A series of creative workshops – The mystery of handmade paper
Workshop Description
Mystery One
The History of Paper – how paper was invented
To enhance and make you interested in the “The mystery of handmade paper” workshop series, a lecture will be presented on the history of paper and humanity’s journey to inventing paper, from ancient times to the present. For modern people, the terms papyrus and handmade paper mean the same thing! Workshop participants will be able to see papyrus, parchment, and wax tablets. They will become familiar with the variety of materials on which they can create unique works, harnessing the history of papermaking.
Mystery Two
We create handmade paper from nettles and grass
Paper is a material derived from plant cellulose; it can be made from any plant containing relatively long cellulose fibers. Therefore, we will attempt to create paper from weeds and grasses. Such plant-based paper, properly impregnated, can be used as watercolor paper, a book cover, or a page in a book. Properly cut and designed, it can serve as beautiful jewelry. During this workshop, we will extract sheets of paper from nettles and grasses. To do this, we will collect the appropriate plants, cut them, and then prepare them. At the end of the workshop, we will extract paper from them, which we will use to create our works in subsequent workshops.
Mystery Three
Papermaking on large wooden hand-made Frames
While discovering the third mystery, we will learn about papermaking and tackle papermaking on enormous wooden frames. At the Handmade Paper Factory, this is possible because the paper mill has a huge press that can create large paper works. Wild plants with enormous umbels and long grass can be arranged and embedded into such large sheets of paper. Paper can also be tinted and created into enormous paper fabrics.
The Fourth Secret
Paper Dyeing in Eight Ways.
Discovering the fourth secret will be fascinating – imagine eight stations in a paper mill where you can dye paper in various ways. Beautiful papers dyed with a thick carrageenan extract, paste papers, papers stamped with woodcut seals, and herbarium papers, like those created by Leonardo da Vinci, will be created, using gifts of nature – plants, the texture of bark, and fish scales. While creating our own colored papers, we will learn how to create our own inks using plant juices and gum arabic, as well as plant decoctions suitable for creating water-based colored paints.
The Fifth Secret
Double lampshade paper
Discovering the fifth secret, we will create beautiful sheets of lampshade paper on sifted screens with plants embedded between two layers of paper. During the day, the light beautifully spreads on the raised reliefs of these papers. When we turn on the light, the paper fully reveals its embedded color and plant elements.
Mystery Six
We sew unique books
From the resulting experimental papers, we will create a unique work of art: an art book. We will learn the technique of sewing a book using a bookbinding stitch, and then we will try to bind the book in a simple way. We will try to stain the edges of the book before inserting it into the binding.
Mystery Seven
Jewelry, paper cutouts
While discovering the seventh mystery of paper, we will create three-dimensional objects. We will suggest making artistic jewelry from paper and decor/toys for your Christmas tree.
Mystery Eight
Vessels from paper and clay
By adding cellulose pulp to the ceramic mass, we can create very large vessels, as the paper burns during firing, creating pores and empty spaces that give the vessels a lightness. This discovery allowed ceramic artists to create large, three-dimensional sculptures.
Workshop Duration Information
The planned workshop, “Handmade Paper and Its Secrets – Art in the World of Paper,” is open to 10 participants at a time. Classes will be held once a week from March to December (with a summer break from July to October).
Please contact us regarding participation in English.