Making paper on the terrace

I’ve been keeping a low profile this season after a couple of years of alarms and excursions. Catching up with house and garden – both were decrepit and neglected when we moved here three years ago. Boring admin: mailing lists, updating the website (widgets and plug-ins and whatnot). Making plans: exhibitions, collaborations; to do or not to do Open House? And, finally, making new work and finishing old.

Sometimes it seems hard to fit any painting in. There are always boards to be primed, frames to be made, materials to prepare. And, in my case, there’s paper to be made. Some of my most interesting work (I think) is made on my own paper. All you need is space, water and – you hope – sunshine. Some cotton fibres, a flat surface, cloths, a mesh screen. And… a CAT.

Cat at ease

Anfd the end result is nearly always…pawprints.

Cat-prints in the damp paper