Paper Sculpture Wall Hangings

Ellen Mears Kennedy's paper wall hanging

Kennedy handmakes the papers from pigmented pulp (made up of cotton and abaca) using a papermaking technique that is a 400-year-old Dutch tradition. The papers are then attached to a canvas backing and embellished with threads or printed with ink using an intaglio process. Each paper has a left and right side display, which means each angle is colored differently. "The design is always in motion," Kennedy says, since the look of the paper changes with each angle it's looked at.

Kennedy's handmade paper shows a different range of color from each angle.

The air drying process Kennedy uses accentuates the curling and buckling that enhances the paper, which aids in the dimensional coloring.

Kennedy shows the step-by-step to making her wall hangings, from pulp to finished product.