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Six-Week Papermaking Course

Join book artist and paper expert Mandy Brannan to discover the creative possibilities of papermaking, using both traditional Japanese techniques and modern recycling techniques.

Mandy’s years of practical experience, knowledge of historic and contemporary papermaking and understanding of materials will facilitate an explorative learning environment that encourages new ideas. In this course, Mandy will encourage you to push traditional techniques and papermaking for book arts; inspiring you to think big in order to create new, exciting papers.

Mandy Brannan is our Maker in Residence, based in our Stratford workshop, from Monday 21st October – Wednesday 27th November. Find out more about her residency here)

In this course you will learn how to:

  • Prepare fibres by steaming and hand-beating plant material
  • Work with recycled pulps and found paper
  • Create experimental paper sheets by combining both kozo fibers and recycled pulp
  • Use decorative techniques from pigmentation, pulp painting and layering
  • Forage and embed plant fibres from the wild
  • Create large scale, collaborative pieces
  • Participants will leave with a comprehensive understanding of the social and cultural importance of papermaking throughout history. You will come away from the course with a variety of experimental samples, and adaptive creative techniques.

    Course timetable:

    This course runs every Monday for six weeks, from Monday 21st October to Monday 25th November. Students will be divided into two separate groups:

    Group A: 10:30 - 12:30

    Group B: 14:30 - 16:30

    Please indicate your group preference in the application form. We will do our best to accommodate your first choice.

    Application Process:

    We’re looking for a group of UCL staff and students who are interested in all things papermaking!

    Whether you’re interested in this course for professional or personal reasons, we’re interested in hosting a group of participants with diverse interests, who are passionate about making and are committed to learning a multitude of various papermaking techniques; bringing creativity and experimental flair to the course.

    To apply for this six-week course, please let us know why you’re interested via this form, by Monday 23rd September, at 12:00. We will notify all successful applicants by Friday 27th September. You must be an inducted member of the Institute of Making to apply to this course.

    Note: you must commit to all six sessions of this masterclass. Because of the specialist materials that this masterclass requires, and the anticipated popularity of this series, we ask that you do not book this series unless you can guarantee that you will attend every session.

    Event location

    Institute of Making Stratford
    UCL Marshgate Building
    7 Sidings Street
    London
    E20 2AE
    More details about Stratford

    Attendee information

    Thanks for booking our six-week papermaking adventure!

    When? You are booked onto the morning group which meets weekly on Mondays from 10:30-12:30, from 21st October until the final session on 25th November.

    Where? This course takes place in the Institute of Making Stratford Studio.

    The full address is: Institute of Making, Marshgate Building, UCL East, 7 Sidings Street, Stratford, London E20 2AE

    Directions to our space

    Note: Please do commit to all six sessions of this masterclass. Because of the specialist materials that this masterclass requires and the popularity of this series, we ask participants to honour their commitment to every session in the course.

    Do you have specific access requirements?

    Please let us know if you have any access requirements in order to attend this booking by emailing members@instituteofmaking.org.uk.

    Contact events@instituteofmaking.org.uk if you have any additional questions.

    We look forward to seeing you soon!