Bluebird – pulp painting on handmade paper (2022), popular Item No. 264

This handmade paper artwork is "painted" completely with pigmented flax on top of a base sheet made from various fibers. The entire process, from forming the base sheet to painting my image, is done at the same time while all the fibers are wet.

The fiber used for my base sheet is a combination of cotton, abaca (inner bark of a banana plant), and bamboo. I cook the bamboo with a soda ash solution to neutralize the acidity resulting in an archival sheet. All fibers are pulped in a Hollander beater. Bits of metallic foil are swirled into the pulp to create interest and texture. I form the sheet using a mould and deckle. Immediately after sheet formation, I place a series of mylar stencils on top of the still wet sheet. I spray finely beaten flax pulp, pigmented various shades, onto my base sheet to create the image. After the sheet is pressed and dried, the result is this sheet of unique paper, where the image itself is part of the paper fiber. Even though I use the same stenciled images multiple times, each sheet I create is unique, based on variations of sheet formation and pulp painting. Carefully look at each image to notice the subtle differences and choose the one you like best during check out

Bluebird is part of a series of pulp-painted birds, which began with popular the creation of several bird paintings for an Audubon art show. The Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) pictured here is found east of the Rockies, from Canada south to Nicaragua. One of their defining features is an orange breast.

Although the pigmented color in this artwork is more light-safe and permanent than using dyes, it is best to keep the artwork away from direct sunlight. If you decide to frame this piece, consider floating the sheet on top of the mat, exposing the unique deckle edge. This piece comes with a one-sheet description of the artwork. The artwork itself is signed by the artist.

Created in Bridgeport (Chicago), August 2022.
Artwork Size: 8.5 x 11 inches (approximate); 21.6 x 27.9 cm.
Package weight = 5.25 oz.; 149 g. (ships flat in a cushion mailer with cardboard support)