Due to the nature of the blind embossing technique, the inclusion of light becomes an integral part of my work on the highly textured surface of the handmade paper. By blind embossing my calligraphic compositions on paper, I have made the paper not only a material that supports the writing, but also a conscious part of the overall presentation of my work. As I have learned to control the thickness and softness of the paper that I make, I have found I can emboss the images of my calligraphy (with a small hand-etching press) with surprisingly fine hairline details. All of the embossed work is done manually, after the paper is entirely dried, one at a time, with careful testing of pressure of the press and placement of the image as it will finally appear. The background of the embossed design area, being naturally smooth and flat, creates a stark contrast with the textures of the handmade paper, which I deliberately change from paper to paper for variety and interest. During the experimental stage of papermaking, I tint my handmade paper with Chinese tea leaves. I use Chinese tea because of the wide variety of leaves available. I have found, after some experimentation, that some major tea leaves give different colored tints to the paper. Also, the stain from tea is quite permanent and I prefer the natural looking tints, varying from different shades of gray to all shades of beige and raw umber. On some papers, the tea leaves are deliberately left on the paper to form part of the overall design. For me, papermaking and calligraphy are a never-ending journey of discovery, self-discipline, and experimentation with different techniques. I find papermaking especially interesting because the stages of preparation and papermaking are very long. Every time I take something out or add something in to a different stage in the papermaking process, the outcome of the final paper is inevitably different. My personal aim is not to make every piece of the paper the same, because I love the variety that can be produced. There is often great surprise at the end of a session with the detail and texture of some of the papers. It is this element of surprise that gives me a lot of pleasure in papermaking. I view the art of calligraphy not only as a means of communication but as a form of visual expression through a special writing instrument that reflects the calligrapher's control over the movement, gesture, and action of writing. Words alone may capture the mind but it is the expressive quality of calligraphy that can capture the spirit of the written word. One of the aspects I strive for in my work is to combine paper and the art of writing in one new entity. Writing and paper go together like bread and butter, but by embossing calligraphy on handmade paper I am fusing them onto one surface, in such a way that one can see the subtleties of calligraphy and appreciate the tactile quality of handmade paper at the same time.
