Thursday, March 17, 2011

Paste Papers

As you probably noticed by now, I'm very curious and experimental when it comes to my art. I'm also in permanent danger of getting hooked to new and new hobbies. I have flirted before with the idea of making my own papers to use for book covers and endpages and it was always such a fun. Yesterday I tried making paste papers for the first time. I won't get into details as to how they are made, as there as plenty of tutorials on the internet but briefly, making paste paper is an historic method to decorate paper by applying a paste made of starch / glycerin / methyl cellulose mixed with colors. The possibilities are infinite - the use of different backgrounds to work on, any type of colors such as ink, paints, pigments, various paper textures and tools, basically anything that can create a pattern - combs, stamps, fingers, etc.

Here are the results of my trials from yesterday. I chose a more 'vintage' color pallet as I want to use these with my old leather books. An overview of each paper sheet (around 12 x 19 inches) at the right and a close-up view at the left.











7 comments:

Gize bookbinding said...

Teo!
They are so lovely and creative.
I have been doing some research on creating my own papers and even with newspapers.
Now you have really put my mind to giving it a try!
Big Hugs

Baghy said...

They look wonderful, Teo! I think it is a great idea to use one of a kind paper in your journals! I love the patterns you created. Do the paper wrinkles, do you have to iron it after it dries? I wanna try my hand at making a few of my own!

Teo said...

Thank you my friends! I wish we could have a 'playing with paper' workshop together, it would be so much fun!

Anca, the paper does get a bit wavy once it's dry. I read that you can iron it, but I personally prefer to wet it a bit on the back and put it in the press.

I can't wait to see what you two will create!!

Joei Rhode Island said...

These are gorgeous! And your hinges....WOW!

Adeline said...

Teo! This looks like such fun! I love the subtle colors you chose, the papers will look so amazing as endpages for your books!!

Louise said...

These are beautiful Teo. I love the one second from the bottom the most. There is an air of Aboriginal art in them, like olde cave paintings. Beautiful. I think I want to change my papers but I am sure it's too late! If it's not too late the second to last paste paper is gorgeous! xx

galatea. said...

BEAUTIFUL post xx