Making Things

Spending more time in the realm of the physical world

A small one-day project to get me away from the computer last winter. I used this as a test for Mixiam publishing to test their mat paper options but I could easily spent a day or a week making a handmade book that would be far better and more rewarding.

More than a decade ago we decided that every workshop we host would include a physical output. I’ve mentioned this before but I think it deserves repeating for the sake of clarifying the Paper Arts mission; Spending less time in front of a computer creating virtual things and more time out in the physical world making physical things.

We discuss digital, virtual things because we use them as tools. Digital capture of images requires going out into the physical world, that’s a good thing. Digital post-processing is a good thing, as long as it speeds the process of minimizing our time sitting in front of the computer rather than exacerbate it. “AI” is a good thing in the same way, helping us minimize time spent looking at a screen and interacting with the virtual world. That brings us to making physical objects, the act of bringing our vision to a real and tangible physical object. That’s what we are all about. That’s why we decided to produce a newsletter rather than spend effort on “social media engagement”.

Our monthly DIY series, supported buy our generous paid subscribers, is far more about the physical world than merely producing a digital print which depends on yet a bit more time in front of the screen. After producing that object the next steps are entirely about getting your hands dirty and getting away from the virtual, zero computers or screens involved. It’s about getting out into the garage and using rulers, saws, nails, screws, glue, and all of those dusty tools to make things. Making things to hang on your walls, making things as gifts, making things you take to art festivals or meetups to trade or sell.

For the past few months Les has been walking through traditional framing and matting as a baseline to get started. He’s made some recommendations for people that don’t want to start from scratch and some for those that do. None of the things he’s doing are out of reach for those that aren’t professional woodworkers, most of you probably have the tools and can be successful with tools you already have. You may be a bit rusty but even your first try will be far more rewarding than spending more time in front of the computer. Heck use it as an excuse to make a trip to the Home Depot and buy a really cool tool or five. Heck, Les has even covered the renovation of an entire wall we spent three days making for the sole purpose of hanging giant, scroll-like images on Awagami super-thin papers. Personally, I would have used this an excuse to buy one of those really cool cordless caulk guns or something but of course that wasn’t in the budget.

We’re going to be wrapping up that basic framing and matting DIY series over the next couple of months but that’s merely a springboard, a baseline so that we can discuss a ton of creative mounting and hanging options all of which involve handiwork that gets you away from the computer and out doing things in the physical world which many of us have to admit is far too little, especially if your day-to-day work is spent in front of a screen.

We’re also planning a ton of DIY content related to hand-made books. Just as I’d rather take a trip to a gallery to see an exhibition rather than look at photography on a screen, I far prefer a book for looking at photography projects or someone’s work. Making a book again is a fantastic way to get away from the screen and working with your hands. Unlike self-publishing, hand made books are not meant to be widely distributed but more about an intimate way of sharing related photographs using unique materials and ways of putting those materials together in ways you couldn’t via a production press. They are meant to be unique experiences for those you are sharing your photography with or treasured gifts…

As we continue this journey we wanted to thank all of you who support us either financially or just being here with us. We also wanted to ask all of you to give us your input on things you’d like to see here in terms of making physical things as well as the level of details you’d like to see. If you can please take a moment to give us your input generally in the survey below, or in detail in the comments.