Paper is a very flexible medium and allows me to create different types of finished works.
With pulp painting, I get to explore form and colour as well as the wonderful textural properties of paper. For pulp painting, I mix up small buckets of coloured pulp for pouring onto the screen. By controlling the amount and location of the pouring, I “paint” with pulp. I also have a bit of time to manipulate the pulp to form shapes and patterns as it drains and settles on the mould. Layers are built up slowly to create the desired thickness. Sometimes, the paper stands alone as a painting. Lately, I’ve also been exploring mixed media paintings in which I combine my paper with other elements, including gemstones, wire and boxes.
I can also use pulp to create sculptural pieces. For these, I usually couch the sheet and then form it into a shape before drying it (cutting out the pressing stage that occurs with flat sheets). Once the piece is dry, it can be varnished or waxed to enhance durability. The individual properties of the fibres have a big impact on the look and feel of the finished piece.
