Handmade Paper: First Slurry
From bowl soaking overnight, I squeezed out a small bunch cut cotton to pound into slurry. Otherwise, the excess water will splash each time the cotton is pounded with the pestle.
In addition to pounding, I moved/grinded the pestle in a swirling motion inside to mortar.
After pounding the small amount, it is obvious to me that the process will pound the fibers small enough to become slurry when water is added.
Inside the mortar after adding some water, the slurry is seen in the middle. The amount in the mortar is about 1 tablespoon. of rough cotton fiber slurry.
Conclusion for This Process:
The amount of pounding required is too high to make creating cotton fiber slurry this way practical, for me. At the rate of 1 tablespoon per pounding session, about 5 to 10 minutes, the process is better used as a muscle building technique than making paper slurry.
However, I will finish the batch I started. At a consistency that will not drip through a drying screen, I'm guessing there may be enough for one small greeting card.
The Arches watercolor paper that I use is made from 100% cotton, and, is acid free. All the old watercolors I've saved for reference will be reused. I can also buy sheets to make slurry.
For comparison to scale, the tiny white area is the slurry poured back into the soaking bowl (upper right).
That really is a work out! I could stand to build some arm muscles!
ReplyDeleteDiane,
ReplyDeleteAfter 5 minutes of hard pounding, I felt muscle tension in upper shoulder. Imagine making butter in a churn back in the day. lol
I haven't made paper like this-allot of work-can the cotton and water go into a blender?
ReplyDeleteI found this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCZht89Vawc
ReplyDeleteHere is another one I like the idea of adding in a little paper to the cotton and water mix- https://sarkirsten.com/blog/2018/5/22/making-paper-with-newspaper-and-fabric-scraps I may need to make some paper again-thanks for the inspiration I really enjoyed the process
ReplyDeleteNot sure if my comment landed. Again:
ReplyDeleteThis is an adventure in papermaking. Good for you!
Sure sounds like a labour-intensive project. Interesting, but not something I'm about to try.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kathy
ReplyDeleteI will check out those videos.
I'm afraid the blender will get stuck with the fibers around the blades. Same worry about using a coffee grinder.
I am pleased using the cotton rag watercolor paper will be easiest.
Liz,
ReplyDeleteAdventure and great for the muscles.
I can feel a bit of stiffness in my right shoulder. It is easy to forget when going in spurts how much muscle I'm using. lol
Maryanne,
ReplyDeleteIt can be a messy process.
The screen drying part will be fun. lol
A lot of work. Incredible to see it though!
ReplyDeleteQuite a process.
ReplyDeleteMarie,
ReplyDeleteIt has been fun. More fun, seeing how many days it takes to finish the small batch I have soaking.
ReplyDeleteWilliam,
A process it is. Builds muscle, and confidence in knowing when another method is better.
Wow-what a process! I prefer my already made Arches. But I think I appreciate it more because of what you have gone through!
ReplyDeleteDebra,
ReplyDeleteToday, I added more water and a shake of baking soda to the cotton still soaking. I also pounded most of it. I'm pretty sure in a week or so of daily pounding, it will be ready to dry. I might add is to a watercolor paper slurry.
It's amazing to think that paper was made this way before more industrial methods emerged -- and what actually appeared on paper during that time. Impressive. I salute your work!
ReplyDeleteJeanie,
ReplyDeletePapyrus used to make paper that last thousands of years has always amazed me. The Papyrus Jarf is 4500 years old!
I think paper making is a new hobby for me.