Fruit and Vegetable Paper
Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007
Carrot Paper
Warren, Connecticut. I’ve been collecting handmade paper for many years now and recently I found some amazing paper made out of cross sections of thinly sliced vegetables and fruit. This is very thin and translucent paper with the consistency of parchment and I’m totally in love with the patterns and colors it makes when pressed in this form.
I hung it so as to back light it with natural light from a skylight although if I had a light table that would have worked too.
Carrot Paper Closeup
Kiwi Paper
Kiwi Paper Closeup
Orange Paper
Orange Paper
Wow, paper made anew by your excellent photographs, Richard. The colors and patterns are great, and beautifully textured.
Great photos, but how does one make such paper. What’s the processes? Can it actually be used to draw on, write on or print on?
Gary: yeah, as you know I’m a sucker for color and pattern so had to both have this stuff and photograph it. I’ve had it a month and it’s been burning a hole in my lens waiting to be photographed.
David, it’s more like parchment or papyrus but since those are older and cruder forms of paper, I used the word paper. In the fine art paper world, paper isn’t thought of as something one draws on, it’s also thought of as an end in itself. So, I doubt the makers of this paper thought of it competing in the stationery world, more like the world of hand-made flat artforms.
Richard, These are fantastic photos of an extremely interesting collection. I am stunned by the detail. How did anyone think this process up? Love it.
Hi Richard, where did you find this paper, is there a website? I am a maker of vegetable paper myself, and what you have found here are really some fine, thin speciments!
Scott, it’s an old process. Do a bit of research on hand-made paper and you’ll see amazing things people have done over the years.
Leave it to artists, they’ve got brains that are way outside the box.
I really really love these. When I was in Asia I saw handmade paper being made everywhere in small villages. It’s such a neat art and so beautiful. My problem is I never know what to do with it. People sell it as wrapping paper, but I think that it’s horrible to destroy it be tearing open a package. I guess you could frame it or keep it in a box, but it’s a shame that something so pretty isn’t on display.
If you frame it it’s on display, no?
This is really great stuff. I’ll have to see whether they are doing similar stuff in India with tropical fruit, or, with vegetables. Very beautiful.
Thanks Manish. Yes, I’d be interested to hear about any local examples of this in India or elsewhere you travel. If you think of it, bring me back some, I’ll be grateful.
Hey Richard where’d you find this paper!?
I think this paper is from Germany but I got it at a paper store in LA: Hiromi Paper.
Dear sir/madam,
We are manufacturer of hand made paper and its products. Our paper is 100% cotton paper and acid free paper. We generally supply cotton paper, silk paper, banana paper, moon rock paper etc.
You may let us know your requirement and may visit our website: http://www.indiahandmadepaper.com
email: omsuraj88@gmail.com
Awaiting for your kind respond.
Thanks & regards
Suraj Choudhary
Richard, could this paper be used as wallpaper? I’ve been looking at it online but can’t decide if the translucent quality would be lost if you attached it to the walls….perhaps it would make a better lampshade.
Suraj: Thanks for the link to your site. Your products look wonderful.
Devon: It’s quite expensive so I doubt you’d want to use it as wallpaper. Maybe desktop computer wallpaper but that’s about it. ;)
i am a huge fan of making my own paper. i would love to try and do something along the lines of fruit paper. if you know of any sites or places that would help me on my quest to learn how it would be fantastic
Stacey: Here’s where I got it: Vegetable and Fruits Papyrus.
I think the term “papyrus” is the key. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papyrus
i think that you should look up how this paper was made and add it into your website. its really interesting!
i would love to try to make this paper!
Kayla: how about you look it up and share it with us here. I’m happy just to buy the stuff.
i’m going to try to make some flower/plant pots out of my own veggie papyrus
Fantastic lei, I hope you’ll photograph them and send us a link when you’re done.
Wonderful photographs of an unique and very special subject. There’s a tremendous amount of creativity going on around here and I hope it’s catching.
Richard: if the creativity observation was aimed at me, thank you very much.
Each time I visit LA I visit the paper store that carries this fascinating paper to see if they have new types. It’s such a treat to see them and all of the other hand-made paper in the store. I’m thinking less about what to do with it, more about photographing it.
Hi Richard. My first visit (via StumbleUpon.)
This site is truly amazing. I really appreciate blogs like this.
Eithiriel: Wow, thank you so much for the kind compliment. I’m delighted you found me. Welcome.
has anyone found instructions on how this is made?
Cut a carrot into thin slices, lay it out as shown, press and dry it as shown. That’s what I’d think, anyway.
I love the photos! This gives me a great idea of how to photo mine that are not framed. For those who were wondering this is how you do it.
To make vegetable paper you first cut it into very very thin slices as thin as you can. Then for best results blanch the slices for just about 30 seconds. Arrange them as you like then press them between cotton sheets changing them often so that it never stays wet. If it does it can mold very easily. Keep dong this for about 3-4 days until the cloth no longer feels cool or wet. You have Veggie paper!
Thanks Jaqueline, I hope to try making some this winter.
Very cool stuff. I stumbled upon your site while looking for kiwi embroidery paper which i eventually found at http://www.kiwipaperstore.com. But I had to come back here to give you stuff a second look. I never knew this type of paper existed, just fascinating, thanks for sharing.
Keep an eye on http://papercurious.blogspot.com, i’m hoping to give this a go soon. Regards Simon
Hi all, I work with a paper and book artist in Philadelphia. We make paper out of any vegetable, fruit, flowers and herbs. There is an array of other neet things we make with the vegetable paper as well. From wallpaper, Japanese Soshi screens to specimen books of different mixes of fruit and veggie handmade papyrus paper. We are stating a website so anyone interested can order their favorites. For any information email me at spencemaray@yahoo.com, until the website is up.
Here’s a nice tutorial on one way to make vegetable paper:
http://unikatissima.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/nature-paper-naturpapier/
yeah!