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Overview

The history of paper-making is full of examples of people experimenting with and making use of waste materials and plants that are growing close at hand to make new sheets of paper. Making paper by hand can be a very sustainable way to produce a surface to work with.

To make paper you need cellulose, which is a fibre extracted from plants. This can either be taken directly from the plant or used after it has been spun into textiles. The first papers that were made in China were said to have been made from things such as old fishing nets and scraps from the processing of hemp plants into canvas. Almost two thousand years later we can still adapt this process to make use of specific plants and materials we find around us to create new and exciting paper surfaces.

This three-day workshop will take an experimental approach to the craft of paper making. We will explore different materials that have been used historically to make paper and find different plants and materials that we can use now, such as stinging nettles, straw and hay.

Who this course is for

This course is open to all levels of experience, though some experience of an art practice is recommended.

All participants must be over the age of 18.

Course content

During this course you will process different plants to extract their cellulose fibres to make a paper pulp.

There will be an opportunity to make a simple mould and deckle which will be used to make our sheets of paper; if you already have one please do bring it along.

We will also explore sizing and burnishing the formed sheets of paper.

There will be a specific focus on making paper as an art surface and we will consider the variety of different ways it can be used.

Teaching and structure

A list of required materials will be sent one month before the start of the course.

Costs and concessions

The standard fee for this course is £280.

If you book two or more Slade Short courses you will receive a 5% discount upon registration.

Course team

Robert Rivers

Course information last modified: 20 Jun 2024, 15:13