I love every step in the creation process of handmade paper. For me, creating paper is both a spontaneous and a ritualistic process. Paper can convey the appearance of great weight, depth or transparency.

My influence comes from the myriad microscopic patterns, colors, and forms of fish skins, bones, tree bark, kelp, seaweed, water movement and deteriorating archaeological sites. When experimenting with these various surface patterns, it is always amazing to see how the images change when they are isolated from their surroundings. Sand dunes become waves, grasses become trees and tree bark becomes coral.

Moving to the Northwest and living near water has become an important factor in my artwork. Seeing water creatures at low tide and rock formations up close allows me to observe details, which become resources for my imagery.

Lois James--2008