Papermaking Work
I combine the art of papermaking with pressing of plants, especially mountain wildflowers, and macrophotography, all in different combinations. I combine locally obtained materials (including cat-tail spikes and rabbit bush heads) with cotton linters and manila hemp, using screens of various sizes, mostly 12 x 15” and up to 20 x 28.” I am experimenting with the dyeing of pulp and its addition to paper to create abstract designs and landscape-like effects. I also use marbling techniques, especially in conjunction with wildflowers. I include some photographs of my studio and some of my work.
Studio building houses the controls and batteries for our PV system, which provides electricity for studio and house.
Side entrance to studio and Kit Carson Mountain in background.
Studio interior highlighting wet table where paper is made.
Deckle box in tub, where dyed pulp is added to plain pulp.
Other end of studio, with storage of pressed plants and paper.
Another view of Kit Carson Mountain, taken from just outside of studio building.
Here I am in the process of making paper.
Card with photograph and pressed flowers of Indian hemp.
Prairie sunflower in Baca Grande with Buddhist stupa in background.
Blue columbine, photo and pressed flower, in mat. These vary in size matted from 6 x 8” to 16 x 20”.
Scarlet gilia, photo and pressed flower, matted.
Delphinium, photo and pressed flower, matted.
Autumn view, Alder Creek in north San Luis Valley, with associated pressed leaves.
Marbled handmade paper, with pressed flowers.
Marbled handmade paper.
Marbled handmade paper.
Marbled handmade paper.
Crestone Buddhist landscape with pressed flowers, pulp dyed and free-formed paper.
Crestone and Ziggurat landscape with pressed flowers, pulp-dyed and free-formed paper.
Crestone Buddhist landscape with pressed flowers, pulp dyed and free-formed paper.
Mountain landscape from free-formed and painted paper.
Free-formed landscape with pressed flowers, paper “painted” with dyed pulp.
Free-formed landscape with pressed flowers, paper “painted” with dyed pulp.
Paper painted with dyed pulp.
Marbled handmade paper.
Pulp dyed handmade paper with pressed flowers.