Helen Hiebert's Blog, page 28

Equality, Justice, Participate, Harmony, Continuum, Perspective

The Sunday Paper #314

May 31, 2020

Paper of the Week: Word Broadsides

Sometimes when I post an image, the colors get electrified, and I’m not sure why. I have to say though, that these brighter colors work for my mood this week. I’m feeling the need to do something proactive about the state of our country. While I figure this out, here’s some old work that feels relevant. Each of these watermarked broadsides (created in 2017) features a word that is meant to provoke thought and perhaps action, Click through and scroll down to read a bit more about each word.

A collection of handmade paper cranes, a symbol of peace, are left anonymously near a Black Lives Matter sign at the UGA Arch on Friday, June 5, 2020, in Athens, Georgia. Across the street, Athenians gathered to protest police brutality and the death of George Floyd for the sixth consecutive day. (Photo/Gabriella Audi, www.gabriellamariephoto.com)

Here’s a photo from a peaceful protest in Athens, Georgia. Paper cranes!

———————————————————————————————–––––––

In the Studio: Illuminated Ceiling Sculpture

I am making a piece to hang above our dining room table. It’s only taken me seven years. I’ll post again when it is in place – I still have to figure out the best way to suspend it, so don’t hold your breath! This is 10 double-couched sheets of abaca with embedded copper wire. I stitched them together on my sewing machine.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Papery Tidbits

Have you listened to my interview with Elisabeth Howell King on Paper Talk? We chat about her father, Douglass Howell and his life with paper.
Here’s an interesting papercraft kit. Build Mt. Fuji!
Check out these sandals, made from paper! From The Field Collective.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

I’m promoting artists here on the blog to help them replace some of their income during the pandemic. Please reach out if you have a paper product to sell that you think my readers will enjoy.

Ilze Dilane is lives in Latvia, where she teaches papermaking to kids at the Pārdaugava Music and Art School and organizes mobile papermaking workshops for adults and kids at other schools. Ilze studied papermaking and book binding at the Southwest School of Art in San Antonio, Texas, and she visited me here in Colorado several years ago! Ilze creates handmade paper products from old jeans, linen table cloths, and cotton bedding. Check out her Etsy shop (shipping is included in the purchase price).

I have been thinking about oral histories (in relation to my podcast, Paper Talk). When I am doing an interview, I am usually busy thinking about what to ask next and the flow of the conversation, so I often miss things that are said (I do record the interviews). And sometimes I forget things too. A friend and colleague listened to my recent conversation with Sarah Brayer and pointed out that she mentioned Emma Amos, who died a couple of weeks ago. Amos explored the politics of culture, racism and sexism in her work, which often included handmade paper, printmaking, collage and weaving.

EMMA AMOS, “Secrets” 1981 (4 parts: etching, aquatint, chine collé and handmade paper with collage and hand weaving; 21 x 20 3/4 inches (53.3 x 52.7 cm) each; 43 x 42 1/2 inches / 109.2 x 107.6 cm – including spacing – Edition of 15). | © Emma Amos. Courtesy the artist and Ryan Lee Gallery, New York

Check out this Arts & Music Wednesdays series. Last week, Ann Dumas, a curator at the Royal Academy of Arts, gave a virtual tour of the Picasso and Paper exhibition. What a treat to be able to listen to the comments of the curator! You can also watch the complete virtual tour (without commentary).

This is a fun Q&A with Sally Blakemore, a paper artist from Santa Fe whose illustrations have appeared in countless publications, including The New Yorker, Washington Post and Esquire, and her paper-engineered books have been published by Simon & Schuster, Disney, Viking and other presses. Sally has traveled the world with paper, and here is just one of her intriguing sentiments: “In Shenzhen with all Chinese girls, I found we could speak in Chinese and English while folding paper together and we could understand the words as if we used the same language.”

Check out this cardboard desk, born during the pandemic to give people who work at home a quick and inexpensive work table.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

I’ve been teaching online for four years now, and here are a few Frequently Asked Questions (perhaps you’ve wondered about these things too).

Q: When are the sessions held? A: A weekly lesson is delivered each Monday, but these are not live sessions. I pre-record each video for you to watch whenever you wish, and you can work at your own pace.
Q: What if I have to miss a week? A: The sessions are independent, so you can jump in at any point and come back to lessons you’ve missed later.
Q: What if I want to have access to the content, but the time of your class doesn’t work for me? A: No problem! When you sign up, you have access to the online classroom indefinitely.
Q: What kind of experience is required? A: I have taught and mentored all levels, from beginners to experienced artists.
Q: Have other questions? Send me an e-mail! helen@helenhiebertstudio.com

My online class Paper + Light is now enrolling, and we’ve got a great group forming from around the US, Canada and Europe. This is one of the fun things about an online class. You can join from anywhere in the world! And the online classroom is a special place where we share what we’re creating, ask questions and comment on each other’s work.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

The News from Here:

Yesterday, I finally got in the pool, with social distancing in place: one person to a lane; reduced locker room capacity; etc. It felt good and strange at the same time.

My first Papermaking Master Class was supposed to be taking place right now. Instead, I have refunded all participants. I do hope that we can gather next year! If you’re interested in my master classes, you can read more here. Click on Apply Now at the bottom if you’d like more information when I reschedule these classes.

That’s all I’ve got this week. Be kind, stay well, promote peace and make art my friends!

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Featured this week in my Studio shop:

Paper + Light Online Class, The Papermaker’s Package, Try It! Shadow Ornament Class, 50 Revolutions, an artist’s book.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper? Click on the paper button at the left to learn how. 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!

Spaces Between

The Sunday Paper #314

May 31, 2020

Paper of the Week: Kite Paper

Have you ever worked with kite paper – a translucent colored waxed paper that is the size of standard origami paper (6″ x 6″)? I know that many of you are looking for ideas for the kids, and I’m bringing back this kit that includes 10 assorted colors of kite paper, instructions for making window stars, and a copy of my book Playing With Paper, featuring 18 more fun projects you can make with paper.

Window stars are made with an origami fold, and you make small units and overlap them, which looks stunning when the light filters through them in a window. There are multiple ways to fold the units and connect them. Once you learn the basics, you can get creative and design your own!

Keep busy this summer with paper! I also have individual sets of the Kite Paper Kit if you’d like additional sets to send to friends and family. The kit comes with window star instructions and enough paper to create 10 stars!

