible Book Structures Online Class, The Paper Year (hold your spot), Curated Paper Collection #3, and The Papermaker’s Companion.
———————————————————————————————––––––
If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper? Or, perhaps you’re interested in promoting your business in The Sunday Paper.
Thanks to everyone who has already pledged your support!
———————————————————————————————––––––
SHARE THIS blog post with your paper-loving friends!
I occasionally have affiliate links in my blog posts – links to products in which I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!
The post The Art of Paper Engineering appeared first on Helen Hiebert Studio.
September 4, 2021
Paper Think Tank
September 5, 2021
I had a lovely interview on Paper Talk with June Tyler, a visual artist for over 40 years who has been involved in papermaking for 32 of them. Her studio, Pondside Pulp and Paper was established in 1995 in Norwich, NY, where she has offered workshops during the summer and fall months. Tyler has spent most of her professional career teaching at various colleges, as well as offering workshops at her studio and other venues. Tyler likes to work in a variety of media: Painting, drawing, printmaking, artist books, papermaking, sculpture and mixed media, depending on the idea or imagery she is pondering at the time. Her work has been shown in solo, group and juried exhibitions. Enjoy our conversation!
———————————————————————————————–––––––
British artist Kate Kato of Kasasagi Design crafts gorgeous altered books and intricate recycled paper sculptures.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Check this out: to celebrate the final part of La Casa De Papel, Netflix teamed up with four Filipino artists to create artwork inspired by some of the most iconic imagery and moments from all four parts of the hit series. The artwork, called #LaCasaDePapelChallenge, is a tribute to some of the greatest and most memorable moments of the show. Each artist created paper art in their own signature style. The work below is by Patrick Cabral.
——————————————————————————————–––––––
If you know me, you know that I have a thing for Paper + Light. Take a look at these pendant lamps from Verdepumo’s Etsy shop sporting a spikey sea urchin vibe. They’re made from recycled paper. “Working with recycled paper is a way to turn garbage into poetry,” says Verdepumo shop owner and designer, Mery Spilotro of Italy. You’ll find a couple more paper lights at the link.
Photo: Verdepumo, Etsy
———————————————————————————————–––––––
This is a great interview with paper artist Nicole Donnelly and her Philadelphia studio Paper Think Tank.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Paper Tidbits:Every month I host a challenge in The Paper Studio, my free Facebook group. This month’s challenge is MAPS. You are welcome to join us!The Paper Year opens for registration again October 1-10. Click here to read all about it and hold your spot!———————————————————————————————–––––––
In the Studio:I get a real kick out of teaching free mini workshops on Zoom. Last week, about 140 people joined me to create this fun little Books Rock! structure. It is so fun to see all of the variations in a session like this: different papers, words added, etc. We had a little time for some up close show & tell at the end. You can watch the replay here, and you’ll find a link to the supply list and template right there on Youtube if you’d like to create your own book that rocks.
I’ll start shipping out the supply kits for my upcoming Flexible Book Structures online class later this week. If you are thinking about joining us, please register soon (especially if you want a kit). If you have your own materials (there’s a link to the supply list on the registration page) you can sign up right until the last minute (we begin on September 20th)!
———————————————————————————————––––––
Featured this week in my Studio shop:Now registering: Flexible Book Structures Online Class, The Paper Year (hold your spot), Curated Paper Collection #3, and The Papermaker’s Companion.
———————————————————————————————––––––
If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper? Or, perhaps you’re interested in promoting your business in The Sunday Paper.
Thanks to everyone who has already pledged your support!
———————————————————————————————––––––
SHARE THIS blog post with your paper-loving friends!
I occasionally have affiliate links in my blog posts – links to products in which I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!
The post Paper Think Tank appeared first on Helen Hiebert Studio.
August 28, 2021
A Passion for Paper
August 29, 2021
I hope you’ll click through to watch the video about my upcoming online class, Flexible Book Structures. We’ve got a great group forming, and I’m looking forward to seeing how participants interpret six artist’s book structures in this 6-week class that begins on September 20th. Maybe you’d like to join us? One cool feature of an online class like this is that you get to work at your own pace in your own space, and then hop online to share what you’ve created in our online classroom. We’ll have two live zoom meetings too.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Join me on Zoom this coming Wednesday, September 1st, for a free mini-workshop that I’m hosting in conjunction with my Flexible Book Structures online class. I’ll show you how to make this miniature book that rocks, and I’ll tell you a bit more about the online class and answer any questions you have.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
I enjoyed Velma Bolyard’s radio interview on North Country Public Radio. The host asks her what it is about paper that has made it a passion of hers for decades. Her reflections are inspiring.
