CARRIAGE HOUSE PAPER WORKSHOPS

Below is a list of regularly offered workshops.  We conduct these classes year-round and dates will be posted as they are finalized.  We have a completely equipped hand papermaking studio including a Hollander beater; a hydraulic press, a drying box, and traditional western moulds of all sizes and shapes. If you would like to be notified of any upcoming workshops, please send us your current mailing or e-mail information along with which class you are interested in taking.  All of the classes can be scheduled for private groups.

INTRO TO PAPERMAKING
This one-day workshop covers basic techniques of Western papermaking including pulp preparation, sheet forming, pressing and drying.  Participants will form their own sheets and explore the possibilities of lamination, embedding, and collage.

CONTEMPORARY WATERMARKS
Create personal watermarks using wire, buttercut, magnetic sheeting, and puff paint.  Participants will have the opportunity to design custom watermarks for stationery, end papers and artwork.  Basic pulp preparation, sheet forming, pressing and drying will be reviewed.  This is a great class for any level.

EXOTIC FIBERS and JAPANESE PAPERMAKING
Each participant will create an array of papers from unusual fibers such as true hemp, kenaf, as well as banana and kozo grown at Carriage House here in Brooklyn!  This will be a very busy 2 days, as we delve into fiber preparation, cooking, beating (both mechanically and by hand), sheet forming and drying on boards.  Authentic Japanese sugetas will be used.

PULP PAINTING
This workshop will explore image making in hand papermaking.  Using multiple moulds and vats of pigmented pulp, along with contact paper, dental syringes, paintbrushes and squeeze bottles, participants will develop images by layering and overlapping thin veils of pulp.  Basic sheet forming and pigmenting will be reviewed.

PULP POURING/PULP PAINTING
Pulp pouring is an ideal way to make large sheets of paper without breaking your back.  Pulp is poured onto the surface of the mould to form a sheet of paper, rather that dipped into a vat.  This process allows one to make large-scale paper without the use of vats.  The first day we will begin with the use of the pulp pouring mould, a fully self-contained system for sheet forming.  It is also useful in forming decorative sheets using multiple buckets of color and squeeze bottles.  On the second day we will explore the world of image making in hand papermaking using stencils, watercolor pencil transfers, and a technique known as pulp painting.  Students will create images on a base sheet using over-beaten pigmented flax.  The pulp can be applied using your hands, squeeze bottles, or paintbrushes.

SCULPTURAL PAPERMAKING
High shrinkage fibers, such as flax and abaca, are perfect for manipulating in the third dimension.  Working with metal, wood, and fabric, participants will learn various techniques of armature building, and ways to combine them with paper.  Methods of applying pulp to surfaces will be demonstrated.  Perfect for achieving hollow, seamless cast paper and airy, feather-light forms.

SCULPTURAL PULP PAINTING
This 2-day workshop will explore the sculptural and image making possibilities of handmade paper.  Participants will use high shrinkage unbleached flax along with nylon stocking armatures to form small sculptural objects that they will then pulp paint.  Students will create images on their wet forms using paint brushes, squeeze bottles and water soluable pencils.  The technique of pulp painting is done with finely beaten pigmented pulp, in this case bleached flax, combined with methyl cellulose making it a smooth viscous pulp easily applied with a brush.  Once the piece has dried the armature will be removed, leaving you with a beautifully pulp painted hollow seamless paper form.  Basic sheet forming, pigmenting and armature building will be reviewed.

VACUUM TABLE
This intensive day is geared toward those of you who crave access to a vacuum table.  Using our 'new' and 'wonderful' 4' x 6' Reina vacuum table, each participant will create low relief, high relief, large, small, free form, or shaped works. Participants will have full use of the studio's many deckles, and a variety of colored pulps.  Various drying methods will be covered.

OPEN STUDIO
This allows one to work on an individual papermaking project . A variety of pulps in various colors will be available, as well as moulds up to 11” x 14”.   We will be available to assist but basic papermaking skills are preferable.

ALL ABOUT FLAX
This 5-day intensive explores the many incredible properties of flax.  Though the emphasis will be on the use of overbeaten flax and methods of controlling shrinkage to make sculptural works, we will also work with the 2-d qualities of flax paper.  Fiber preparation, beating methods, sheet forming techniques, coloring, sculptural techniques, and drying will be covered in depth.  Flax is the only fiber we shall use during this intensive.

Following is the schedule:

In addition, there will be slide lectures and 2 optional evening programs, of studio/museum/gallery visits, followed by group dinner at a restaurant.

2-D PAPERMAKING IN DEPTH
Emphasizing 2-D techniques, this 5-day intensive will be an intensive yet fun adventure. A different aspect of sheet formation will be covered each day, resulting in a complete education of the many possibilities of working flat.  Expect to go home with a large portfolio of handmade paper

3-D PAPERMAKING IN DEPTH
Emphasizing sculptural paper in art forms, this 5-day session includes armature building and pulp spraying. Participants will use flax and other long-fibered pulps to create three-dimensional and relief forms.  Such issues and concerns as shrinkage, translucency and opacity, will be addressed.  This is the perfect opportunity to work on that large-scale papermaking project you've been wanting to do, but didn't have the space or the know-how to create it.