———————————————————————————————–––––––

In the Studio: Paper + Light

Registration is open for Paper + Light, my summer online class. Have you watched the 4-minute video? Paper + light are two of my favorite things, and I’m jazzed to show you a variety of ways they can work in tandem! I’m offering two sessions with different content – sign up for one or both (most people are signing up for all 8 weeks). Thanks to those of you who have already registered, and  feel free to share the info about this class with your paper + light loving friends.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

New On Paper Talk: Douglass Howell

I had a fascinating interview with Elisabeth Howell King, daughter of Douglass Howell, who is probably the first person to have used hand papermaking as an artistic medium as early as the 1940’s, creating what he called Papetries which were shown at the Betty Parsons Gallery in NYC. Howell mentored several people, who went on to establish papermaking studios and paper programs at the university level. Elisabeth tells me how she had her own vat in her father’s studio as a child, and how Howell had a childhood mentor in Italy who let him hold original drawings by Michelangelo and DaVinci – and how he told her about how those really old handmade papers still looked new. This is just the tip of the iceberg about the life of a fascinating man and his life with paper. Enjoy our conversation!

———————————————————————————————–––––––

I’m promoting artists here on the blog to help them replace some of their income during the pandemic. Please reach out if you have a paper product to sell that you think my readers will enjoy.

I met Leigh Suggs at Penland in 2009 (listen to our 2019 podcast interview). We have kept in touch, and she is a full-time artist who works with paper in Richmond, VA. Jaydan Moore has a studio adjacent to hers and the two artists are grateful to be able to still have studios, time, and opportunities ahead. Leigh and Jaydan are currently doing a joint project that began with sketches and ideas they have been curious about for some time; they passed the pieces back and forth to see what the other person gained from them and how they responded. Take a look at the work here, where you’ll find instructions for purchase. Each sale will be split in thirds – one third going to each artist, and the other third will be donated to Cerf Plus, an organization that provides emergency relief funds to artists. Sounds like a win-win-win to me, not to mention you get a work of art too!

This is a fantastic article about the history of Jewish paper cuts. I love the anecdote about Rabbi Shem-Tov ben Yitzhak ben Ardutiel, who composed a witty treatise in Hebrew entitled The War of the Pen Against the Scissors when the ink in his inkwell froze on a cold winter’s evening and he resorted to cutting the letters out of the paper.

Jewish papercut by Agata Szepe. Gliwice, Poland 2011. (Wikimedia)

Kate Norris works primarily with wallpaper to create spectacular images of flora and fauna. Her current exhibition is called Symbiosis: Art and Nature. As Norris states: “Symbiosis is the interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both… I give homage to the wonders found in nature.”

“Painted Lady” by Kate Norris.

If you know me, you know I have used abaca for years. Also known as manila hemp, some call abaca the strongest fiber in the world. I use it to make art, but it is also used in mobile phones, coffee filters, tea bags and more. And now it is being made into protective filters that are supposedly seven times more efficient than regular face masks.

I love this headline: Over 400 Years of Wisdom All in One Page! Read about Two Rivers Paper in the UK and watch the lovely video.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

The News from Here:

My mother’s facility is clear from covid! Those who had it have recovered, and everyone at the facility (residents and employees) tested negative again. Hooray! They are still in lockdown, so I continue to talk to my mom on the phone while looking at her through the window.

On top of Safer at Home orders, now we have curfews in many American cities. I wish we could figure out how to live as equal citizens on this planet! I was looking through the children’s books on my shelves and found these, among others. I want to credit my mother for seeking out books that showed diversity to me in the late 60’s. I looked up Ezra Jack Keats because his illustrations intrigued me, and guess what? From wikipedia: “Keats is best known for introducing multiculturalism into mainstream American children’s literature. He was one of the first children’s book authors to use an urban setting for his stories and he developed the use of collage as a medium for illustration.”

The realtor who sold our Portland house called me this week to check in. I’ve received a few pieces of mail from him over the past 8 years when we relocated to Colorado, but a phone call? Wow. A sign of the times. We had a nice conversation, and he claimed to be calling old clients since he isn’t going out as much. Not a bad strategy actually (calling once every 10 years or so) based on how often people buy and sell homes.

Be kind, stay well, and promote peace my friends!

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Featured this week in my Studio shop:

Window Star Kit, The Paper Year (now 1/2 price), The Papermaker’s Companion and a Kite Paper Kit.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper? Click on the paper button at the left to learn how. 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!

Need a Little More Light this Summer?

The Sunday Paper #313

May 24, 2020

Paper of the Week: Paper + Light

I’m so excited about my new online class, designed to get us through a stay-close-to-home summer together as we explore paper + light. Click here to watch the 4-minute video about Paper + Light, read more and register! Paper + light are two of my favorite things, and I’m jazzed to show you a variety of ways they can work in tandem! I’m offering two sessions with different content – sign up for one or both! And please feel free to share the info about this class with your paper + light loving friends. Thank you!

———————————————————————————————–––––––

In the Studio: Personal Space

I tend to spend years thinking about projects, and if they stick with me that long, I usually implement them. This is going to be a large lantern that one person can sit inside of (can you picture yourself in there)? This is a 1/4 scale armature that I built in foam core. Next, I will wrap rings of reed around the armature and finally, it will be covered with paper. And if I like it at that stage, I’ll move forward to building it at full scale. The current title is Personal Space and there will most likely be a community engagement component to the project.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Paper Tidbits:

Long ago I had Tim Barrett on Paper Talk, and among other things, I asked him how he found out he got a MacArthur Genius Award. It’s an interesting story!
Gigi Rosenberg is a speaking coach in Portland, and I spent a fun couple of hours with her in an elevator pitch writing workshop several years ago. She used me as an example in this article (if you’re a skimmer, look for the picture of the giant dandelion puff).
And just this week, Gigi teamed up with Alyson Stanfield in an online workshop titled Introducing Yourself Online with Grace and Authority (something many of us are having to do more these days). You can purchase the replay of this workshop for $37.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

I’m promoting artists here on the blog to help them replace some of their income during the pandemic. Please reach out if you have a paper product to sell that you think my readers will enjoy.

