Welcome to the Paper Clay Group

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Permalink Reply by Dawn on March 9, 2008 at 10:20am

I am at University, in my first year, and one of this semester's modules involves doing like a mini research project in particular area - doing a set of tests and reporting the findings (so someone is doing enamels and working on different application methods, someone else doing different ways of fastening metals, etc)

I have been interested in Paper Clay since I first heard the word about 18 months ago during my foundation course - but I know nothing about Ceramics at all!

So I figured this would be a way to introduce myself to it - I will probably look at the differences between varying types of paper fibre, and perhaps ratios - its not that big a module, although I have already realised just how big an area Paper Clay is on its own!

I am very curious, having read a bit about it so far, if anybody has ever tried to make a similar product direct from plant fibres? After all, the same type of cellulose fibres are in many plants, as are in paper, and I understand its the cellulose that gives Paper Clay its wonderful properties. I think that area might involve more indepth research than I will be doing at this stage, but interested all the same.

I found this website/group by searching for Paperclay on Google, and as it was one of the top hits, you've made this site easy to find!

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Permalink Reply by Diane Stafford on March 9, 2008 at 11:53am

Hi Dawn,

Yes cellulose fibres in plants and paper are basically the same. There is also a ready made clay called Flax Clay, I think www.tiranti.co.uk are selling flax clay. It is a smooth clay, and can be used in a variety of ways, as paper clay can. This image shows the detail on a pot I made with flax clay. You can use plant fibres - You can collect plants/leaf matter, boil up for several hours in bicarbonate of soda . Using a mixer (food processor - an old one you wont be using for food :>) )
To break up the softened fibres. Mix into clay as per the usual How to Make paper Clay process, wedge and use as normal.

Different plants will give different results.

You can find the book by Rosette Gault at ArtHobby Site, which should be a very useful technical resource if you need more in depth data for experimentation purposes.

I have used a great range of 'fibres' from cardboard & cereals to sawdust and even fabrics. All interesting results.

Hope that helps, if you have any other questions, ask away.
regards
Diane

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Permalink Reply by Dawn on March 9, 2008 at 5:59pm

Oh, thanks for that info Diane

I have the Rosette Gault Paperclay handbook from the Uni library at the moment, only quickly glanced through so far.

Whilst I would normally probably buy some paperclay at least to get a feel for if I like it or not, I think the purposes of the project, I figured I would look at the different effects of different fibres - whether I just stick with different types of paper at this stage depends on how much time I have!

Like I said, I know almost nothing about ceramics, which could be a good thing in some ways, as I won't have any preconcieved ideas of the normal "rules" - however, I have never done the slip on the plaster bat thing yet - we've done a bit of throwing and a bit of coil building, but used bag soft clay each time.

We also went to a local river and dug out some clay from the banks to make terra sigilata slip but that is as far as I have got so far.

But I will read up all I can, and see how I get on. Thanks for your help Diane.

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Permalink Reply by Diane Stafford on March 9, 2008 at 7:25pm

Hi Dawn, you are welcome. If you have all the resources at Uni, don't buy anything, its easy enough to add paper (cheap toilet roll) to your clay - any clay can be turned into paperclay - porcelain paperclay is especially lovely to work with - as long as you can fire it in a kiln :>) All your ceramic 'rules' can be broken for construction/making. As you say, test and try everything out - good experimentation :>) Have fun with it. Let us know how you get on won't you.

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Permalink Reply by Dawn on March 9, 2008 at 7:31pm

HI Diane

Yes, one of the third years suggested toilet roll.

For my starting point, I thought I would try working with ordinary grey clay - keep to a standard clay base to begin with.

The project isn't about producing a final piece, its only about doing a series of tests - so I doubt I will actually have anything to show, but I will let you know how I get on, and no doubt will be picking your brain in the future!

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Permalink Reply by Dawn on April 14, 2008 at 5:32am

Hi Diane

Can I pick your brains a little, please?

I have some buckets of paper pulp on the go (different papers) - but I am concerned that I might not be able to use it for a few days just yet, and I know it can go off.

Last week I froze a batch of cardboard pulp - but I seem to remember a tutor at college last year, when we were doing paper casting (so making pulp from tissue, office paper and PVA glue) also saying that you can air dry it then stick it in bags for a while?

I just wondered what your opinion was - the amount of pulp I seem to have made, I will have a freezer full of paper, but no food in the house!

Thanks

Dawn

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Permalink Reply by Diane Stafford on April 14, 2008 at 5:47am

Hi Dawn, no you don't need to freeze it - If you have a sieve, simply strain the water off a sieve full at a time, gather the pulp from the sieve and squeeze really hard to get the excess water out - if you have a dry place - put each sieve full/hand squeezed ball of pulp there to dry - I leave to air dry or put it on a radiator - sometimes you may get a little coloring (damp ring) - but thats never been an issue when reused. So when you want to use some paper pulp - throw how ever many dried balls into a bowl/bucket of warm water and it will revert to watery pulp, simple. Works every time for me, you can store the dried paper balls for years, as long as thoroughly dried, place in a bag or box and store somewhere out of the way :>) Hope that works for you, Di

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Permalink Reply by Dawn on April 14, 2008 at 5:56am

Oh, that's brilliant Di, thanks for that

I have been making up buckets of pulp over the last few days, but a couple of more projects need to be worked on before I can go back to this one - so that's fab - it also means I can batch up loads of paper ready for future use - as I am quite sure I will be going back to paperclay more than once.


Thanks for the speedy response (off to squeeze out paper.....)

Dawn

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Permalink Reply by Diane Stafford on April 14, 2008 at 6:04am

You are welcome :>) happy squeezing te he, I'm off to carry on with my Elf House test for Grants project - in papercrete - that's going really well, and also uses paper pulp, keep your eyes peeled for the updates later in the week lol :>) Di

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Permalink Reply by Dawn on April 14, 2008 at 6:18am

Oh, Papercrete, that sounds interesting (oh, no, not something else for me to get into......)

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Permalink Reply by Diane Stafford on April 14, 2008 at 6:23am

te he - oh yes. we aim to keep you busy as well as inspired to get crafting :>) lol

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Permalink Reply by Diane Stafford on March 29, 2008 at 9:32pm

Hi Mary36, yes it has been covered elsewhere now, however, I'll add it here too - paper clay in this groups 'interest' is indeed primarily related to firing clays being converted to "paper clay" by the addition of paper or other cellulose fibers to the earthenware, stoneware, porcelain ceramic clays. The usual cheapest method is adding toilet roll paper.

That said it does not have to be fired as it will air dry (its 'green' state) and can be used for a variety of projects air dried, painted and sealed with varnish - of course it wont be 'vitrified' (fired ceramic) and is therefore unlikely to last - great for kids projects though :>)

Air dried clays now has a group here as does cold porcelain - the added benefit of the fired paper clay is that the techniques you use for cold porcelain can also be used with this paper clay - so we paper clay lovers will have lots to learn from your craft skills. The final results will differ of course (eg if glazed or pit fired, smoked etc) yet the build and construction processes will be virtually the same - just a different medium :>)

hope that helps add some relevance to the cross over that can be achieved.
Di

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