materials Properties of Paper
Paper is a sheet material that is typically made from the fibers of trees. The natural fibers in wood are broken apart before being pressed together again to interlock in a sheet of paper. Since the breakdown of wood fibers during the pulping process requires heavy machinery and chemicals, individuals do not begin the process with trees. Artists make paper from fibers that have gone through this process. The fibers determine the strength and durability of the paper. Paper has more strength when fibers are long. Fibers that have been recycled many times are short and the paper disintegrates much more easily and may break when you make a fold. The qualities in paper that a sculptor is interested in are its folding strength, bending stiffness, tensile strength (ability to handle stress), weight (thickness), and size. The alignment of the fibers in paper determines whether it tears in a straight line or randomly. Additives in paper can make it glossy, bright white, or more or less absorbent.
Tools and Equipment
Artists use a blender to break down sheets of paper. Pulp for paper making can be obtained from cotton linter pulp, recycled copy paper, construction paper, newspaper, or strips of 100% cotton rag made especially to create strong sheets. Avoid using glossy or shiny sheets of paper except in small quantities for decorative purposes. A dish pan holds the water and pulp. A deckle frame placed on top of a mold is used to pull a sheet of paper. The mold gathers the suspended fibers while the frame keeps the fibers from escaping the mold. A tightly woven cover screen secures the fibers while water is sponged from the sheet. We suggest Grummer’s Dip Handmold , which serves as a mold and frame. The step by step illustrations show how to pull paper using that method. A towel, large sponge, and some sheets of paper towel are also needed.
Safety
Extra care should be taken when using the blender. We suggest that an adult do this part of the process.
Basic Instructions
Paper scraps are torn into small pieces and water is added to the pieces. Fibers are torn apart using a blender to make paper pulp. Colors and decorative papers can be mixed to make unique sheets of paper. Paper fibers are then suspended in a water-filled tub. The pulp-per-water amounts determine the thickness of the paper sheet. More pulp will create a thicker sheet of paper. A mold with screen and a deckle frame is used to gather fibers, separating them from the water. Excess water is sponged out of the fibers as fibers are compressed into a new and unique sheet of paper. Pulling uniquely colored sheets is only the beginning step to creating works of art with handmade paper.
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