I’m so happy to be hearing from the artists I’ve been promoting – everyone has made sales thanks to YOU, dear readers. Thank you for being so awesome and for supporting artists. This week, I’m featuring Washi Arts, a merchant of fine Japanese papers, tools and supplies for artists, calligraphers, printmakers, bookbinders, paper conservators, designers and printers. They have a great range of papers from the useful to the unusual (I have used many of them, and love all of them) – as well as a growing selection of tools and supplies.

Traditional Japanese washi papers are handmade of pure kozo, gampi or mitsumata fibers. These treasured papers are fabulous to work with for all types of printmaking, drawing, collage, and brush calligraphy. But sometimes you need an everyday paper for less expensive editions, test prints, or digital artwork. Kozuke is a family of machine-made Japanese papers made from a mix of kozo fiber (for strength and flexibility) and wood sulphite (for affordability) with some internal sizing. These papers come in white and ivory, in a regular weight (44g) and heavy weight (65g) and the white comes in a light weight (21g). Kozuke papers are so versatile — they can be used for calligraphy, watercolor, inkjet and laser printing, letterpress, lino printing, mokuhanga / Japanese woodblock printing, drawing, pastel and more. This week, all of the Kozuke papers are discounted, including “cousin” papers Tatami and Dai Chiri which are available in five colors each. Washi Arts has put together some special bundles of these sheets so you can try the whole family of papers. Save on sample sets, sheets and rolls. You’ll fall in love with the feel of these sheets and all you can do with them. Click here to shop!

Design & Paper, which looks like a fabulous resource, published 64 Brilliant Paper Artists to follow on Instagram (Um, I didn’t see one that works specifically with handmade paper…).

This paper performance by Aïdée Bernard is beautiful – you get to see the papermaking process and how paper transforms through performance. I was mesmerized!

There’s so much cool stuff being shared over in The Paper Studio (my free facebook group). This week, Joyce Gold dumped was washing out buckets, vats, and her Hollander beater and got a gorgeous photo of how dried residue. Guess what she called it? Abaca on the Rocks! And Rich Gray shared his tabletop mobile: Thai marbled momigami covers the wave stand (made from multiple layers of watercolor paper), and he used iridescent paper for the traditional origami fish.  you can join The Paper Studio (please answer the three questions when you ask to join – this prevents spammers from joining the group).

Check out this online exhibition at the Historic Santa Fe Foundation: Something Wicked This Way Comes features the collaborative work of Tom Leech, a Santa Fe papermaker and marbler, and Patricia Musick, an accomplished Colorado calligrapher and artist, inspired by some of Shakespeare’s most famous lines.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

The News from Here:

My mother’s facility tested everyone again this week, but we don’t have the final results yet. Fingers and toes crossed there are no cases. We did receive good news this week – 2 of the 3 cases they found have fully recovered!

Colorado is moving to Phase 2 tomorrow (Happy Memorial Day!) when restaurants are allowed to reopen with social distancing protocols. I am not going to rush out to eat, but I know this has been particularly hard on restaurants, so I will continue to do take-out when I can. And what about movie theaters? My son and I are thinking drive-throughs might make a comeback!

My husband’s dream came true: he thought that our health club should do classes outside. He went to the gym twice this week for classes – one was held inside, but the second one was indeed outside on the lawn. He reported that the pool had been drained for repairs – I look forward to the day when I can swim again! In the meantime, I’ve visited my Down Dog yoga app 63 times since March 19th, when the pool closed.

Stay well my friends.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Featured this week in my Studio shop:

Alpha, Beta, …, The Paper Year (now 1/2 price), The Papermaker’s Companion and The Papermaker’s Studio Guide.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper? Click on the paper button at the left to learn how. 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!

Paper on the Grid

The Sunday Paper #312

May 17, 2020

Paper of the Week: On the Grid

I have always been enamored by grids, and I have to give credit to Lynn Amlie (a coworker at Dieu Donné Paper Mill in the mid-90’s) for this ingenious attachment idea. Lynn visited the Noguchi Museum and Sculpture Garden in Long Island City – one of my favorite spots in NYC – and was inspired to staple small squares of paper together to create a window shade in her apartment. It took my breath away, and the image of her piece has stuck in my mind ever since. As I prepare to launch my next online class Paper + Light, I thought of that piece and decided to create my own. I applied konnyaku to a selection of Japanese papers from Washi Arts for this piece. This view is unlit, but it looks lovely with light filtering through it.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

In the Studio: 

Samples created years ago in preparation for my book Paper Illuminated. How to make paper translucent: punch, pierce, layer, embed, apply beeswax and more!

Another grid! As I put the finishing touches on my online class Paper + Light, I’m thinking a lot about how to make paper translucent (in addition to looking at papers that are inherently so). This is something we’ll be exploring in class, and here’s your last chance to fill out my short survey and receive a $10 coupon when registration opens next week.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Paper Tidbits:

Have you listened to my interview on Paper Talk with Sarah Brayer?
Robbin Ami Silverberg (who was also on Paper Talk recently) has produced a gorgeous book in conjunction with her 30-year retrospective at Pratt Institute. It arrived in the mail this week and is a must-have for anyone interested in artist’s books!
It is with sadness that I share the news that paper artist Richard Flavin passed away on May 11th in Japan. I had the honor of interviewing Richard on Paper Talk last November in Tokyo. A comprehensive overview of Richard’s life and work, and his unusually gracious, generous and warm personality, will be shared with the community in due time.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Béatrice Coron installed this exhibition at the New York Historical Society just before Covid-19 shut things down in NYC, so nobody has been able to see it in person! She created an artist’s book which documents a site-specific installation for exhibition In Profile: A Look at Silhouettes. Each signed and numbered copy in the edition of 100 includes a negative of the original papercut. Get your copy here!

I’m promoting artists here on the blog to help them replace some of their income during the pandemic. Please reach out if you have a paper product to sell that you think my readers will enjoy.

I love this! An eighth-grade teacher in Delaware tasked her remote students with creating art on or from empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls. This is Alessandra Broussard‘s work, and she took this intriguing photograph as well.

Alessandra Broussard’s paper roll art creations demonstrate her skilled craftsmanship and eye for detail.

This white paper floral construction, a collaborative piece by artists Nikki Nye and Amy Flurry, is mounted to a wall in what will serve as a ‘VIP’ space in the open floor plan of the rooftop lounge at the DoubleTree Hilton in downtown Tallahassee, FL. Hundreds of handcrafted flowers, leaves and blades are arranged in a single, continuous horizontal paper sculpture.

