abaca collages

These are some "sketches" for my independent paper-making project. Tommy and I beat premium abaca for 8 hours to get really translucent sheets. I used the 12x18" wove mould and couched one sheet then placed the collages cut from photos (from a book about Canada) on the wet sheet. Then I couched a second sheet on the first, sandwiching the pieces of photos. After being pressed and dried, the two sheets become one solid piece of paper with collage inclusions. I plan to include other handmade paper and pulp painting in these collages as well as experimentations with natural dyes in the pulp.