Making your own paper
Making your own paper is a simple process but the quality you get depends on the materials used and the skill of the maker.
THE MOULD AND DECKLE
The first thing you need to do is to prepare your Mould and Deckle. You could purchase them but it’s cheaper and more fun to make your own. A Mould and Deckle are simply two frames the same size. Old small wooden picture frames are ideal. The first one, the Mould, has to have some form of mesh screening attached to it. This could be metal mesh or a fairly open weave fabric such as burlap (which is what I use). Staple the screening onto one side of your Mould frame and your Mould frame is ready to use. The second frame, the Deckle, simply sits on top of the Mould frame, on top of the screening, and helps to shape the pulp.
my mould frame with burlap
THE PULP
The pulp can be made out of scrap paper that you want to recycle or it can be made out of any fibrous plant material. The scrap paper could be old receipts, junk mail or used copy paper. I use my scrap watercolour paper. Bear in mind however that the inks in junk mail may colour your paper slightly. If you use plant material such as grasses (even old grass cuttings) or bark, your paper will take on the characteristics of the plant you use. To make the pulp, cut the paper or plants into ½ inch pieces, soak them in water overnight and then gently boil for a couple hours, especially if you’re using plants.
putting scrap paper to use
Once the paper or plant pieces have sufficiently softened they need to be mashed into a pulp. The easiest way to achieve this is to use an electric blender (in small batches) and mash to a smooth consistency. Next, in a container big enough to take your frame, pour in your pulp and mix it with a similar amount of water. The eventual thickness of your paper will be determined by the amount of water you add at this stage.
Now, holding your Mould and Deckle together with your Deckle on top, first dip your frames into the mixture at an angle of 45 degrees, then slowly bring then to a horizontal position before slowly lifting them out of the mixture, giving a little shake to help the pulp mixture settle down inside your Deckle.
ready for couching
COUCHING
Once the water has drained away, remove the Deckle and your new paperleaf is ready to be couched. Couching is the term used for transferring the paperleaf from the mould onto a pre wetted felt or towel. Place the long side of the frame onto the felt or towel and then in one fluid motion place the mould onto the wet felt and remove the mould. Your paper now has to pressed and dried. I use a tea towel and a couple of heavy books for pressing and then leave it overnight to dry.
new paper from old
SIZING
If you want to use your paper for paint or ink it needs to be sized. If you don’t, the paper will be very absorbent and your paint or ink will spread. Sizing can be done internally or externally. One method (which I use) is to use gelatine. The internal application is to add a sachet of gelatine to your paper slurry but alternatively you can apply it externally to your dry paper using a sachet of gelatine dissolved in two pints of water and brushing it on your paper.
Happy painting!
