What is handmade paper?
Handmade paper is just that: paper made by hand. People create handmade paper by sifting pulp onto a screen and letting each individual sheet of paper dry. This time-consuming, creative process has been used in Nepal, Japan, China, and Thailand for centuries to produce exceptionally beautiful paper. Experienced and novice crafters alike can make their own customized paper at home, with just a few pieces of specialized equipment. Back when Egyptians were writing on papyrus, all paper was handmade. Eventually, this process became automated, especially for paper that would end up going through a letterpress or printer. Now, handmade paper is a delicate, customized, specialty product. Commercially available products often use non-tree materials, such as onion skins, cotton, banana leaves, hemp, or other plants to protect forests from getting eradicated. Increasingly, scrapbookers and book artists purchase handmade paper for its unusual inclusions, delicate weight, unique texture, and value
Handmade paper is the paper that I use for my drawings. It is made by Fabriano, the oldest paper-making mill in continuous operation in Europe, which has been making paper since 1276, shortly after Marco Polo discovered it and brought its secret back to Europe from China. (The Chinese have been making paper for about 2000 years, since it was invented by Ts’ai Lun about A.D.105, and there are writings that still exist on paper made in China from that time.) The paper is handmade from cotton and linen rags by artisans in Italy. This paper-maker made paper that was used by Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci, many of whose drawings are still in good condition today, more than 400 years later. The paper is acid-free and will last more than 300 years with proper care.
