|
Our theme this season is
"Beneath the Surface"
Celebrating 25 years of art and community.
Making and sharing. Learning and teaching.
| | |
It is good to be home. Just in time for some spectacular monsoon skies and a good rain. I am enjoying the time in my studio and I am happy to be back at the helm of PaperWorks for another big year – our 25th Anniversary!
I want to take this moment to thank the Board of Directors for all the work they have been doing, to ensure that we have a great season. A lot of time and effort goes into making PaperWorks happen and I am so grateful to our hard working volunteers who get it done, so elegantly and well.
We held our September board meeting last week with all committees reporting the incredible work they are doing. I am amazed by how much this board gets done and want to take a moment to acknowledge the time and effort that goes into this. I am grateful and
I thank you.
Last Spring, long time PW member Anita Rankin facilitated a board retreat and guided us through a number of creative exercises that helped us celebrate our success and explore how we might do a little better. We identified a wonderful, working blueprint for our year ahead and want to share this with you now, so that you understand where we are coming from and where we are going.
2025-2026 PaperWorks Mission:
The mission of the organization is to provide educational and creative opportunities for all who work with and on paper, and to promote appreciation and enjoyment of the paper and book arts.
PaperWorks Core Values:
-
Community: Support the mission in cooperative, collaborative and interconnected ways
-
Creative Inspiration: Offer meetings, workshops and events for art making and exhibiting that excite curiosity
-
Inclusivity: Welcome all in kindness and friendship
-
Mutual Respect: Act with integrity, treat each other fairly and honor artistic freedom of expression
-
Sustainability: Strengthen and pay tribute to PaperWorks by volunteering
I look forward to this abundant year.
| | |
WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS FALL - MORE INFO BELOW
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEPT
30 Last day to register for Catherine Nash, Art of Suminagashi workshop
OCT
2 "And The Alternative Is" Challenge - sign up sheets at meeting
2 PW Meeting in COMMUNITY ROOM, SPEAKER: Catherine Nash
2 Postcard Exchange Slide Show, bring postcards to meeting for display
13 Restart of Collage Montage Creative Meetup
16 First meeting of new Slow Stitching Creative Meetup, 10AM - 1PM
17 Catherine Nash, Art of Suminagashi workshop, 9AM - 2:30PM
22 Delivery of artwork to RENEWAL Exhibit, JCC, 9AM - 10AM
23 First day of RENEWAL Exhibit, JCC
24 Last day to sign up for "And The Alternative Is" Challenge
NOV
2 Artists Reception, RENEWAL exhibit, 2 - 3:30 PM, JCC
6 PW Meeting, SPEAKER: Ellen Little
6 "And the Alternative Is" Challenge - work displayed at PW Meeting
6 Julie Abels, Anyone Can Learn to Draw workshop, 1 - 4PM
8 Cave Paper Field Trip, 10 - 11:30AM
13 First meeting of new Content Creation Creative Meetup, 11AM - 1PM
30 Last day of RENEWAL exhibit
| |
Gather with us to Learn, Explore, Share and Grow
Thurs, OCT 2 - Members Meeting
Open to the Public - In Person only
St Francis in the Foothills Church, COMMUNITY ROOM
East side, front of property
4625 E. River Rd, NW Corner of River and Swan
9:30 - 10AM: Check-in, informal chat
Display of Summer Postcards (9:30AM - 12:00PM)
Stop by and sign your postcards
10 - 11AM: Welcome, Announcements
Slide Show of Summer Postcards - Sue Agnew
11AM -12PM: SPEAKER: Catherine Nash
| | Balance, mixed media on Japanese paper, 36 x 47" | | | Mountain Fire with Meteors, mixed media painting with handmade kozo paper | | | |
CATHERINE NASH
Exploring the Surface: The Beauty of Paper
Tucson artist Catherine Nash, who has a deep reverence for paper, will seek to transform our understanding of this humble substrate. Rooted in her experiences in Japan, she will share a compelling history of paper and its organic connection to the natural world. The surfaces of papers made with different fibers that are beaten, formed and dried differently offer unique interaction with drawing media and a rich diversity of visual effects. Specifically, Catherine will present actual Japanese prints as well as some of her in-progress and finished artworks to explain her adapted painting techniques from her studies of traditional and contemporary Japanese woodblock printing. By layering textures and mark-making, paper treatment and surface embellishment, one can expand and enrich one's drawing surface. Catherine has taught classes around the globe, served on the faculty for R&F Paints and now teaches at the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum's Arts Institute.
