Tip #11 - How to Expand Your Papermaking Abilities and Find Opportunities

12 pieces of advice that I wish I knew when starting out as a beginner papermaker, with May Babcock, artist and founder of Paperslurry.com 👋. Coming to you weekly on Tuesdays.

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Hey it's May,

With a world of YouTube videos and Instagram posts, it’s easy to get inspired to start making your own paper.

However, what if you want to get good at it? Deepen your skills and techniques?

Or, find opportunities like artist residencies, jobs, and collaboration opportunities as an artist working in hand papermaking?

Maybe you’ve done a lot of experimentation on your own, tried a few techniques or approaches. And maybe you’ve also bought a book or read a few articles. And now, you’re ready for more.

If this sounds like exactly where you’re at, then my advice is for you to make real-world connections with other hand papermakers and handmade paper studios.

Find your local papermakers

Thankfully for you, I made a Hand Papermaking Map. Take a look and seek out your local papermakers and communities. (Sorry I know I need to update the map!!)

If you’re lucky, then they might also offer workshops in person. A local, in person workshop makes it a bit easier for you to immediately start making paper. You just need to sign up and show up. Usually the instructor will set everything up for you, prep materials, have the tools you need, and have a dedicated space for papermaking.

Traveling to take workshops

I also know of many students who travel far to take papermaking workshops at craft centers. On the Map you’ll also find several in the USA that regularly offer intensive papermaking workshops. I’ve taught at a lot of them—including Penland School of Craft, Women’s Studio Workshop, and Pyramid Atlantic.

Other Opportunities

These types of places also offer artist residencies, internships, and other opportunities, so check in with them and see what they have to offer. A few more of the bigger organizations that I’m familiar with as a US based artist are the Morgan Conservatory, Dieu Donné, and the Minnesota Center for Book Arts.

Unfortunately, places where anyone can learn hand papermaking aren’t as common as I’d like them to be. I know there’s many people out there who don’t have local studios to connect with.

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I've heard from countless folks who don't have a papermaking studio near them to access workshops and classes. That's why I’ve decided to shift my focus from teaching in-person, to teaching papermaking online. And I've also refocused Paperslurry's mission, which is: to help you make handmade paper art from responsible materials, and find joy in the process.

I'll be offering online papermaking workshops and classes in 2023!!! 🎊 🎉✨

My hope is that the online education will help fill the gap for those of you who don’t have access to local papermaking classes.

So stay tuned for those!

May

PS. If you're not sure why you're getting this email or how you got on the Paperslurry email list, read this. Also here's the last pieces of advice if you missed it.​

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May Babcock
Founder at paperslurry.com​
Artist at maybabcock.com​
Self-proclaimed paper geek