Velma Bolyard in her home studio, Wake Robin, with contact or eco printing on paper. Photo: Todd Moe
———————————————————————————————–––––––
How cool is this? The University of St. Andrews Special Collection’s blog is featuring 52 Weeks of Historial How-To’s, and Week 19 highlighted Diderot’s Encyclopédie and the art of making paper (I love that they refer to it as an art).
Plate showing the “Papetterie, Moulin, Détails d’une de Cuves à Cilindres” (details of a tank with a roller), broken down in to its constituent parts. Encyclopédie, Planches tome 5, pl. VIII (St Andrews copy sf AE25.D5)
———————————————————————————————–––––––
I made another Papermaking Tip video, showing how to divide the deckle to make multiple deckle-edged sheets in one dip.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
———————————————————————————————–––––––
In the Studio:Slowly but surely, I am working my way through the edition of 25 copies (plus a few artist’s proofs) of my new artist’s book, Intensio. Tension is a pulling force in physics, and this book explores that force as you open and close the pages. This week, I created the paper that will line the boxes for the books. This involved embedding lots of string between sheets of cotton paper and trying to avoid tangles. I got a system down by the end!
———————————————————————————————––––––
Now registering: Flexible Book Structures Online Class, and three of my artist’s books: LandEscape, The Way It Is and Tangential.
———————————————————————————————––––––
If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper? Or, perhaps you’re interested in promoting your business in The Sunday Paper.
Thanks to everyone who has already pledged your support!
———————————————————————————————––––––
SHARE THIS blog post with your paper-loving friends!
I occasionally have affiliate links in my blog posts – links to products in which I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!
The post A Passion for Paper appeared first on Helen Hiebert Studio.
August 21, 2021
Let’s Make Artist’s Books!
August 22, 2021
Registration is now open for my Flexible Book Structures online class, a 6-week class that begins on September 20th. The kids are going back-to-school, so why don’t we join them! Come create six artist’s book structures that break away from the traditional book but still have pages, text, imagery and clever bindings. We will transform paper panels into books, wall hangings, folding screens, lanterns & more as we create a series of flexible book structures that fold and unfold, collapse and expand, and feature innovative attachments and connections.
I’ve created a kit that you can purchase that includes most of the materials you will need to complete the projects.
Read to the end of this post to find out about the free mini-workshop I’m hosting on Zoom in conjunction with this class.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Eiko Ojala creates amazing paper illustrations for publications that portray issues we are all facing, including climate change, the pandemic, politics, and social unrest. Click through to see more – she has a fantastic way of working with positive and negative space.
© Eiko Ojala
———————————————————————————————–––––––
23 Sandy Gallery has curated an international juried exhibition of book arts that is now on view at Form & Concept in Santa Fe. “When imperceptible phenomena burst into view, revolutionary change may follow. We learned this in 2020, as an invisible but deadly virus spread across the world, an urgent racial justice movement illuminated dark societal realities, and humanity’s long-simmering crimes against the environment unleashed fires and floods. Unseen forces can shape our lives and surface in unexpected ways, often altering our behaviors and worldviews if and when we are made aware of them. This exhibition explores the idea of the “unseen”—physically, psychologically, and philosophically.”
© Insiya Dhatt, Pattern Unseen, 7.25 x 7.75 x .25 inches, laser cutting and engraving on Japanese Kozuke paper, edition of 5
———————————————————————————————–––––––
I’ve been noticing an increase in the popularity of hand papermaking, how about you? I just published a new youtube video that covers double couching and embedding. Enjoy! If you’re into hand papermaking, check out my how-to books and DVD’s in the next section of this post.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Paper meditation: a Japanese diplomat, Hisao Inagaki, has been folding a paper crane every day during the pandemic. He began his Zen-like meditation, in which every identically framed video that he posts on Instagram shows him delivering the same message, with only the numbers — and his shirts — changing.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Paper Tidbits:Have you listened to my interview with Paul Jackson on Paper Talk?Curated Paper Collection #3 is shipping now. Stock up or collect this unique set of papers.———————————————————————————————–––––––
In the Studio:I’m hosting a FREE Zoom workshop on Wednesday, September 1st at noon my time. I’ll show you how to make this rocking book structure and will also be talking about the Flexible Book Structures online class that begins on September 20th. You’ll receive a list of supplies when you register.