Book art on the beach! Check out the work of Bethany Bickley as seen on Colossal this week.

© Bethany Bickley

Hyperallergic is doing a series in which artists send in a photo and a description of their workspace and reflect on how the pandemic has changed their studio space and/or if they are focusing on particular projects while quarantining. The first one mentioned in this issues – Carol Es – is making art out of paper bags.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

The News from Here:

My mother’s facility tested everyone again this week, and they found no new cases of covid-19, hooray! They will test again next week to make sure they have a firm handle on the situation, since it has only been about 10 days since the initial cases were reported (those with the virus have been isolated). Thanks to those of you who sent notes of concern!

I am knitting most evenings, slowly but surely making progress on this Montana Mountain Cowl designed by Andrea Mowry. I’m looking forward to when I can go back into the shop and knit with others on Saturday mornings.

Stay well my friends.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Featured this week in my Studio shop:

 

Alpha, Beta, …, The Paper Year (now 1/2 price), The Papermaker’s Companion and The Papermaker’s Studio Guide.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper? Click on the paper button at the left to learn how. 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!

Time Flies … !

The Sunday Paper #311

May 10, 2020

Happy Birthday

to The Sunday Paper!

The Sunday Paper is six years old this week – 311 consecutive issues have been published. Wow!

And Happy Mother’s Day to one and all.

I put this blurb at the top of the blog post once a year, asking you who read this blog regularly to consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper. I truly enjoy putting this together each week and am so thankful to those of you who send me comments, contributions and suggestions!

You can contribute by making a one-time gift or a monthly pledge. Thanks to everyone who has supported this blog over the years! I look forward to sharing many more Sundays with you!

———————————————————————————————–––––––

In the Studio: Paper + Light

I spent two days in the studio this week geeking out over Paper + Light (oh my!). As I interact with my online class participants in Flexible Book Structures 2 (who are half-way through creating a series of book structures) I have begun putting together a new online class that will begin on July 6th – something to engage you while you stay safer-at-home perhaps? This course is going to be different than my project-based classes as we focus more on technique. While I’ll still show plenty of structures, I’ll be prompting participants to go in their own direction as we explore paper, translucency, light, shadow, form and more. Think you’d like to join us? Fill out this survey and receive a $10 off coupon when registration opens (in about 2 weeks).

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Minneapolis-based Cave Paper has been producing gorgeous papers for the past few decades. They are one of the few hand papermaking businesses that is able to support a small staff on the proceeds of handmade sheets. I know many of you use Cave Papers in your work, and if you don’t, I invite you to try them out!

Grab this Quarantine Sale Sampler to familiarize yourself with Cave Paper. The sampler includes a variety of 8″ x 11″ flax sheets, a plantable cotton with wildflower seeds and marigold petals, a pulp painted Cloudy Sky, readable alphabet letters plus two wild card sheets so no two packets are alike. Each group of papers comes with either a Dark Granite, Cloudy Sky, or Layered Indigo Walnut  handmade paper portfolio tied with raffia and a description of what is inside.  Cave Paper peeps like all three of these portfolios but if you have to have a certain one then mention that in the “notes” section in your online order. These normally sell for $60 but during the quarantine they are only $40.

I’m promoting artists here on the blog to help them replace some of their income during the pandemic. Please reach out if you have a paper product to sell that you think my readers will enjoy.

Back when we could travel… I got to go to Japan. It was so much fun to visit Sarah Brayer, an American artist based in Kyoto, whom I met when I worked at Dieu Donné Paper Mill in NYC. Sarah is internationally known for her large-scale, poured washi paperworks and aquatint prints, and luminosity is central to her work! While talking, we discovered our kindred spirit: Sarah had an early interest in Japanese fusuma doors (click through to see the gorgeous set she created for her home), while I have been intrigued by the way light filters through shoji screens. Enjoy our conversation on Paper Talk!

Ooh la la! LOVE these sketchbooks by Tucson-based artist Albert Chamillard as seen on This Is Colossal.


I don’t think I’ve posted about face masks here yet. I’m so grateful to see so many friends and acquaintances who are chipping in and making them. I think most of us have masks now, but this is a simple make and take mask created from a paper towel.

This is a fascinating article about the production and use of tengujo, the thinnest paper in the world. As a papermaker, I can appreciate this: “It took (Mr. Chinzei, the papermaker) two years of trial and error, minutely varying the pressure of the pounding machine, the speed of the mixing, the density of the fiber and neri in the water.”

———————————————————————————————–––––––

The News from Here:

Like so many of you, I have been making sourdough bread (thanks to my friend Susan, who gave me some of her starter). So far I’ve made round loaves (both white bread and 1/3 whole wheat) in my dutch oven, and then I tried a sandwich bread loaf and cinnamon raisin bread baked in bread pans. They’ve all turned out pretty well. I’ve also cooked sourdough pancakes, and today I tried biscuits. Those didn’t taste quite as good as they look. I had a feeling when I was mixing the dough, which didn’t turn out light and fluffy…

Bravo! Vail, a huge summer music program was cancelled this week. I’m sure similar things are happening in your neck of the woods. Many local shops are opening, and part-time seems to be the way they’re starting out. Even my accountant (who finished my taxes this week) is open for reduced hours. The local art center is open for social distance purchases, and if the weather’s nice, they are inviting customers to sit outside (instead of inside) to make art.

My mother’s assisted living facility reported it’s first case of covid-19 on Wednesday (thanks, BTW, to those of you who have sent her notes – she mentioned them to me this week and truly appreciates the gesture). The outcome for that poor soul wasn’t good, and the facility immediately tested everyone. And guess what? They discovered more cases. The staff, who really are the ones working on the front lines, must be so freaked out! I am not one to over-worry about things like this, but it is easy to jump to conclusions. From what I can tell, they’re doing the best that they can and are keeping the families informed.

Stay well my friends!

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Featured this week in my Studio shop:

Prism, an artist’s book, Shadow Ornament Online Class, The Papermaker’s Companion and Playing With Pop-Ups.

