In Memory of Elaine Koretsky (1932–2018)

As is true for many of you reading this, I was shocked and saddened to learn about Elaine’s death last month, after a long illness (Hand Papermaking Newsletter, no. 125 (January 2019): 2–3).

I have known Elaine and Sidney, who survives her, since the very earliest days of the Friends of the Dard Hunter Paper Museum (now the FDH) that was formalized in 1981 at the annual meeting of the Book and Paper Group of the American Institute for Conservation. She was an officer in that fledging organization and a stalwart member ever since. I think it is true that she, with Sidney at her side, gave a presentation at every annual FDHPM/FDH meeting from about 1983 until just a few years ago. And she contributed articles to the HPN for almost two decades (her daughter Donna Koretsky now writes that column).

Especially when it comes to our understanding of hand papermaking in Asia, Elaine ranks as the most important paper historian this country has ever produced. She contributed more to our knowledge on that topic than anyone. She didn’t just follow in Dard Hunter’s footsteps, she and Sidney travelled down many more roads and saw first-hand many more papermakers in numerous countries. She and Sidney often endured perilous situations, all the while exhibiting stubborn determination to find whatever they sought. Later, she retold the stories of those journeys with remarkable candor and a sense of humor. She and Sidney documented what they experienced visually, as well as recalled them in many books and articles, presentations, and workshops. She also founded the International Paper Museum in 1994, and some years before that co-founded Carriage House Paper in Brookline, Mass.

For all that Elaine has accomplished to bring the history of hand papermaking to us, we shall always be grateful and we shall never forget her.

—Cathleen A. Baker
December 23, 2018

Newsletter #118

In the April 2017 issue of Hand Papermaking Newsletter, read about counterfeiting, a papermaking class that has lasted 20 years, historic UK mills, a collection of decorated paper, how to work creatively with rust, and the connections between papermaking and literature. Also get to know our new executive director, scan the event listings to plan your summer travel, and support our ADVERTISERS.

For Beginners: Constructing a Basic Mould and Deckle

Hand Papermaking Newsletter #84‘s “For Beginners” column provides instructions for one method of constructing a basic mould and deckle. Read the full text here.

One can make an affordable mould and deckle with no woodworking skills whatsoever (unless one counts sanding and hammering nails into wood as woodworking skills). This mould will not form sheets with lovely laid lines, but will be a fraction of the cost, and it will get the job done just fine. The method I’m about to explain is good for small sheets of Western style paper. More….

Find out about accessing Newsletter back issues here.

For Beginners: Color and Pigments

Hand Papermaking Newsletter #63‘s “For Beginners” column introduces multiple methods for creating colored papers. Read the full text here.

Summer is such a colorful time of year. I am reminded of being in Walter Ruprecht’s wonderful facility outside of Harare, Zimbabwe, and seeing a rainbow of papers, but no pigments. He made all of his wide variety of colored papers from bright cotton clothing.

This is certainly one method of making colored paper. Whatever fiber color you begin with will remain approximately the same in the finished paper. This approach assumes, however, that you have access to conventional production equipment. More….

Find out about accessing Newsletter back issues here.

For Beginners: Common Plants for Paper

Hand Papermaking Newsletter #46‘s “For Beginners” column walks discusses plant fibers one can grow in the garden for papermaking. Dreaming of your spring garden to escape the winter? Read the full text here.

Seasonal cycles affect some people more than others but few can ignore the coming of spring, when life bursts forth at every opportunity in every locale–from mountain meadows to sidewalk cracks. With such drama unfolding, even non-gardeners yearn to get their hands in the dirt and be a part of it all. Papermakers, like cooks, can expand their experience by growing their own raw materials, thus enjoying more control over–and connection with–the finished product. More….

Find out about accessing Newsletter back issues here.

Newsletter #117

In the January 2017 issue of Hand Papermaking Newsletter, read about a mobile paper studio, a garden workshop, simple 3D casting, unappreciated papier mâché, and more.

For Beginners: Vegetable and Tamale Papyrus

Hand Papermaking Newsletter #73‘s “For Beginners” column walks the reader through the process of creating papyrus from produce. Read the full text here.

Egyptian papyrus is made by overlapping pieces of the stalk of the papyrus plant and pounding or pressing the pieces together. A similar technique can be used to make vegetable papyrus using common household vegetables or corn husks. These are not true papers, since the fibers are not beaten to a pulp and made into sheets of paper on a mesh surface.

Vegetable papyrus is made by cooking sliced veggies until they are tender, and then pressing them, which can reveal intricate and beautiful patterns in the resulting papyrus. More….

For Beginners: Setting Up a Studio

Hand Papermaking Newsletter #70‘s “For Beginners” column discusses some basic considerations and tips for setting up your own papermaking studio. Read the full text here.

If you get serious about papermaking and decide to dedicate a space to it–whether it be in your basement or garage, or in a special place–here are a few tips I’ve gathered over the years as I’ve visited other studios and worked on setting up my own.

There are several steps in the papermaking process, and you might choose to do them all in one location, or, you may prepare your fiber in one location and make paper in another. In either case, make sure your work area is free of electrical hazards. More….

For Beginners: Vacuums for Papermaking

Hand Papermaking Newsletter #76‘s “For Beginners” column explores a range of vacuum techniques in papermaking. Read the full text here.

I’m always amazed when I stumble across yet another innovative use of a household tool in papermaking. The wet-vac is one such tool, and I’ve seen it used in a variety of ways.

The first time I saw a vacuum used for papermaking was at the Penland School in North Carolina, where, coincidentally, I am now teaching a 2-1/2 week workshop. I was taking a papermaking class and the instructor showed us how to couch sheets of paper directly onto a 4×4 foot silkscreen which was stretched over a wooden frame. After filling up the screen with several freshly made sheets of paper in various sizes and shapes, she got out the wet-vac and sucked the water out of the sheets from the back side of the silkscreen, which simulated pressing. I couldn’t believe it! More….

For Beginners: Why Handmade Paper?

Hand Papermaking Newsletter #90‘s “For Beginners” column outlines some of the many reasons to work with handmade paper in these digital times. Read the full text here.

Why Handmade Paper? You probably know why you’re doing it, or maybe you have trouble articulating it, but there is something about sticking your hands in a vat full of pulp that is addictively compelling. But how do you explain this to the outside world in 2010, in a world of eBooks and digital documents? “Because I like it” does not even begin to address the implications of what the papermaker does. Every act is political. And while pure joy might be your reason for making paper by hand, there is something to be said for articulating some other reasons for doing so. More….