———————————————————————————————––––––
Now registering: Flexible Book Structures Online Class, Papermaking with Garden Plants & Common Weeds, The Papermaker’s Companion, The Papermaker’s Studio Guide DVD
———————————————————————————————––––––
If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper? Or, perhaps you’re interested in promoting your business in The Sunday Paper.
Thanks to everyone who has already pledged your support!
———————————————————————————————––––––
SHARE THIS blog post with your paper-loving friends!
I occasionally have affiliate links in my blog posts – links to products in which I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!
The post Let’s Make Artist’s Books! appeared first on Helen Hiebert Studio.
August 14, 2021
Paul Jackson on Paper Talk
August 15, 2021
I had a lovely interview with Paul Jackson on Paper Talk! Jackson is a professional paper artist, paper engineer, writer and teacher since 1983, who specializes in origami and the folded arts. He has written more than 40 books, the first of which were origami books for adults and children, and his more recent books have been about the application of folding techniques into design, a subject he has taught in more than 80 Universities and Colleges in 13 countries, to design students of many disciplines, including Fashion, Architecture, Ceramics, Jewelery, Product Design and Textiles. Jackson was born in England and moved to Israel when he married Israeli origami artist and educator, Miri Golan, founder of the Israeli Origami Center (1993). Miri and Paul founded the Folding Together project and the Origametria program, which involves using origami to teach geometry. In 2018, Origametria was accepted by the Israeli Ministry of Education into the National Mathematics Curriculum and is studied weekly by 30,000+ children of Primary School age. Enjoy our conversation!
———————————————————————————————–––––––
How cool is this?! The Eastborne Greenpeace Group in the UK is collecting origami fish with notes on them to send to Parliament in big fishing nets to raise awareness about protecting the oceans.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Keith Kaziak was one of 11 winners awarded the International Sculpture Center’s 2021 Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award. During Covid, he turned the overflow of Amazon boxes he was receiving into his sculpture, “Tower of Boxes”.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
I just discovered this website filled with paper models that you can print out and assemble, including these hand shadow puppets. I loved making hand shadows as a kid and even created an artist’s book called The Hand Shadow Pop-UP Book.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
This is super interesting: Khadi and Village Industries Commission is mixing both high & low-density waste polythene into paper pulp to make a recycled “paper”. Not only does the plastic add extra strength to the paper but it also reduces the cost by up to 34%.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Paper Tidbits:Check out this list of 28 online stationery shops.This 13-year old made a wonderful series of papercuts of olympic athletes.———————————————————————————————–––––––
In the Studio:It is so fun to see people make things with the paper in my Curated Paper Collections (CPC)! Sarah Knight is a member of my Paper Year membership program and recently used some of the papers in her Wallpaper Pocket Book (designed by guest artist Paula Beardell Krieg). CPC#3 is now available.
———————————————————————————————––––––
Opening Soon: Flexible Book Structures Online Class, Papermaking with Garden Plants & Common Weeds, Curated Paper Collection #3, The Papermaker’s Studio Guide DVD
———————————————————————————————––––––
If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper? Or, perhaps you’re interested in promoting your business in The Sunday Paper.
Thanks to everyone who has already pledged your support!
———————————————————————————————––––––
SHARE THIS blog post with your paper-loving friends!
I occasionally have affiliate links in my blog posts – links to products in which I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!
The post Paul Jackson on Paper Talk appeared first on Helen Hiebert Studio.
August 7, 2021
Folded Folly Flexagon (say that three times fast)!
August 8, 2021
Ooh la la!
I’m delighted to introduce you to the third in my series of Curated Paper Collections! This is a set of 11 unique papers from around the world that I enjoyed discovering and purchasing from paper shops and artisans. The sheets range in size from 8-1/2″ x 11″ up to 15” x 20”. Some are full sheets with deckled edges on all sides, and others are cut in half or quarters. Click through to read a bit about each of the 11 papers in the collection and order a set today.
