You can listen to this episode by clicking on the white arrow above, or subscribe to the Paper Talk podcast on Apple Podcasts (or find more listening options on Spotify) so you never miss an episode. If you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it! Thank you so much.
Matt LaBoone is an origami artist and papermaker in Orlando, Florida, who has a focus on folding and designing insects as origami subjects, and has developed thin and crisp paper especially suited for folding them.
Over the years, LaBoone has found that most commercially available papers, and even many origami specific papers are not well suited for what he likes to design and fold, which is what led him to pursue making his own paper. For many origami folders it can be challenging to learn what paper is suitable for what folds and to understand the papermaking process.
LaBoone de-mystifies the papermaking process on his instagram account (see below).
 |
 |
 |
 |
++++++
You can find out more about Matt LaBoone on his website, purchase papers in Etsy shop and follow his papermaking journey and his folded forms on Instagram.
++++++
Matt LaBoone’s recommendations:
- Origamido Studio offers in-person workshops and has an Advanced Origami book, which details the entire Origamido process
- Carriage House Paper is the go-to company for papermaking supplies
- OrigamiUSA is an incredible non-profit organization for all levels of folders and offers online resources, classes, virtual meet ups, and several conventions yearly in the US. Conventions are a great way to find inspiration and meet other folders.
- Alejandro Geiler is the very talented mould maker that custom built LaBoone’s 45cm x 50 cm mould.
- Blotters from Pacothane press pads are used in circuit board manufacturing. LaBoone discovered them by chance and they work perfectly as papermaking blotters.
++++++
Music featuring excerpts of Makin’ Paper folk song by Peter Thomas. Listen to the full song and find out about other paper and book arts folk songs.
Gary A. Hanson did the sound editing for this episode. He practices and refines his skills in audio production while making his own podcast I’ll Have a Beer and Talk, a show about tech news, culture, weird animal stories and of course, beer. Gary is also the Deckle in Pulp & Deckle, a Portland-based community hand papermaking studio.
++++++