Eco-friendly ARCHIVAL paper

FeathersandFolktales uses several kinds of papers with differing environmental impacts, all of which are archival quality:

Awagami Select Hosho paper is a handmade paper from Japan, a cultural treasure and time-honored heritage that has been handcrafted from natural materials for over a thousand years with a strict attention to quality and preservation. Hosho is made from the branches of the kozo, gampi and mitsumata, preserving the bush/tree, making it a more sustainable choice than other papers. It is acid-free and archival quality and has a rustic natural handmade feel with deckled edge and is slightly off-white. It is lightweight, and I use it primarily with my large prints which I barnish by hand.

Strathmore paper is a 100% cotton fiber, acid-free, lightweight archival printmaking paper. In contrast to Hosho which has a more old-fashioned handmade feel and look, Strathmore is a smooth bright white, modern looking paper. This paper captures fine lines more crisply and cleanly than the Hosho (which absorbs ink more). Strathmore Paper Mills are located in Massachusetts where my studio is, so for local and USA customers, this paper may be more eco-friendly than Hosho. The bright white, clean, modern look of Strathmore paper paired with my rustic handcrafted folktale designs and nature-inspired colors creates a “modern rustic” look and style.

Stonehenge Paper is a heavier weight paper (compared to Hosho or Strathmore) is produced using alternative energy sources including agro-waste. Stonehenge is mostly tree-free using 100% cotton (salvaged byproducts from the textile industry) but also bamboo, cork, plant fibers, grass, flowers and even vegetables. These papers are EMS (Environmental Management System) certified ensuring they are manufactured with minimal environmental impact. Stonehenge papers are acid-free and pH-neutral, and archival quality which ensures the longevity and preservation of artworks created on it. Stonehenge papers are made in the USA so for my American customers, this paper would be a more eco-friendly choice than Hosho. Because heavier weight papers tend to be much more difficult to print by hand, I use Stonehenge papers with my medium and smaller sized prints that I print with my printing press.

Speedball’s® Arnhem 1618® Printmaking Paper is a 100% rag, acid-free, pH neutral archival printmaking paper with vellum finish and deckled edges. Compared to the Hosho and Strathmore paper, Arnhem is heavier weight similar to Stonehenge in feel. It is made at a historic mill in the Netherlands, near the city of Arnhem, which has been creating fine paper since 1618.

Traditional Korean HanJi Paper traces its roots as far back as the 3rd century and continues to be an enduring cultural and national heritage. Hanji is handmade from the soft, inner bark of the mulberry tree, a tree native to Korea, and sap from the roots of the Hibiscus plant, which helps bind the pulp together. Hanji has exceptional strength and durability, in fact the world's oldest surviving woodblock print, a Buddhist Great Dharani Sutra, was printed on Hanji in 704 and remains in good condition to this day! HanJi is acid free, pH neutral and archival. I use it primarily with my largest prints which I barnish by hand.

Some considerations that go into my choice of paper include: sustainability (described above); the size of the paper compared to the size of the print and whether I need to cut it to size; selecting the best paper to match the aesthetic appeal of the print itself (different designs lend themselves to different paper); the intricacy of the design (usually thinner lightweight paper can more effectively capture details).

Natural Linoleum

FeathersandFolktales uses natural linoleum, which is different from synthetic versions or vinyl, and is made from: vegetable drying oil, natural rosin, wood flour, and limestone, wood flour, rosins, powdered cork, jute and linseed oil.

Non-Toxic ARCHIVAL Inks

For my linocut prints I use Cranfield Inks (specifically Caligo safe-wash Inks) which do not require hazardous solvents like white spirit or turpentines for cleaning up. Cranfield Inks are at the forefront of the developments in non-toxic printmaking balancing environmental considerations with the longevity and quality of the printing product. (I also use Seventh Generation soap for my clean-ups!) Caligo Safe Wash Relief inks include beautiful pigments, finely ground into the purest colors for archival results.

Eco-Friendly Packaging & Shipping

FeathersandFolktales partners with EcoEnclose for most packaging and shipping products including: the cardboard mailing envelopes; packing tape; recycled receipt paper; business cards; and recycled clear bags. The cardboard envelopes are made from 100% recycled paperboard, 90% of which is post-consumer recycled content. Stiff and sturdy, this mailer ensures your art prints stay flat in transit while at the same time contributing to the long-term benefit of our planet. All prints are enclosed in a 100% recycled plastic sleeve protecting the art from dust, dirt and moisture. Both the mailer and clear bag are recyclable.

Prints larger than 11” x 14” are rolled in Kraft paper and enclosed in an EcoEnclose recycled plastic sleeve, and mailed inside a cardboard tube made from 100% recycled paperboard primarily from post-consumer waste from YazooMills which is recyclable and manufactured in the USA. Some of the largest prints are also enclosed in recycled Kraft Paper.

My prints are for sale on Etsy, which offsets 100% of carbon emissions from shipping and packaging of every delivery. Etsy also is committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2030.