
The exploration of surface design.
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from Lorrie Grainger Abdo
Visit my website About Lorrie Grainger Abdo
Artist: Handmade Paper, Paper Mosaics, Mixed Media, Surface Design
Handmade Paper Art Pieces: Typically I begin by mentally constructing each piece. I’ll dwell on this quite awhile because I am truly “building” on canvas or board with my own 100% cotton, highly textured handmade paper. Using these textures mean that I must try to predict most aspects of the final painted piece. This is exciting but also difficult. Changing the direction of the piece once I begin the final step of painting the handmade paper with acrylic paints, bitumen and other painting mediums is not easily forgiven.
Paper Mosaic Home Decor: I am motivated first by color. Texture is a close second. After years of making large sheets of paste papers and exploring a huge number of surface design techniques, even the tiniest scraps started to look appealing. I began incorporating paper mosaics into artwork and then into functional pieces that can help accessorize a home in a variety of bright, wonderful colors.
Instruction: I teach papermaking, paste painting, and paper mosaic classes for all ages at the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, Sievers School of Fiber Arts and other locations. I encourage all my students to keep their eyes open for things that will make great marks in wet pulp or on a painted surface. Part of the fun of creating is the hunt for objects that have multiple purposes. Simply put, I believe that artists can see the “usual” unusually.
Professional Affiliations: Administrative Director at the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, 326 W. Kalamazoo Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI. President of The Handmade Paper Guild, Vice President of Signature Artists Cooperative.
My upcoming events
Westminster Art Festival
Westminster Art Festival
Interwoven Expressions
