Creative papermaking – emboss, layer and cast with Lucy Baxandall

Ref: S3D31663

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About this course

Explore easily accessible traditional papermaking processes and experimental techniques, to make a series handmade paper artworks with a visual narrative. Using cotton, abaca and native plant pulps, learn to emboss, layer and cast paper.

Course Description

Join artist and papermaker, Lucy Baxandall, for hands-on and enjoyable days exploring visual storytelling through papermaking.

After an initial practical session running through traditional papermaking techniques, you will experiment with making and using prepared cotton, abaca and native plant pulps to form sheets, before moving on to embossing, layering, and casting the paper. Your first project will be to make sheets to create a layered tunnel book, and, during the first day, you will take a short walk to collect plant materials, so please have suitable footwear. The materials you collect will be incorporated into your papers.

The course will be taught by means of demonstrations and practical work, as well as individual attention to support your project. There will be information and handouts to allow you to take these skills further, independently, after the course. We will aim to make paper traditionally, using easily accessible processes and experimental techniques.

At the end of the course, you will have made a beautiful and intriguing tunnel book and other handmade paper artworks. You will have experimented with papermaking using a range of techniques, and you will have gained and built upon skills to take further in your own work. You will also have a selection of sheets to use in your own future projects.

Timetable

Arrival Day - this is the first date listed above

Courses start early evening. Residential students to arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm.

6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included).

8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential.

Daily timetable

Classes 9.15 - 5pm, lunch is included.

From 6.30pm: Dinner (included for residential students).

Evening working - students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with their tutor's permission and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Last day

Classes 9.15am - 3pm, lunch is included.

Residential students are to vacate their rooms by 10am please.

(This timetable is for courses of more than one day in length. The tutor may make slight variations)

Course Materials

Included

  • The course fee includes general materials, including thread and string, some inks, dyestuffs, J-cloths, use of papermaking equipment, moulds and deckles, felts, cotton pulp and fabric or cotton linters for pulping.
  • Please note that if you make especially large work in size and/or quantity, it may be necessary to pay extra for what you use. All other or additional materials will be purchased individually.

What students need to bring

  • Please think about colours and textures found in the natural landscape, for instance the colour and texture of bark or leaves.
  • A sketchbook, or a few sheets of white paper, and pencils
  • We will be working with wet material and sometimes with inks, so wear older clothing and bring an apron and rubber gloves.
  • A camera might be useful.

Available to buy

  • Available from shop:
  • Paper, including handmade paper
  • Muslin
  • Thread
  • Available from tutor:
  • Extra bags of pulped cotton or sheets of cotton linters for large work can be purchased at cost price from the tutor (as a guideline £3.50 per pack of cotton linters/bag of pulp).

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no open toes or sandals).

Tutors

Lucy Baxandall

Lucy Baxandall is a papermaker and book artist based at Tidekettle Paper in Berwick-upon-Tweed. She has worked as a financial journalist, jewellery designer/maker, translator and teacher of French, German and art in the UK and the USA.

Accommodation

Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.

Courses of interest

Further study options

Take the next step in your creative practice, with foundation level to Masters in Fine Art study. 

Depending on your experience, start with an Online Foundation Certificate in Art and Design (one year, part-time), a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design made up of 10 short courses taken over two years (part-time) or advance your learning with our BA (Hons) Art and Contemporary Craft: Materials, Making, and Place (six years part-time). All will help you develop core skills, find direction in your practice and build an impressive portfolio in preparation for artist opportunities or higher-level study. See all degree and diploma courses.