ARTISANS: Spothlighting Makers of Handcrafted Goods : Pulp and Circumstance Make Works of Paper Off-the-Wall Art

Katherine McGlothlin admits her art is a little off the wall--literally.

At Studio 101, she creates three-dimensional art pieces using homemade paper fashioned to represent landscapes, cats in pink tutus, cowboys lassoing a bull, a doll’s house complete with a gingerbread-style trim and various cows.

“Cows are very popular now,” she says. “Some go in children’s rooms but many wind up in kitchens. Even though I have the same basic pattern for the cows, because of the inconsistencies of the paper, they all end up looking a little different.

“Papermaking is very physical and with the kinds of pieces I do, there’s also an element of problem solving. A client needs something to fit in a certain corner, or in a stairwell, or tucked away. I need to create art to fill that corner. I need to figure out a solution to brighten up an area of their homes or offices.”

McGlothlin began creating handmade paper and fashioning it into a variety of different forms while working as an interior designer in 1976.

“I was always looking for art that would actually pop off the wall. I wanted something different, something unique.

“Three-dimensional art added texture and interest. It also is lightweight and reasonably priced. After I began placing my pieces in the homes I was decorating, other designers became interested in my work. Eventually, I developed a business, with an emphasis on handmade paper.”

Handmade paper is distinguishable because of its inconsistencies and variations.

“The paper is made out of a special cotton that’s specially prepared for papermakers,” she says.

Cotton fibers are long and flexible, making them well suited for papermaking. A pulp is made by mixing the cotton strips with water. The cotton and water are put in a large vat and mixed, then the pulp is pulled out.

The tools needed are a mold and a deckle, which shape the paper. The deckle serves as a frame for the mold, which is a screen that catches the paper fibers.

“You dip into the pulp with a mold and deckles, then shake off the excess water. This locks the fibers together, giving handmade paper its texture,” McGlothlin says. “Transfering the wet mixture from the vat to the mold is called couching. As the paper dries, it will take on the form of the mold, whether it’s flat or rounded. While it is in the pulp stage, the paper can also be dyed in any variety of shades or it can be painted after it dries.”

Once the paper is dry, it can be bent, folded, ripped or glued.

“What’s most difficult for me is waiting for the paper to dry,” she says. “Paper isn’t paper until it’s thoroughly dry. On a warm summer day, it can take six to seven hours if I set it out in the sun. In the winter, it sometimes take two to three days.”

Her work ranges in size from 5-by-7-inch scenes to large murals. “One animal mural I created was 6 feet long,” she says.

The size and the intricacy of a piece often determine its cost. “My work sells anywhere from $25 to $600,” McGlothlin says. “Of course, for a custom piece, it could go higher. The items I do for children’s rooms generally range between $25 to $75.”

McGlothlin takes anywhere from three to 10 hours to complete a piece, depending on the size and complexity.

Papermaking has been increasing in popularity over the past 10 years, according to McGlothlin, but papermaking has been practiced for thousands of years. The first paper was made in China more than 2,000 years ago. Prior to the advent of paper, writing and painting were done primarily on bamboo and scrolls. Papyrus has been around longer than paper, but is not considered a “true paper.”

“It seems cyclical,” she says. “Papermaking gets popular, then dies down for a time. Then it becomes popular again. Right now, my best sellers are torn paper arrangements and collages. I also mirror themes that are popular, such as the cows.

“Other items that sell well include teddy bears and hearts. Marbleized papers are also good sellers. I’ve started incorporating marbleized paper into my work and branched out a bit with note cards and bookmarks.”

But most of all, McGlothlin says papermaking is fun.

“You are free to experiment,” she says. “I often add other fibers to the paper like grass or kinds of thread. It adds interest and texture and makes very beautiful paper.”

For those who are interested in learning more about papermaking, many community colleges and adult education programs feature how-to programs.

A one-day workshop on beginning papermaking will be offered by Vera Viana Asper at Paper Images in Costa Mesa Oct. 5 and Nov. 9. The cost is $65. For further information, contact Asper at (714) 557-2009.