1   PAPER MAKING

The best way of learning to understand paper is to make some sheets by yourself. The suitable technique for it is a somewhat simplified technique of paper-making which was created in China about 2000 years ago and was used in Europe from the 12th century until the invention of mechanical paper-making.
Thick paper broth is made out of small pieces of waste paper by a kitchen appliance. Out of this broth some sheets of paper are made with a frame. There is also enough time to experiment along with becoming acquainted with the technical procedure (for instance, including other materials such as dried plants, seeds, threads, colouring, stamping, founding, direct paper-making out of plants such as straw, onion shells, hemp, corn leaves).
Products range from special stationery to interesting pictures.

During the workshop the fascinating history of paper is explained.

  

 

2 MARBLED PAPER

This technique of improving paper surface has a remarkable history beginning in the East and strictly kept secret for ages. With its surprising results, it is also one of the most beautiful and interesting techniques. This technique is based on the fact that water and oil don‚t mix . Oil colours are applied some kind of glue ground. With different instruments one can form different samples which eventually are taken sheet of paper. The samples created vary depending on the undercoat, kind of colours, technique and naturally on the artist.

Marbled sheets are suited first of all as decoration for different things: one can create wonderful note-books, files, boxes, pencils, greeting cards... But one can also let them be effective as pictures.

Different kinds of samples and structures perception, some feeling for colours and mixtures are strongly expressed by producing marbled paper.

 

3 ORIGAMI

gives us a possibility to move from the second to the third dimension.

The ancient art of folding paper is a play of transformation: out of a sheet of paper a flying crane, a blue whale, a gentle lily, a geometric form or an interesting wrapping is created... Origami is an interesting composition of imagination and logic, it has a meditative influence and stimulates intellectual ability and imagination. Even during mathematics lessons one can illustrate mathematical and static laws (second and third dimension, surface-bodies, balance, symmetry...

As an introduction one folds easy samples and then changes to more complicated figures. At the same time one automatically gets to know terms and learns to read fold manuals. You can also try to invent your own samples.