3.00 Credits
In this course, students produce a variety of handmade papers from plant fibers like cotton, abaca, flax, and hemp. Students learn and practice the entire papermaking process: cooking plant material, pulping fibers in a Hollander Beater, pulling sheets using a traditional mould and deckle, and pressing and drying finished sheets. The class also makes Kozo paper in the Japanese style, which differs significantly from Western papermaking. The course includes introductions to lamination, pigmentation, pulp painting, sculptural methods, and other handmade paper processes, as well as a visit to the Rare Books collection to observe handmade paper in exemplars ranging from incunabula to contemporary artists' books. Throughout the semester, students learn to refine craft and assess the qualities of handmade paper as they work collaboratively to produce editioned paper, some of which is used in independent art projects incorporating additional media.