#terraskin

“Molten Entrapment”

A depiction of gas bubbles entrapped in molten glass during production. Bubbles were once considered a sign of impurities or process failure, but they are also recognized for their beauty.

Since the New Year, one of my main goals has been to experiment with TerraSkin Paper. What I know so far …

… This is a brand name for an environmentally friendly, easily degradable paper made from calcium carbonate (75%) and a non-toxic resin.

… No water is used in the manufacture so no pollutants are added, no trees are used. Sustainable source.

… The first thing you notice when using this paper is that water-based pigments are not absorbed, the paper does not buckle and colours remain bright.

… The paper is smooth (great for pens and brush detail), fibreless and feels durable, stable, somewhat like YUPO plastic paper.

unlike YUPO, the slight surface texture enables terrific coloured pencil work.

… Does not absorb ink like regular paper so uses ink and images are crisp. Would like to experiment with printmaking techniques.

… I am using a 9"x12" pad of 25 sheets but larger, individual sheets are available.

… Undecided about framing as I prefer not to mat under glass. Thinking about mounting to cradled panel.

Firday Freebie: Rock Paper . . . . .

Were you gonna say “scissors”? Nope, this is about Rock Paper! I got this email from my uber-talented pal, Sherrill Kahn, right before I went Boston – “You have to try Terra Skin—paper made from stones.  I bought a lot of it. It is really amazing.  I think you would love it.” So I ordered some. It came while I was gone, and I played with it this morning. It’s very cool! The Terra Skin surfacerem…

MoMA recently ordered 682,000 TerraSkin shopping bags, which cost 25% more than previous plastic bags.  Customers are "blown away by it," says Kathy Thornton-Bias, general  manager for MoMA Retail but remember this is a trendy place in the heart of Manhattan.

 Rising sales volume could lower costs, which might attract more  customers. "We want to build economies of scale and streamline  production process more," says Nicole Smith, environmental director for  Design & Source, the company that makes TerraSkin. 

Coated-paper prices have dipped  because of weak demand.  Most coated papers are sold as photographic or magazine pages and with ad volume down and everyone going to Instagram, printing is off.

 TerraSkin though isn't a true paper because it contains  polyethylene to bind the calcium carbonate, it is classified as a  polymer or plastic film, says Andrew Dent, a library and research  vice-president at materials consultancy Material ConneXion.

Yupo, it's competitor, isn't either, but a  synthetic water resistant ground.  That means that when used with watercolor, your paint will dry only by evaporation and there will be no absorption by your paper as would be with regular watercolor paper. This is why yupo paper will allow very nice textures to form while the paint is drying and has made it big with the watercolor and alcohol ink crowd.

Right now, using regular coated paper, I've been experimenting with SOAP aka Madge's Palmolive, to slow the ink down.   What I do is make a soap mix, soap and water, not too much soap, bubbles are ok.

 Works well but you have to be fast with the hands to move the ink around and get not only coverage but texture and buildup.  I don't have much yet to show but I am glad that I got a lot of cheap coated paper from Staples to play with.