 

#Lockdown Love

The Sunday Paper #310

April 26, 2020

Paper of the Week: String Drawing in Abaca

As many of you know, I have a thing for string, and one of my passions is the way untied knots look. You know those books of drawings of how to tie a knot require showing them untied? Well, I’ve taken this a step further by tying multiple knots (among other things). This string drawing would become macramé if it were tied tight. Can you see that? Melanie Brauner is a Washington state artist who has taken her love of abaca and metalwork into the realm of jewelry, among other things (see below), and during the pandemic she has launched a project called #lockdownlove – a community building and fundraising opportunity for artists, makers and their supporters. I am joining Melanie this week by offering three copies of Macramé Knot on a sliding scale. I will donate 25% of each sale to my local Salvation Army that works hard to feed those in need.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

In the Studio: 

I also have a thing for watermarks, which are so unique to paper. This is the watermark that is currently on my mould, and so far I’ve made sheets in cotton (above left) and abaca (above right). I am always humbled when I pull watermarked sheets – it is really hard to get a watermark that looks good. I had about a 60% success rate with this design, mostly due to the fact that some areas of the watermark are a bit wide, causing the pulp to slip off and create holes.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Paper Tidbits:

I love watermarks, because they involve Paper + Light. My next online class  (of the same title) will be a fun and creative version of summer school! Two sessions will be offered, one in July and another in August. Fill out this form to be the first to be notified + receive a coupon code when registration opens.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Melanie Brauner (who was on Paper Talk) is the brain power behind #lockdownlove. She wanted started the project for several reasons: to create more income for artists who are struggling; to empower those artists to donate to covid-19 charities; to build community amongst artists; and to make handmade things and art more accessible to people who have experienced loss of income, but still need some hope and beauty in their lives and want to support artists. Anyone can make a #lockdownlove collection or body of work. The rules are: 1. All work must be priced on a sliding scale, and 2. A portion of each sale must go to a covid-19 charity.

Check out Melanie’s lovely jewelry and support #lockdownlove! (Pssst. Mother’s Day is next Sunday)!

Thanks to several readers for sharing these Paper Cities with me. Foster + Partners has found a way to keep children entertained during the lockdown. They have released a series of paper building templates that kids can print out, color and use to build their own paper cities to keep themselves busy. I would have LOVED doing this as a kid when I dreamt of becoming an architect! 

This is a fantastic musing on some of Michelangelo’s works on paper that are/were on view at The Getty. “The exhibition is titled “Michelangelo: Mind of the Master,” and the reference to “mind” is key. Drawing is the most direct record of an artist’s evolving thought, brain-to-hand-to-paper. You can feel it unfolding throughout the show.” This article was written pre-covid-19. I’m guessing the museum is not open, but the article is so worth a read!

Michelangelo Buonarroti, “Studies of the Back and Left Arm of a Male Nude,” 1523-24, black chalk.(Teylers Museum, Haarlem, Netherlands.)

Here’s another great article about text (usually on paper) used in conceptual art. “A long black pen is suspended by an invisible thread over a table. It dances over a sheet of white paper, making tiny black marks. Underneath, the table vibrates like a drum, responding to what is coming out of a speaker mounted to its side.”

A photo provided by the Kröller-Müller Museum shows part of the exhibition “Not in So Many Words,” focuses on art that employs text and undermines the notion that art is a primarily visual medium. (Kröller-Müller Museum via The New York Times)

I love this! A 9-year old in Colorado wanted to show her appreciation for medical workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, so she rallied her classmates and ultimately delivered 2,000 origami paper hearts with “thank you” messages on them to the hospital staff at Swedish Medical Center.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

The News from Here:

Our son decided he was too isolated living in the basement apartment of a relative in Chicago, so he flew home yesterday and will finish his spring quarter online. The flight cost less than his bag check (for realz) and it was 95% full, so he thought it was a joke when they came over the loudspeaker to say they wouldn’t be serving drinks to keep with the social distancing protocol. He wore a mask.

Our daughter went to Portland, OR to visit her boyfriend for spring break back in March when her college still thought they were just telling students they had an extended spring break. That changed after she left, so her belongings are still in Rock Island, IL, while she stays in Portland to finish out the spring semester.

Anyone can get an coronavirus antibody test in our town now, but when I had my annual check-up with my doctor yesterday, she said that many people who swear they had the virus and get tested end up not having the antibody (my husband is included in this group). The line I saw at 9am yesterday had about 10 people in it. I had a very brief illness a couple of weeks ago, and since I have to have other blood work done, I’m going to see if I have the antibody at that time.

I found out this week that I did not get the emergency grant for artists that I applied for, but I did qualify for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance to replace lost income. If you need help, the application process was not difficult, and the assistance has already begun.

Stay well my friends.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Featured this week in my Studio shop:

Macramé Knot, The Paper Year (now 1/2 price), The Papermaker’s Companion and The Papermaker’s Studio Guide.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper? Click on the paper button at the left to learn how. 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!

Structural Abaca

The Sunday Paper #309

April 26, 2020

Paper of the Week: The Abaca Selection


If you’ve followed this blog for any length of time, you must know that I am obsessed with abaca pulp and the resulting paper. Abaca comes from banana plant leaves and I like to call it a the incredible, shrinking, translucent, sculptural material. I’ve been embedding strings and wires between thin, translucent sheets for decades, which it reacts to as it dries. The resulting papers are thin, strong and have so much potential! I have three sets of The Abaca Selection, which come with one thick sheet of flat abaca, a piece of abaca with embedded wire (aka bendable paper), two sheets of abaca with embedded string, and a magnetic Wish Disk, left over from my installation called The Wishing Wall. Click through to read more and acquire a set of these unique papers.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

In the Studio: 
I created a Studio Tour video this week. Check it out, and I hope you can come visit in person soon! I’ll write more next week about the watermarked paper you see in this photo.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Paper Tidbits:

Did you have a chance to listen to my interview with Ioana Stoian on Paper Talk?

Robbin Ami Silverberg was on the podcast recently, and she’s created a lovely virtual tour of the retrospective of her artist’s books at Pratt Institute.

This might be my last post about TP. Fritzi Huber shows you how to make it out of handmade paper!

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Jacqueline Mallegni has curated an amazing show of contemporary handmade paper art which is now virtually on view at Gallery Fritz in Santa Fe with the support of IAPMA (the International Association of Papermakers & Paper Artists). I’m honored to be exhibiting in A Conversation With Paper with a stellar group of artists, and I was so looking forward to attending the opening. The exhibition is now virtual, and I really like how Jacqueline explains why she wanted to show handmade paper art in America in a short video introduction (we really don’t get the same recognition that artists in other countries do)! Take a look at all of the fine pieces, and contact Justin at Gallery Fritz if you’d like to own one of these works and support the arts at a time when we need it most!

