How to Make Paper by Hand

Gretchen Schermerhorn: Hi, my name is Gretchen Schermerhorn and I am here at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center. I am going to be showing you a variety of topics today including how to make paper by hand. First I am going to show you how to cut and rinse your blue jeans so that they will not jam the beater. Next, I am going to show you the proper way to load the beater so you will have thoroughly beaten pulp, great for sheet forming. Next, while the pulp is beating I will show you how to set up your station for paper making. Next, I will show you how to create a slurry which is a mixture of pulp and water. Then I will show you the proper technique for creating sheets of paper. Next I will show you how to build up layers to create a stack or post of papers. After the post is built, I will show you how to load it into the press. Then I will show you the proper way to use the press. Last, I will show you how to unload the post of paper and will show you how to load the damp sheets of paper into the drying box. Now I will also talk about what a drying box is and and how you can make one at home. Last, I will show you how to curate the sheets of paper, taking out the sheets that have flaws. To begin this process, you are going to need some certain tools and materials. You are going to need blue jeans, wool felts, a mold and a deckle or a screen for paper making, a cone strainer, some buckets and you will also need a tub. It is also helpful to have a waterproof apron or wear clothes you wouldn't mind getting wet and last, it is really helpful to have a room that has drains on the floor or just make the paper outside. Next, I want to talk a little bit about safety issues. Some of the things you will want to consider are when your floor gets wet, you want to be really careful where you walk so watch your step. The beater has some safety precautions including not putting your hands inside of the beater. When you use a rotary cutter, you want to be careful not to put your fingers in front of the cutter. Before we get started, I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. Again, this is Pyramid Atlantic Art Center and we are an art center dedicated to print making, paper making and book arts and my job is to collaborate with artists when they come here and also, I go into public schools and I teach print making and paper making and in addition, I teach at various other art centers in the community. Alright, well let us get started making paper.