Heather Bella

Addressnull
CityChicago
State/ProvinceIL
Postal Codenull
CountryUSA
Phone Number(773)301-8087
E-mail Addressheather@heatherbella.com
Websiteheatherbella.com

First interest in hand papermaking process: 1991

First piece of handmade paper: 1991

First handmade paper artwork: 2008

Beginning of active practice: 2008

Images

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Heather's Work in Hand Papermaking:

  1. Artist who uses handmade paper for book arts
  2. Artist who uses papermaking for three-dimensional work
  3. Artist who uses papermaking for two-dimensional work
  4. Educator who teaches hand papermaking (any facet)
  5. Writer on topics related to hand papermaking

Heather's Introduction to Hand Papermaking:

  1. Classroom instruction

Influences on Heather's Work in Hand Papermaking:

Publications initially important to Heather:

  1. The Papermaker's Companion : Helen Hiebert
  2. Fiber Arts Magazine : null
  3. Papermaking with Garden Plants and Common Weeds : Helen Hiebert

Publications eventually important to Heather:

  1. The Papermaker's Companion : Helen Hiebert
  2. Papermaking : Dard Hunter
  3. Hand Papermaking Inc. : null

Countries where Heather's studied:

Raw materials used by Heather in Hand Papermaking:

Chemicals used by Heather for cooking fibers in Hand Papermaking:

Used Sometimes
Used Rarely
  1. other : wood ash

Tools and methods used by Heather for beating in Hand Papermaking:

Used Routinely
  1. Hollander beater
Used Sometimes
  1. blender
  2. hand beating

Style of sheet forming used by Heather in Hand Papermaking:

Used Rarely
  1. other : experimental methods similar to pouring, on open screens for organic forms

Years teaching hand papermaking: 2009-2013

Teaching formats used by Heather:

Used Sometimes
  1. one-on-one in studio
  2. writing
Used Rarely
  1. lectures
  2. tutorials

Heather's Income Contribution from Hand Papermaking:

  1. none

Narrative:

My initial exposure to papermaking was in high school with my art teacher, Lynn Fraley North. The methods she taught were simple, recycled papers in a blender method, using no adhesive besides that of the hydrogen bond. She was a great influence on me and my art making as a teenager. And while I loved the papermaking process, I did not go on to develop my art or my indepth art studies until much later in graduate school. Once in grad school, my primary education in papermaking came from my fellow students and the community that evolved from those relationships. From there I began reaching out to the larger pool of papermakers across the country (and the world). In the past few years, my primary influence has been Melissa Jay Craig, whom I've followed around the country as her teaching assistant at places such as Penland and Arrowmont. It has been an honor and a joy learning from and working with her. Her mentorship in papermaking (and bookmaking, as well) has been invaluable.

Questions:

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