Jennie Frederick, Black Structure with Beige Circles, 2020, kozo, plastic, thread, & wire, 48 x 52 x 7 in

These upcycled sewn paper birds are so sweet! Katie Patterson Larson runs Art Salvage in Spokane, WA, and this article walks you through the steps of creating your own bird or flock of birds from brown paper bags and other papers you can find around the house. Hide a treat inside and give these as gifts!

Here’s an interesting club that has gone online due to the coronavirus. Bruin Origami For All was started by some UCLA students who couldn’t find an active group at the school. They had intended to meet in person, but have moved to the Zoom platform until school is back in session.

First-year microbiology, immunology & molecular genetics student Chris Tai co-founded the Bruin Origami For All club, which meets on Zoom. (Amy Dixon/Daily Bruin senior staff)

I just learned about a new paper! Sarah Khan has virtual exhibition of works on Wasli paper (a type of handmade paper used specifically for painting miniatures in India) at Twelve Gate Arts. Her prints are a contemporary feminist commentary on a 15th century Indian cookbook, the Book of Delights.

Sarah K Khan, “In the Wake of the Indian Ocean World before European Colonization” Print on traditional handmade Wasli paper, 24”x 33″. 2019 Fall. Image courtesy of the artist.

This article gives a great overview about how the library at Bowling Green State University uses their collection of artist’s books for teaching.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

The News from Here:

Our county was the first to be hit with COVID-19 in our state, probably due to the fact that it is an international ski resort. Our health care system was on top of it, planning since they first heard about the virus in January until it got here in early March, setting up the first drive-through testing facility, and creating more space in the hospital if needed (I don’t think they ended up needing it, at least not yet). We’ve managed to flatten the curve, and we have met the guidelines for reopening, which begins today. This is both exciting and terrifying. Let us see what our future holds!

It was just two weeks ago when I wrote here that I was bored. Well this week I found the energy to start some new things. I have a knitting project on my needles, I started reading a book, and my brain has been bursting with ideas for my business and my art. Hooray!

My husband’s company qualified for the Payment Protection Program, and his job will be reinstated on May 1st (he was moved to part-time in late March). He also qualified for work share unemployment, which filled his income gap. If you need financial assistance, I believe it is there. The number of programs and e-mails I get about them is overwhelming, and it is hard to determine whether I’m eligible or deserving (I have food on the table, a house, a husband with an income, etc). I decided to apply for a grant and for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance to replace lost income from a teaching gig I lost earlier this month and summer events in the studio.

I listened to a lovely interview on On Being yesterday with Krista Tippett. She interviewed Stephen Batchelor about finding ease in aloneness. I enjoyed his description of solitude as the art of being alone. And he actually talked about how artists are good at this (this is not an art podcast). It is rewarding to have someone puts something into words that I’ve thought about and identify with.

Stay well my friends. May we all strive to find beauty and peace in our solitude!

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Thanks to all of you who filled out my survey for the upcoming online class Paper + Light. I will be in touch with more info soon. In the meantime, if you missed it last week, here’s the premise, although I am now leaning towards one 6-week session.

I think we’re all going to be a bit travel shy for a while, and sadly, I’ve been seeing workshop venue after venue cancelling their summer workshops (my own included). I am planning a fun online class with the intention of getting us through the summer together as we explore paper + light through a series of weekly exercises. Stay tuned for more information, but here’s what I’m planning:

12 weeks of Paper + Light, broken into 4-week sections. Sign up for four, eight or all twelve (there will be pricing incentives for the longer sessions)!
The weekly ‘lessons’ will focus on techniques with a few structures: kneaded paper vessels, strip structures, pleated paper, fun folds, woven wonders, paper panels, shadow structures and more.
We’re going to dig into our paper stashes, and I might have a few specialty papers available for purchase.

I’d love your input, and if you fill out this short survey about the class, I’ll send you a $10 coupon when class opens for registration. We could all use a little more light in our lives!

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Featured this week in my Studio shop:

The Abaca Selection, Vertices, The Paper Year (now 1/2 price), and Playing With Pop-Ups 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? Click on the paper button at the left to learn how. 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!

It Reached Out and Grabbed Me!

The Sunday Paper #308

April 19, 2020

Paper of the Week: Assorted Decorative Sheets


I have assembled 10 sets of these lovely decorative sheets, ranging in size from 3 x 8 inches to 9 x 12 inches. This set of twenty papers includes two handmade sheets by yours truly + a selection of decorative sheets from around the world. Click here to read more and place your order. What do you think you will make with your new stash?

———————————————————————————————–––––––

In the Studio: 

I think we’re all going to be a bit travel shy for a while, and sadly, I’ve been seeing workshop venue after venue cancelling their summer workshops (my own included). I am planning a fun online class with the intention of getting us through the summer together as we explore paper + light through a series of weekly exercises. Stay tuned for more information, but here’s what I’m planning:

12 weeks of Paper + Light, broken into 4-week sections. Sign up for four, eight or all twelve (there will be pricing incentives for the longer sessions)!
The weekly ‘lessons’ will focus on techniques with a few structures: kneaded paper vessels, strip structures, pleated paper, fun folds, woven wonders, paper panels, shadow structures and more.
We’re going to dig into our paper stashes, and I might have a few specialty papers available for purchase.

I’d love your input, and if you fill out this short survey about the class, I’ll send you a $10 coupon when class opens for registration. We could all use a little more light in our lives!

———————————————————————————————–––––––

J Radford is a paper maker, book binder, and maker of things squirreled away in her studio near Charlotte, NC. She creates from a spirit of adventure and finds joy in the tiniest of details. Find her books and paper in her Etsy shop. I’m the proud owner of one of these lovely journals.

I’m promoting artists here on the blog to help them replace some of their income during the pandemic. Please reach out if you have a paper product to sell that you think my readers will enjoy.

