Paper Joy!

After clay(Sumerians and others), papyrus (Egyptians), thin wooden strips(Romans), parchment(Greeks) and vellum(Germans), along came PAPER. The idea for paper sheets and early sheet-making technology was imported from China along Arabian trade routes.

The clearest, most readable site that explains this is:

http://personales.upv.es/gbenet/teoria%20del%20color/water_color/paper1.html

As long as this link is up and running we don't to reinvent its excellent explanation of the nature and applications of paper and its variety of surfaces.

So, when you get to the special room of paper at Askew Taylors, or pay a visit to Jerry's or dive into Xpedx, you can have a better grasp of why you are investing in certain papers.

Weight, texture, color, pH, rag content and writability and printability are all factors that will influence your choice of papers for your project – whether it is for your writing or for binding or embossing or for broad applications.

Making your own stationery, binding your books or just having the right paper that makes your gouache or gold look more brilliant is important.

Some suggestions:

1. Have a supply of your favorite papers. Some people just want to have some 32# Cranes or some big sheets of Pergamente, Bainbridge, or Roma in the house, just for comfort. Name your paper and keep it near just in case you bust out in a writing frenzy.

2. Your will need to have a supply because the frenzy will come when the stores are closed. You can learn the hours of the stores, but they will be closed when you are at the most rabid creative moment. This need for a supply applies to ink and gouache as well.

3. Keep your pounce and sandarac handy.

4. Have some pens, water, mixing dishes and quills at the ready. You shouldn't have your writing board at the back of the closet and you shouldn't have to dig through five layers of holiday supplies to get to your lettering goodies. You don't want to lose that letterin' feeling.

When you are finished or even when you have your basic layout set up, share the energy and joy with a colleague. Scan or photograph what you have done and send the image along – it might inspire another person to create their own new art – on this wonderful thing called PAPER. © Tim

www timjohnsonphoto.com