The GWA Monthly meeting for May 2025 was led by member Sonia Leggett. Sonia demonstrated and talked about some of the techniques she uses to decorate paper which she then uses to create collages and inventive and fascinating folded books.
After listening to Sonia and examining the lovely examples she had brought with her, the members first challenge was to decorate both sides of an A3 sheet of paper. Sonia uses wallpaper lining paper in the main which is inexpensive and of a perfect weight. Some of the group had brough cartridge paper which is also ideal. Others used copier type paper which is too thin really and not as suitable for wetter decoration techniques (as I was to learn!).
Sonia had brought many materials which her, for the group to borrow; including wax crayons, acrylic inks wallpaper paste mixed with ink, gesso and various stamps made from “fun foam” and wine corks.
Wax crayons can be used to draw on your substrate before painting with watercolour, ink or thin glazes of acrylic. Another method, if the paper is not too thick, is to place a textured surface underneath before rubbing crayons over to reveal the pattern, adding paint glazes as before. Once the paint is dry, a paper towel can be used to buff the surface to enhance the waxed areas.
Sonia explained and demonstrated the creation of paste grain paper – (historically used for book covers and end papers from about the 17th century). Traditional recipes for the paste involved the preparation/cooking of corn, rice or wheat starch. A quicker approach is to mix up a small quantity of commercial wallpaper paste which is then coloured with gouache, poster paint, acrylic or even household emulsion. Paper or card is fairly liberally coated with the paste, then designs can be scraped or stamped into the surface while wet. There is a reasonable amount of working time, so if unhappy with a first attempt, the surface can be smoothed out and re-worked. Best dried overnight and then ironed or flattened under weight.
This form of decoration uses mark-making techniques similar to those employed when working with the Gelli Plate system which is so popular at the moment.
After a period of playful experimentation, Sonia showed us all how to fold our A3 sheets into one type of folded book. This had 4 pockets, two on the outside and two on the inside. It could be used on its own or as a cover for a book if pages were added.
We all had a great deal of fun working together and the 2 hours flew by.
Thank you to Sonia for leading the meeting!
Thank you for a fabulous hands on experience. Here is my finished folder. I’m delighted with it. – Antonetta