Here’s a sample description of the paper pictured in the top left corner above: Cockerell and Sons was best known in the last century for their marbled papers, which were not only used in books, but also by many other artisans. The reverse bouquet pattern in browns is marbled on a kraft colored paper. This film shows how wonderful the production process is and the craft skills involved.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
This looks like a super fun virtual event hosted by MoMath (the National Museum of Mathematics). While indulging in the folly of attempting to create an impossible shape with folded paper, artist and educator Paula Krieg stumbled upon a novel flexagon that not only shape-shifts to expose hidden faces, but also hides and reveals small pockets and winged handles, adding more dimension to this already-mysterious surface. Join Paula on August 12th from 6:30 – 8pm EST ($10-$20 fee) as she demonstrates the astonishingly elegant folding method used to construct this playful mathematical toy, then make your own Folded Folly Flexagon as a keepsake of this unique evening.The instructor, Paula Beardell Krieg, happens to be our guest artist this month in The Paper Year (my membership program).
———————————————————————————————–––––––
I played with legos as a kid and even had a few lego people in my fire and police station sets, which I remember fondly. The figures looked a lot like this paper cut atop the Arc de Triomphe. Artist Rich McCor sells prints of his amazing photos of papercuts in famous places in his Paperboyo shop.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Visiting Florence in September? Don’t miss this event at the Corsini Palace that shows visitors how, over time, craftsmen and their workshops thrived around the Palazzo, a place which became a showcase and a training ground for experimentation. One of the exhibits will feature life at the paper mill, where visitors can witness the different manufacturing phases by observing a master papermaker, a watermarker, and a calligrapher as they demonstrate their techniques.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Last call for submissions: Arnold Grummer’s Paper On The River handmade paper art exhibit in Appleton, WI. Exhibit opening Oct 1 and Artists’ Reception with special guests, Katherine and Howard Clark, Twinrocker Handmade Paper. Free master class for attending artists. Full details online.
———————————————————————————————–––––––
Paper Tidbits:I made a short video on how to do the three-hole pamphlet stitch binding. This is part of a series of paper tips on youtube.This light-up whirlybird looks like a super fun project for kiddos (of all ages). This is a delightful object to play with, even without the paper electronics.———————————————————————————————–––––––
In the Studio:
I purchased an old copy of the Dictionary and Encyclopedia of Paper and Papermaking (E.J. LaBarre, 1952, Hilversum and Swets & Zeitlinger, Amsterdam).
I can relate to what LaBarre write in his introduction: “This book began as an attempt to name and define clearly a number of material things and concepts in the paper field that I had found to be vague, ill-defined or even applied to different objects, processes or ideas. On asking paper experts for information, I had found that one and the same word were used for quite different objects in one and the same country, while words adopted from a foreign language tended to diverge widely from the original meaning and thus added to the confusion…”
I had a similar experience when I wrote my book Papermaking with Garden Plants & Common Weeds, but my dilemma stemmed from defining papermaking processes rather than words. I wanted to document how to do each step in the papermaking process, but when I talked with papermakers, they all had different methods of doing the same thing! It was fun to learn that LaBarre ran into similar issues, and I am in awe of this book that is a goldmine of information that could be read cover to cover.
Here’s an entry:
Fore-right shake is, as the word indicates, the ‘shake’ or ‘stroke’ the vatman gives to the MOULD when lifting it with pulp from the VAT, from his breast outwards and back again, the other ‘shake’ being from right to left. Records and manufacturers’ reports as to usage differ in saying which of these movements is done first.
As a papermaker myself, I had to move my hands to recall how I shake my mould. Without doing that I would have said that I shake from breast outwards and back again and then left to right, but my hands moved as described above (right to left rather than left to right). I’ll have to pay attention to this the next time I have my hands in the vat.
If you are a papermaker, which way do you shake your mould?
———————————————————————————————––––––
Featured this week in my Studio shop:Opening Soon: Flexible Book Structures Online Class, Papermaking with Garden Plants & Common Weeds, Curated Paper Collection #3, The Papermaker’s Studio Guide DVD
———————————————————————————————––––––
If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper? Or, perhaps you’re interested in promoting your business in The Sunday Paper.
Thanks to everyone who has already pledged your support!
———————————————————————————————––––––
SHARE THIS blog post with your paper-loving friends!
I occasionally have affiliate links in my blog posts – links to products in which I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!
The post Folded Folly Flexagon (say that three times fast)! appeared first on Helen Hiebert Studio.
