I am an artist and a craftsman in many areas. I enjoy arts and crafts (in no particular order) photography, painting, woodworking, web development, drawing, sketching, papermaking, the list goes on… I do pretty much everything but knit and crochet.
In the area of papermaking people ask me all the time questions that I think I would like to share with others as a form of education? Is there glue involved with making paper? The answer is no. To make paper one needs a screen and deckle, Hollander beater, cotton linter, water, press, and additives if color or other essences would like to be in the paper. So onto other questions about papermaking doesn’t everyone know how to make paper? No to make paper by hand it is a timely process and involves both an art and craft side to be able to pull it off. The best question anyone can ask me is how much? How much do you sell your paper for? It depends on the size of paper, if there is flaw or not in the paper. So my prices are quiet reasonable at five to ten dollars for a sheet of homemade 100 percent USA made paper. What can anyone purchase that is made in the USA now days for that reasonable price? There is not much! So who buys my paper? Other artists that do not know how or want to make their own paper all the way down to the lady down the block wanting to do scrapbooking with my paper. The deckle edge and scrap bookers go nuts over the paper. I can make and bind my paper to make a book as well if need be for others. Book binding is more, it depends upon the amount of pages and what the consumer would like to use as the binding method.
As I do not use big heavy equipment people wonder how do you make paper outdoors in your little studio. Will sorry my studio is off limits to the general public. Keep in mind I do make paper in front of my child and husband and I believe they would know how I make it. I am a private artist in a sense that once my artwork is ready one can see it. I am married but I define myself more as being a parent and a mother. I do not consider myself a homemaker (perhaps it’s my feminist point of view). I am a parent, an artist and a student. Yes in that order!
Recently I had two paintings displayed at the Gordon Park’s Gallery. I have had my photography also featured in the Haute Dish. I am very proud to be on page seventeen of a magazine which one can also view online by going to www. hautedish.metrostate.edu in the summer 2012 volume 8 Issue 2.
I dislike not knowing what is going to happen. I do not care for surprises. I like to be able to know what to do in certain situations before they happen. There are many events in my own life I would change if I could… Unfortunately I cannot change my past I can only rely that my future will hold bigger and brighter agendas.
In the summer I love wearing sundresses; hair tied up in a tony tail and if you are lucky will see my paper hanging off of my home drying in the breeze in the natural elements.
I dislike flowers and for some reason people do not understand my distaste for them. I would rather grow in my garden lettuce that I can eat than a flower that will make me sneeze. I have indoor plants for air quality purposes that do not cause me to have sneezing attacks. I am happy I have no carpeting in my main living areas however my basement is carpeted. If money was not an issue I would put in a heated floor in my basement and get rid of the carpeting tomorrow. That is how much I dislike carpeting.
I recycle more than I throw away. I use found objects as well for my works of art. I try to make my artwork as free and clear to allergies as possible. I have been offered commissions to make paper with roses and dead flowers. I turn people down on this all the time. First of all I will sneeze from the flowers and they will not last long and the paper will not look nice in a few years. I have actually given a business that has sold dead flowers on homemade paper to consumers.
I am a cancer and my feelings can be hurt easily but I am not afraid to talk to strangers and ask if they want artwork in their business or perhaps a website if they do not already have a website for personal or business reasons.
I dislike being critiqued as a Georgia O’Keefe style painting and or drawing. I feel as if I am an original. My favorite artist is a male Vincent Van Gogh. I am proud to state I have been overseas and have visited the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. I would live in that museum if they would allow me too. I love art and art feeds my soul!
