Jane Ponsford will lead an exploration of colour in papermaking using natural inks/ dyes and pigments, including subtle colours from the beautiful autumn/ winter gardens at West Dean.
After an initial practical day running through traditional papermaking techniques, use of Hollander beater, moulds and deckles, etc., we will take a short walk to draw inspiration and materials from the gardens.
The second day will focus on colour and using the paper made on the previous day, although there will be further opportunities to make paper throughout the three days.
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 make paper traditionally using a Hollander beater and professional equipment, making and using cotton pulp to form sheets, but we will also explore more easily accessible techniques before experimenting with dyeing and dip-dyeing and making natural inks to mark and stain our paper.
At the end of the course, you will have made some beautiful sheets of paper, carefully considered artist books responding to natural colour and other two and three-dimensional handmade paper artworks. You will have experimented with papermaking and making and using natural dyes using a range of techniques and you will have gained and built upon skills to take further in your own work.
This course is particularly suitable for those with an interest in papermaking and fibre crafts.
Included
Materials provided:
- Cotton rag to be beaten in the Hollander beater
- Prepared cotton rag pulp which can be beaten using blenders
- Local plant material
-Clay
- Chalk, etc.
- Adhesives and binders where necessary
- Linen bookbinding thread and other thread and yarn
Equipment provided by tutor and/ or West Dean:
- Blenders
- Moulds and deckles of various sizes
- Vats
- Felts
- Pelion
- J-cloths
- Bookbinding tools: awls, needles, nip press, etc.
- Hollander beater (tutors own)
What students need to bring
- clean lidded containers: jars or empty milk containers or similar for inks/ dyes
- plastic bags to take home work or for collecting materials
- Sketchbook/ Notebook
- Pens, pencils
Available to buy
Available from shop:
As required: ink, paper, thread, scalpel and blades
Available from tutor:
Additional dry cotton rag pulp sheets, pelion, prepared paper making additives, wire mesh sheets
Additional information
Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).
Arrival day
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 7.15pm for registration. Students arriving earlier are welcome to purchase dinner in the College Dining Room from 6pm.
Students meet their tutor in the Bar at 7.30pm prompt to go to studios.
First Teaching session: 7.30pm - 9pm (attendance is essential)
Daily timetable
Course teaching: 9.15am - 5pm
Morning session: 9.15am - 12.45pm including coffee/tea break
Lunch break: 12.45pm - 2pm*
Afternoon session: 2pm - 5pm including coffee/tea break
Teaching finishes: 5pm
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.
Departure day
Course teaching: 9.15am - 3pm
Teaching finishes: 3pm
Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am.
Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required.
*Lunch can be purchased on campus, view options