As a break from textile work I recently experimented with boiling paper and plant material in water with vinegar and rusty objects. The results were interesting and unexpected, some beautiful, some ugly, but all usable in one form or another.
The quality of the paper is important. My first batch used Khadi hand made cotton rag paper, 350gsm, which gave reasonable results. Fuchsias, olive leaves, geraniums and hydrangeas were included in the bundle, which was then secured at two ends with bulldog clips. The bundle was boiled for 90 minutes with windows and doors open as well as the extractor fan going at full blast! The smell of boiling vinegar is horrible...
I was pleased with the results but felt that the pages were rather grey, perhaps a combination of cooking for too long and the reaction of the fuchsia to the process. These pictures were taken while the pages were still wet; they were lighter when dry.
The quality of the paper is important. My first batch used Khadi hand made cotton rag paper, 350gsm, which gave reasonable results. Fuchsias, olive leaves, geraniums and hydrangeas were included in the bundle, which was then secured at two ends with bulldog clips. The bundle was boiled for 90 minutes with windows and doors open as well as the extractor fan going at full blast! The smell of boiling vinegar is horrible...
I was pleased with the results but felt that the pages were rather grey, perhaps a combination of cooking for too long and the reaction of the fuchsia to the process. These pictures were taken while the pages were still wet; they were lighter when dry.
For my second batch of papers I used Bockingford watercolour paper, 300gsm, and boiled the pages for just an hour, The results were good but, again, some of the colour was rather dark, aven after drying. I had used autumn leaves and fuchsia, to see if the colours would transfer but instead they made the imprint very dark and, in the case of the latter, almost like a smudgy mess. These are some of the better pages:
The object of this exercise was always to make a book with the pages then work into them to alter, heighten or soften the images. I used watercolours, soluble graphite, pastel and ink but the effects are quite subtle, largely because of the nature of the delicate imagery.
I wanted the book to be a 'self sufficient object' that could be easily displayed. I therefore chose a concertina binding so the pages are more open and interesting. It also make it possible for the book to stand up and be viewed easily, as you can see from the last picture. The back is rather dull so I might add some small collages to the spines as well as ties so that the book can be fastened shut.
I wanted the book to be a 'self sufficient object' that could be easily displayed. I therefore chose a concertina binding so the pages are more open and interesting. It also make it possible for the book to stand up and be viewed easily, as you can see from the last picture. The back is rather dull so I might add some small collages to the spines as well as ties so that the book can be fastened shut.