Listen to my interview with Ioana Stoian on Paper Talk! Ioana is a british-born artist who currently lives and works in Minneapolis. When I met Ioana there a few years ago, she gifted me a black t-shirt like the one you see her wearing in this photo. We began our conversation talking about self identifying as an artist – that was fun! Ioana got interested in hands-on learning during a five year decorative painting apprenticeship in France, and that interest led her to travel to Japan, where she discovered the art of paper folding. She was inspired to create her own designs, which she has published in a couple of books. You can read all about her books and watch Ioana read her latest children’s book, Always Be You, in the show notes. Enjoy our conversation!

I love this story about Ann Mason, whose “never-ending curiosity for working with new surfaces and materials can turn out something delightfully unexpected”. Can you see what the piece below is created from? I have several students who enjoy using this type of paper.

Handmade toilet paper anyone? Here’s a bit of paper humor for your Sunday morning thanks to Carriage House Paper! I think the 2-ply to 1-ply separation game could become a favorite pastime!

Roll of toilet paper made from pineapple fiber by Asao Shimura

Admittedly, this particular item has little to do with paper. My husband forwarded me this obituary about John Conway, a mathematician at Princeton, who unfortunately succumbed to the coronavirus this past week. Ted read that Conway spent time turning paper strips into flexagons (a minutae in the life of a great solver of much larger and more abstract puzzles). The flexagon bit got me to read the article, but it was this statement by a collaborator of Conway’s that reached out and grabbed me. “I’ve worked with a lot of people, and he was the fastest at solving a problem and would pursue a topic as far as it would go.” I admire this ability to exhaust a topic. It is hard for me to focus on one topic for a long time, and I am often on to the next thing too quickly.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

The News from Here:

How are you faring this week? Colorado got our stay-at-home orders on March 25th, but we were staying in about a week before that in Eagle County. Even though I get out to go to the studio three times a week and walk the dog a lot, I am starting to feel a bit antsy, or maybe I’m bored. I am still working hard, but my leisure activities have waned. I don’t have a good knitting project, and there is no excuse – there is a fantastic knit shop nearby that will hand pick yarns for me. The boredom is a familiar feeling though, and I know it too shall pass.

My online class, Flexible Book Structures, began this week. It is so fun to see what the participants are creating! I beat pulp and made some abaca leather paper – it had been awhile since I’d pulled sheets. And I have a new watermark to put on the mould next week. There is always an element of excitement and anticipation that comes with new papers and projects!

On Thursday, my husband went on a shopping spree – meaning he had to go to four stores to find what he was looking for – in search of hair clippers. He found them at store #4 (Walmart). I just gave my first haircut! It reminded me of mowing the lawn, something I did to make money as a teen. That was one sweaty job that had to be done at 7am in hot and humid east Texas. Ted’s company got a small business loan/grant this week, so they are hiring back the staff they had to lay off just three weeks ago. Ted was not laid off (his hours and pay were reduced) and it sounds like they will be phasing things back in over the next couple of months. In the meantime, he is eligible for the Colorado Work-Share Program, which means that he can collect unemployment benefits.

My sister and niece were supposed to be here right now, visiting from San Antonio. My mother would have really enjoyed that. I’ll go visit mom later today. We now sit on opposite sides of a window and talk on our cell phones. I think I’ll bring letter-writing supplies. She has a hard time writing and has been learning how to dictate letters on the computer, but they’ve cut back on services. Mom loves receiving letters (who doesn’t?) and sending a few out should prompt reciprocation. She has at least one childhood friend who still writes to her regularly. My parents set great examples for keeping in touch with old friends. Do you remember having pen pals as a kid? I thought that was the coolest thing!

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Featured this week in my Studio shop:

Assorted Decorative Sheets, Vertices, Playing With Pop-UPs, 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? Click on the paper button at the left to learn how. 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!

Cabin Fever

The Sunday Paper #307

April 12, 2020

Paper of the Week: Momigami


I have been making momigami over the past few years – a paper that is coated with konnyaku (devil’s tongue root powder mixed with water), and I have accumulated a small stash. I have four similar sets of momigami for sale, and the first person to order a set gets a free copy of Don Farnsworth’s A Guide to Japanese Papermaking. Don wrote another book called Momigami, which you can find online. Click here to read more and place your order. I love sewing this type of paper, because it is flexible and similar to cloth, but I look forward to seeing what you create with it!

———————————————————————————————–––––––

In the Studio: 


I am working out the details for my next book, with the working title Tension. My father was a physicist, and I was delighted to look up the definition of tension as it relates to physics and discover that: Tension is the pulling force transmitted across an axis by the means of a string or similar one-dimensional continuous object. This string drawing crosses the axis of the book page, and tension makes it settle into this image once the page is fully opened. There will be eight string drawings, each one created with a single string – one line can create some pretty complex images! And the act of ‘reading’ each drawing begins with chaos and ends with order. Oh, and there’s a real surprise on the back of each drawing. I look forward to sharing more as this book progresses.
———————————————————————————————–––––––

Papery Tidbits:  

Flexible Book Structures begins this week! I’ll open the classroom tomorrow to begin introductions, and the first lesson will be delivered on Wednesday, April 15th, when we’ll make momigami. You can still join us!
Have you ever made a window star? Learn how!

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Madeleine Durham makes exquisite paste papers that artists around the world have come to know, love and use in their work. I can picture book covers, end papers, covered boxes, calligraphy, cards, collage, weaving and more! Hop on over to Madeleine’s Etsy Shop and start drooling! Better yet, purchase her papers and share what you create with them!

I’m going to be promoting artists as I can here on the blog to help them replace some of their income during the pandemic. Please reach out if you have a paper product to sell (or a paper tutorial to share) that you think my readers might enjoy.

Check out these unique newspaper sculptures by Amritah Sen that deal with fear, uncertainty and politics (how timely). The way this article is set up to read on the internet is quite fascinating, too.

Happy Easter + Happy Passover! Things are hopping along over in The Paper Studio. Have you seen the trend to have Easter eggs in windows? Sarah Morgan shared this photo of her front door, and others are commenting that it is happening in their neighborhoods, too. Sarah got the idea from the prime minister of New Zealand, who suggested an Easter Egg hunt of paper eggs in windows. Join us as we share our love for paper over in The Paper Studio. You just have to answer three quick questions to be admitted.

The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is hosting Cabin Fever Artist Talks, and this week they featured my friend Nancy Cohen. Nancy created a video about her ongoing series The Work of Time. Her large-scale handmade paper drawings relate to the waterways of New Jersey that she has been walking, drawing and kayaking for years.

