Cast Paper Mixed Media Collage: Poppies

I got inspired to make some new paper cast assemblages like I used to make in the “good ole days”.  Years ago I made cast paper assemblages and consigned them to four galleries at the same time.  I would make up to a dozen pictures on the weekend when I announced to my co-workers I was having an ” artquake”.  It was easy making 12 at a time because there is a lot of waiting for the stages of drying. This is how the wet paper looks after it is freshly molded and painted while it is wet. I save scraps of printer paper when I plan to paper cast. Step One: pour water in the blender and keep adding printer paper scraps blending until the paper has returned to pulp like texture. Step Two: gather some paper pulp and press it on a doubled up towel (or a wire screen) . After pressing out most of the water flip the molded paper to the other side.

I use regular watercolors to paint on the wet casting.

Step Three: Apply the watercolor! I used four different shades of red and watched them blend together.  I also made many small pod shaped pieces that I painted green while they were wet. I used pieces of 20 gauge black annealed  wire to make the stems. After the poppies dried I noticed places I missed…they needed to be touched up with red paint. Since I was out of red watercolor I added red acrylic paint to made the poppies POP!

Isn’t it fun?

I had leftover paper pulp so…..

I had an old shadow box frame I wanted to use for an artsy version of paper casting.  I used leftover paper pulp from the poppy assemblage to make square pieces. I painted the dry squares watercolor shades of blue with gold acrylic edges. It was fun to experiment with gold lame’ cord and wire with beads. I titled this piece “Connections”.