www.catherinenash.com
www.instagram.com/cnash_artist
| | |
|
SLIDE SHOW
and
DISPLAY of SUMMER POSTCARDS
OCT 2 Meeting
Bring in your cards and put them on the display tables for the duration of the meeting. Look for the cards you made and add your signature for their new owners — and maybe connect with some of your secret pals!
| | | | |
NEW! Catherine Nash
Japanese Marbling:
The Art of Suminagashi
In Person
OCT 17 | 9AM - 2:30PM
Members only: $100
Registration LINK HERE
SEPT 30: Registration ends
No wait list
The Pastel Society
2447 N. Los Altos Ave
Japanese water-based marbling on paper (also known as suminagashi, Japanese for “floating ink”), dates back to the Heian period of Japan (794-1185). Inks are
gently floated on the surface of the water and a sheet of paper laid on top to capture
the resultant radiating swirls of color. Participants will create sheets to take home and bind your favorite sheets for a unique blank journal. Enjoy a non-stressful
creative outlet with guaranteed fun and success!
| | | | |
NEW! Julie Abels
Anyone Can Learn to Draw!
In Person
NOV 6 | 1 - 4PM
Members only: $48
Registration open now
NOV 1: Registration ends
LINK HERE
After NOV 6 PW meeting.
St. Francis in the Foothills Church
Celebration Room
4625 E River (NW Corner River & Swan)
Contact: Erin Newman
| | | |
Do you wish you felt confident at drawing? It’s an essential skill for all other art forms, but most of us were never TAUGHT how to draw. In this class you’ll learn about mindset, the hand-eye connection, and basic drawing skills. You’ll learn techniques that make drawing anything feel easier and more approachable.
Julie Abels, local to Tucson, has taught in one form or another most of her adult life. She loves to share what she learned, helping people discover the joy of creating and helping current artists hone skills that don’t always come naturally.
Web: https://ridgelightranch.com/art-by-julie/
| |
New! Creative Meetups
Sign up sheets will be available at OCT 2 Meeting.
Those not attending can sign up on PW Website after 12noon. Click on the button above.
| | |
NEW! Slow Stitching
This monthly, in-person group is a place to share, learn, and experiment with the wide variety of slow stitching techniques - from Japanese Shibori and Korean Bojagi, to both structured and freeform embroidery, to stitched collage on fabric and paper. Explore these meditative practices in the company of other creative stitchers.
DATE: 3rd THURS of the month
TIME: 10AM - 1PM
PLACE: Dusenberry - River Library
CONTACT: Mary Jane Henley
Starts in OCT 16
| | | |
NEW! Content Creation
Making books by hand is fun but what to put inside them? In this guided monthly meetup we’ll help you turn your ideas into content for your books. We will do exercises to develop our ideas, sample bookmaking to build your tool box of bindings, and share the progress of our projects.
DATE: 2nd THURS of the month
TIME: 11AM - 1PM
PLACE: Private home in Marana (Dove Mountain)
CONTACT: Ginger Burrell
Starts NOV 13
| | |
|
CREATIVE MEETUPS UPDATES
Have you been thinking about joining a Creative Meetup?
Now is the time to put your name on a wait list!
Get in touch with the Contact person for the group you wish to join.
Check out our Website for more info on Creative Meetups
(or start from PW Home page, click on Member Activities / Creative Meetups)
Bits and Pieces - Space Available
Collage Montage - Restarts OCT 13 - Space Available
The Sketchers Meetup is ongoing and you may sign up for it at any time.
Other Meetups will be starting again in NOV and DEC.
Lyn Hart's Express Yourself Meetup scheduled for JAN 2026
has been cancelled.
| | |
RENEWAL Exhibit
OCT 23 - NOV 30
Jewish Community Center
3800 E River Road
OCT 22: Deliver artwork, 9 - 10AM
NOV 2: Artists Reception, 2 - 3:30PM
DEC 1: Pick up artwork at JCC
Website: Renewal Exhibit
| | | |
|
AND THE ALTERNATIVE IS
Fall Members' Challenge
Sign up sheets available at OCT 2 PW Meeting
| | |
Ready for a New Challenge?
Pick your favorite artist and re-create one of their works in an alternative way or medium. For example, above images show Gustav Klimt's The Kiss with an alternative depiction rendered in a unique and unexpected way. For this challenge, select an artist's work and re-envision it in your own stylish way. Use found objects, melted crayons, collage components or whatever medium you prefer.
