Work created by nationally recognized paper-marbling artist Steven Pittlekow.
On Tuesday, October 7, Painting and Advanced Art students at Rocky River High School participated in a workshop with nationally recognized paper-marbling artist Steven Pittlekow. Mr. Pittlekow, who has taught workshops throughout the United States and in Europe, lives in Florida. He is on the board of the Morgan Paper Conservatory in Cleveland and was in town for an event there.
Students gathered in the art room in two groups, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Each workshop lasted two-and-a-half hours, giving these sophomores, juniors, and seniors the opportunity to created their own marbled paper art.
“I want these kids exposed to a classical, historical art method of putting paint on paper,” art teacher Patty Tobin explains. “This experience opens them to a totally new way to explore painting. After this, they will never approach painting the same way.”
Students gathered in small groups around the room’s tables. Each table was equipped with one or two large, rectangular pans (like an oversized jelly roll pan) and a variety of small, paint-filled jars. Students used droppers to put paint in the tray, then wisps (like small, handheld brooms) and combs (wooden dowels with nails at regular intervals) to create patterns. Once the pattern was created, the students carefully placed a sheet of prepared paper over the pan and peeled is off, revealing a beautiful marbled design.
“This process increases their visual vocabulary,” Mrs. Tobin says. “And the success is so immediate it gives them confidence. Plus, they are meeting an artist who has made a career of art.”
Mr. Pittlekow was assisted by Kirstin Willders, the Intern Coordinator and Paper Studio Assistant at the Morgan Conservatory (morganconservatory.org). Ms. Willders prepped each sheet of paper with a spray bottle filled with alum (a mordant that makes the paint stick to the paper) and a large sponge.
Mrs. Tobin recently took a graduate-level, continuing education class at the Morgan Paper Conservatory, which Ms. Willders explains is one of the only places nationally where one can create paper from the plant to the finished sheet, thanks to the Japanese Mulberry Trees that grow in the conservatory’s garden. Mrs. Tobin asked Mr. Pittlekow if he would teach a workshop for her students, and he responded that although he would be retired by this school year, he’d be willing to come. Apparently he made other exceptions to schools and organizations because now, Mrs. Tobin laughs, “he’s booked till next year.”
It’s no wonder that Mr. Pittlekow is a hot ticket nationwide. As Mrs. Tobin summarizes, the workshop is “engaging, educational, productive and creative.” It’s an exciting opportunity for the students, she says, and “a good example of how supportive our schools are in providing our students with exceptional opportunities.”