Love cars and papercrafts? Mazda has papercraft models for the likes of the CX-3, CX-5, MX-5, Demio, Axela, Atenza, Cosmo Sport, R360 Coupe, Luce Rotary Coupe, and Familia.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

The News from Here:

How are you faring? It feels like everything is going online. School (we just found out today  that school will be online for the rest of the year here in Colorado), workouts, church, happy hour… What do you think of this? Are we are lucky that we have the internet to stay connected, or unlucky that we are now even more connected to our devices? I guess that we (have the option to) control that narrative, don’t we? As with most things, it is something to balance.

Speaking of balance, I am still doing yoga with the app Down Dog. And this week, my health club started posting online workouts. I thought they were going to be live (silly me) but they are recorded. There is even a swim workout, if you can believe that! Since I’m a swimmer, I took a peek… it is a workout with bands to keep your arms swim ready. I like the guy who created the lesson (he’s my masters swim coach) but I am not into swimming in the air – LOL. I am not a professional triathlete (he is), so I understand his need to keep his arms swim ready.

I have seen posts from instructors who have been forced to teach online (live classes via Zoom) and there seems to be a concensus that it is harder to teach online verses teaching in person for all sorts of reasons. Although I have been teaching online for several years (I pre-record my lessons, which is much different than managing a classroom online) I do prefer in person teaching where you can see, touch and discuss the work being created. I am guessing that there will be some silver linings from our new experiences though. In fact, I love online teaching for different reasons than I like teaching in person. My own children seem to think that online college classes aren’t their thing either. I’m glad to hear that, and I look forward to the day when they can walk through campus, run into friends, smell the flowers and feel the wind on their faces.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Featured this week in my Studio shop:

Flexible Book Structures online class, Momigami Paper, The Papermakers Package, and The Text Ball.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper? Click on the paper button at the left to learn how. 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!

Book Lights

The Sunday Paper #306

April 5, 2020

Paper of the Week: Book Light


Times, they are a changing! I’ll be listing papers or paper objects each week until business gets back to normal, or a new normal.  I created three of these book lights as samples for my upcoming online class Flexible Book Structures. These are available on my website in The Paper Shop. Thanks to those of you who made purchases last week!

———————————————————————————————–––––––

In the Studio: 


I did it! On Friday, I submitted the manuscript for my next book to the publisher (Storey Books). The last two sections I worked on were an overview of the various types of paper crafts and the resource list. This picture shows about a third of my paper library, and it came in handy! I look forward to sharing details with you here as the book begins to come to life. The projected date of publication is August 2021.
———————————————————————————————–––––––

Papery Tidbits:  

Have you had a chance to listen to my interview with Richard Flavin on Paper Talk?
Flexible Book Structures begins on April 15th. I sold out of supply kits but was able to put together a reduced kit that contains the hard stuff to source. I have four left, if you’d still like to join us (and you can also sign up and source your own supplies).

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Holy smokes! Look at this tea house constructed from 4000 origami units. The structure was designed by Tokyo-based architect Kazuya Katagiri who, with the help of designer Akinori Inuzuka, came up with a method of folding a large piece of washi paper into a single interlocking unit with 2 pockets and 2 arms. I wonder who repeated the task 4000 times!

As seen on Spoon & Tamago, photos by Takuya Watanabe

Earth Day is coming up later this month, and Vamp & Tramp Booksellers has curated a selection of artist’s books to celebrate the day. One of those featured is this collaborative book I made with Karen Kunc called LandEscape. Click through to read more and to see the other lovely books in the selection.

I enjoyed this smart article by John Yau about Chuck Webster’s new drawing and sculpture. His observations about Webster’s practice as it fits into a bigger picture are insightful. I don’t know for sure where the paper was made (I have an inkling) but I love how he documents and captures the process: “… the artist poured different layers of wet paper pulp onto the surface, then let each one dry before applying a different color. Each semi-transparent layer dries flat. The final work is a compressed record of all the different pours.”

As seen on Hyperallergic. Chuck Webster, “Storm Warnings” (2019), collage of drawings on handmade paper with paper pulp painting and watercolor, 58 x 39 inches.

I would love to visit this ‘botanical wall’ in the Netherlands, created by Minneapolis-based artist Ann Wood, who has created an international following for her incredibly lifelike re-creations of flowers, fruits and insects. She dissects real plants and then meticulously remakes them out of wood, wire and handmade paper, painstakingly reconstituting every detail.

From The Star Tribune: A botanical wall is on display at the Kunstmuseum in The Hague, Netherlands.

Paula Beardell Krieg writes a wonderful blog, Playful Bookbinding and Paper Works, filled with paper projects relating to math (don’t let that put you off)! Here’s a recent post for children staying at home looking for something to do.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

The News from Here:

I think I am over the shock of COVID-19 and am settling into my new routine. I’m embracing the new: last night I attended an online memorial for friend from long ago (it was so touching to share stories from those who spent time with him then and more recently). My husband and I had take-out date night from a local restaurant that created an experience: the proprietor made a video telling us about the cocktails, the wine and how to prepare the meal (there was no dessert though!).

On Wednesday, I participated in Alyson Stanfield’s Teaching Art Online Summit. I know that many professors and teachers are having to learn to teach online on the fly. I admire them, because I remember how nervous I was when I started out in 2017!  Many independent artists have been asking me for advice in recent weeks. Alyson put together a group of six artists who teach online, and each of us shared our experience in a 15-minute session, which was followed by a 15-minute Q&A. You can still access the entire summit for $37 (that’s a steal for the 4+ hours of content). And full disclosure, I will receive an affiliate commission if you sign up (that’s a good thing).

Speaking of teaching online, I have been contemplating a summer course, because it looks like I might have to postpone the two master classes that will take place in my studio. The other day I had an idea (this is a signal that I am over the shock of COVID-19, which was distracting me). I’m going to offer a technique-based class in which we’ll be exploring ways to combine paper and light. Stay tuned!

Making a face mask is next on my list today! Remember to help out where you can (it feels good), and stay safe and healthy.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

Featured this week in my Studio shop:

Flexible Book Structures online class, Book Lights, The Papermakers Package, and Playing With Paper.

———————————————————————————————–––––––

If you read this blog regularly, would you consider making a donation to support the research, writing, design and delivery of The Sunday Paper? Click on the paper button at the left to learn how. 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!