Cornstarch

Water

Electric Kettle

Paint- acrylic & tempura

Brushes, sponges & texture tools

Tray

Paper

First, find the recipe for the paste paper. Here is the one I used today: Making Paste Paper

Creating paste paper

Pour some paste paper into a small container and add paint for color.

Place the paper in/on the tray. Fully soak each side of the paper with a sponge. Apply the paste paper with a brush or sponge. Add texture with a texture tool, finger painting, paintbrush, stamps, etc.

Mixing the paste was it’s own challenge. Like baking, it came down to following the instructions and science. Continuing to stir was important to avoid clumps of cornstarch, especially when adding the boiling water.

Applying the paste paper didn’t go as planned, I wanted it to be thick and vibrant but it went on watery, thin, and pastel colored. I found that adding more paint and mixing colors made the color much more vibrant. Allowing the paste to pool thickly on the paper, then applying the technique for texture with sponges, combs, or finger painting, spread the paste out and made for a more interesting and clear texture and design.

Creating paste paper would be a great initial project for a larger unit like book or journal making for older kids and weavings for younger kids. Students would create their own beautiful paper, then use it as a cover for their journal, or weaving strips of two paste paper designs together.

It would also be a good activity for practicing a new technique- essentially a way to teach the studio habit “develop craft.”