Work can be 2D or 3D
Completed work no larger than 12"x18”
Bring in a photo/print of the original artwork, 8"x10" max size
to the NOV 6 Meeting - as a before/after comparison
-
OCT 2 Meeting: Sign up sheets available
-
OCT 24 Deadline for signing up
-
NOV 6 Meeting: Bring in your finished work and comparison photo for display
Questions? Contact: Lynda Henderson or Doreen Rogers
| |
|
TREASURER'S REQUEST
Dear PW Members,
When you make a payment on the PaperWorks website — renewing a membership, registering for a workshop, or paying an exhibit fee — we incur processing fees. PayPal’s fees are the highest. If possible, choosing an alternative payment method helps reduce our costs. You can make payments on our website with a credit card, but I can also accept cash or checks at each meeting (for memberships, workshops, exhibit fees). Credit card fees for purchases made in person are actually lower than online fees.
With your help, we can save hundreds of dollars each year by avoiding these extra costs.
Thank you,
Heather McLean, Treasurer
| | MEMBERS SOCIAL ACTIVITIES | |
|
Website: www.cavepaper.com
Instagram: @cavepaper
| |
Cave Paper Field Trip
Members Only
846 N Stone Ave, Tucson
Nov 8, 2025 | 10-11:30AM
$10 per participant
paid to Cave Paper day of field trip
10 participants max, with wait list
Sign-up sheet will be on Info Table
at fall PW meetings
Contact: Deb Hilbert
More Info PDF Link
| | | | |
The first field trip to kick off the fall PW season will be a tour of Cave Paper in Tucson. Cave Paper is an independently owned handmade paper production studio operating since 1994, dedicated to making decorated and unusual high-quality papers. In 2020 the “Cave” relocated to Tucson from Minneapolis, MN, and we are happy they are now based in our backyard. In addition to creating their beautiful handcrafted papers, Zoe, the owner, is dedicated to the use of sustainable practices, such as gray water harvesting.
Tour begins at 10AM and runs approximately 1 1/2 hours.
After the tour Zoe will give PW members a discount of 10% on all paper purchases.
For those who are interested, we plan to go out for lunch after the tour.
| | | | |
SOCIAL MEDIA
We're Back from Summer Break!!
Be sure to check our Instagram and FaceBook accounts for PaperWorks announcements and activities.
---------------------------------------
MEMBERS' SPOTLIGHT
PW's Instagram and FaceBook sites spotlight Members' artwork and themed challenges like "What's Your Favorite Tool". It's easy to participate. Just submit photos of your work to Mara Krumins. Desi De La Mater posts them on PW Home page too. It's a great way to keep current PaperWorks news as well.
Contact: Mara Krumins
| | |
JOIN PAPERWORKS
Since 2001 PaperWorks has thrived as an organization because of your membership and continuing support.
YOU make a difference.
Join or Renew HERE
Returning members, if your contact info has changed (phone, email, address) please notify the Membership chair.
| | |
So many benefits, including invaluable and enduring friendships. Need more reasons to join or renew?
A message from our Founder
| | |
WEST COAST CALENDAR
is now BOOK AND PAPER ARTS CALENDAR
Check out Book & Paper Arts Calendar organized by PW member Jade Quek. It an extensive list of events and classes offered in the west, across the country and beyond. Subscribe to the monthly newsletter that supplements the calendar, e-mail Jade Quek.
| | |
E-NEWS SUBMISSIONS
Deadline: 10th of each month before the next month's e-publication
Example: Sept 10th for Oct 1st enews
Full enews: SEPT - MAY emailed: by the 1st of the month
Summer Shorts enews: JUN - AUG
Please include the following:
- Who, What, When, and Where
- Website addresses/links (yours & theirs)
- and of course, we all love PHOTOS!
PHOTOS: Size no larger than 2 MB
Send your information to PW enews
| | |
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS
Our local art resources, Arizona Art Supply, Posner’s and Sarnoff have offered discounts to PaperWorks members, promoted our exhibits and supported our activities in a variety of ways. Act with your wallet.
Buy local and let them know we appreciate them.
| | PaperWorks MEMBERS! Receive discounts at these local art supply stores! Sarnoff, Arizona Art Supply, and Posner's. Just mention that you're a PaperWorks member! | | | |
About Us
PaperWorks, the Sonoran Collective for paper and book artists provides educational and creative opportunities for all who work with and on paper, and promotes the appreciation and enjoyment of the paper and book arts through regular and special events.
PaperWorks is based in Tucson, Arizona.
| | | | |