casting with pulp

I begin by processing natural fibers such as cotton, flax and abaca. These raw fibers are collected and processed in a Hollander, a beater that literally shreds the fibers ‘to a pulp’.  I color the pulp using pure, non-fading pigments. Properly pigmented, the finished sheet becomes light-fast and will not fade over time. I then use these processed, pigmented fibers to build or ‘cast’ a single sheet of paper. As part of the sheet-forming process, I introduce the pigmented pulp directly into the sheet being cast, thereby forming an image and creating an impressionistic interplay of colors and fibers. A wider range of colors can be achieved by intermixing the various pigmented pulps. I form the sheet of paper in a large vat of water. A deckle, or frame, is placed in the vat to keep the fibers in place and to maintain the desired finished shape and size of each sheet. Using common items such as a fork, paper clip, wire, squeeze bottle, turkey baster, and anything else that will effectively pick up the fibers, each individual color of pulp is placed side by side and on top of each other until the desired image and texture is achieved. Since the pulp is suspended in water and remains in the vat during the entire process, the individual fibers weave and interlock with each other, thus forming a single sheet. The pulp is often sprayed, spilled, splattered and manipulated in the water-filled vat to create desired effects. Once the sheet is complete, I remove the water from the vat. Using a specially designed vacuum system, the water is slowly drawn through the sheet and is extracted from beneath, preventing any movement within the fibers and preserving the image cast in the sheet. The sheet is then laid onto a wool felt and carefully dried over several days.  Once dry, both back and front of each sheet is coated and sealed using a clear polymer acrylic formulated for archiving sheets of paper. Great care is taken in the preparation and handling of all materials used. Natural well water is filtered and aerated to ensure pure, particle-free water. I use only natural fibers and pure pigments at a neutral ph to ensure the longevity of the finished artwork. These hand cast sheets of paper, once dried and sealed, will remain unchanged for thousands of years.