A while back, I started making my own paper to print my photographs on. I hoped it would be a unique way to showcase my images. After a lot of experimentation repurposing shredded paper into a product with the right thickness and consistency to go through my printer, the end result exceeded my expectations. (Check out my shop page.)
An additional result is that I became fascinated with paper and how it’s been used in art, well for as long as paper has been around. Here are some techniques I’ve been playing around with:
Momigami - Japanese technique to transform paper from stiff to soft by gently kenading it with a softening agent … olive oil, hand cream. The traditional Japanese agent is a plant-based starch. I use my favorite hand cream!
Tataki-zomé - another Japanese art technique in which fresh flowers and leaves are pounded onto fabric or paper, releasing the natural pigments onto the material, leaving a permanent imprint. I’ve experimented with many different flowers and leaves, depends on what I have in my garden … some work better than others
Chine Colle - used in printmaking to add a thin piece of colored paper to a block print. I use tissue paper to add color to my woodblock designs.
Paste Papers - this technique began as a bookbinding craft. You apply a mixture of paint and paste — you can make your own with flour and water or use wallpaper or papier maché paste — onto heavy paper and then create patterns and textures. I use a variety of items, plus my fingers.
Paper Weaving - this is exactly what it sounds like. Take various strips of paper and weave them into a design. FYI: It originated in China during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (14th to early 20th centuries) as a sophisticated fine art.
Cyanotype - This process reminds me of my days in a darkroom. It’s a process that uses sunlight to create an image on chemically treated paper. The results are “Prussian blue” images. Many artists make botanical prints, which where its origins lie. I’ve been using negatives of my photographs, with varied success. Still figuring out best practices.
Paper Netting - again, pretty much exactly what you’d expect this to be — lacy looking paper. I use my sewing machine to create a grid pattern and then gently remove specific squares of paper.
I can’t say I’m an expert at any of these techniques, or what I might do with what I’ve made but I sure am having a lot of fun!