& Papermaker
Above: photo by Dana King (2024).
w( )nder (2025)
A one-of-one artists book that explores what home means for the artist. The title is meant to read either wonder or wander. The pulp painted pages that accompany the prose/poetry are meant to evoke the sensation of the reader gradually getting closer to an airplane window on a long flight as the night approaches and deepens.
Each illustrated page is a single sheet of Thai kozo that has been pulp painted on top of it using a blend of under beaten cotton, over beaten cotton, linen, kozo, and, sometimes, milkweed fiber. White paper is a cotton/abaca blend with recycled inclusions. The poetry appears on Iowa kozo after typed on an electric Smith Corona typewriter. Book structure is an accordion hinged binding.
Same River (2024)
A series of seven foot long waterfall pulp paintings made with indigo-dyed Thai kozo and white cotton.
These pulp paintings were made with the intention of being site and time-specific pieces that would be presented on local bridges around the University of Iowa or in the Iowa City neighborhood known as Creekside. They would be available to been seen for up to two hours. 1/5.
More images from Same River (2024). Exhibited at the University of Iowa Center for the Book (2024). Photos by Dana King.
handful of sky (2025)
Inspired by Yoko Ono’s Ceiling Painting/Yes Painting. Case bound artists book in two editions. Pulp painting using linen, over beaten cotton and under beaten cotton on top Thai kozo. Typewritten on Iowa kozo using an electric Smith Corona typewriter. First edition is twelve copies and second edition is six. First edition each had Iowa kozo envelopes that had milkweed fiber inclusions and papermaker’s tears. Now a part of the University of Iowa’s Special Collections.
Artists book sketch – Mary Oliver’s “Wild Geese” (2024). Handmade Iowa kozo paper and bamboo strips. Exhibited at the University of Iowa Center for the Book (2024). 1/1.
a handful of desire (2024)
This artists book considers how to communicate desire when physical attraction is absent. These short lines describe through which bodily sense (touch, sight, aural, or otherwise) desire is experienced. These typewritten lines are on top of paper that has been modified – depending on what has been communicated – by being folded, burnt, bitten, smudged with ink, or had wax dripped on top of it. Each page covers a piece of magnetized acrylic placed in such a way so that the book slightly resists opening when it is handled. This book is an accordion hinged album that has been constructed with acrylic magnetized frames that have been covered with handmade papers, Iowa grown kozo as well as cotton and abaca, and adhesive red velvet. Each typewritten page made with an electric Smith Corona typewriter. 1/1.
Artists book sketch – Rip it / Rib it / Ribbit (2024). Prompted to make a book in another skill besides bookmaking. Title is a riff on the knitter’s jargon that an unsuccessful work-in-progress that needs to be ripped out is a “ribbit” project. Cover has stitches intentionally dropped and embroidery added. 1/1.
Served (2023)
An artist book made of cotton and abaca as well as onion and garlic skins. Each page has poetic lines cut from Frank O’Hara’s seminal 1964 work “Lunch Poems.” These were added to the freshly pulled sheet of paper on the deckle. Rosemary, thyme, oregano, and lavender were also added to the slurry – as if they were being added to a savory soup base. In this way, “Served” plays with artistic collaboration and the act of coming together to share a meal through and on its pages. The book is the meal and all are invited to the table. 13 x 9 x 1 inches. Edition is 1/1. Shown at the North American Hand Papermakers exhibit October 2024. Photos by Dana King.
Two broadsides printed at The Soapbox on a Vandercook press in Philadelphia on handmade paper (2025). Left, poem by Lucille Clifton on linen, cotton, and abaca blend. Right, poem by Mary Oliver on cotton and abaca with a hand carved linoblock. Collaboration with Belle Handler.
Gravitational Longing (2023)
Two seven foot long kozo (Iowa grown) pulp paintings. Mica added to moons for silvery sheen.
“When I was taught Einstein’s theory of relativity, my physics teacher informed us that Einstein applied his idea – that two objects of same density in space would not be drawn into the other’s orbit but would circle the other – to love. Apparently, it was how Einstein explained how two equals were attracted to one another. While I have never found proof to substantiate that Einstein believed it, the thought has lingered with me.” 1/2. Photo by Dana King.
Example of coptic bound notebook (2024). This copy’s cover is mix of handmade cotton and kozo with papermakers tears. Inside cover is handmade paper made of natural fibers (burdock) from Iowa back yard.
I Can’t Go On / I Must (2025)
A sculptural artist book made of abaca (base), pulp stenciled black-dyed overbeaten cotton (words), Iowa kozo, and bamboo strips. Fan blade words are a riff on Samuel Beckett’s phrase “I can’t go on. I’ll go on” from The Unnameable. Reverse side has abstract pulp painting with same black cotton. Constructed so that the piece moves in the wind. Iowa kozo in the center that holds each fan piece together has the words, typed from an electric Smith Corona typewriter, “the only way out is through” repeated across it. A kozo stem, covered in kozo paper, punctures through these words to serve as the fan’s fulcrum. 1/1
Untitled (2024). Inspired by the Mono-ha artistic movement. Single sheet of Thai kozo (5 feet long) suspended above mirror as water (from above) flows through center of paper to cover the mirror below. Performed once, April 2024, at the University of Iowa Center for the Book. 1/1.
i go for a walk (2024)
A nonsequential artists book made of the Polaroid photos taken on mental health walks in Charlottesville, Virginia, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Polaroids taken at the time have been mounted on book board and have typed phrases on handmade cotton, abaca, and recycled paper. These phrases are snatches of the circular thinking that the artist was engaged in while on these walks around town and are meant to be shuffled to be read in any order. Housed in a box that had a remnant of a KN95 at the bottom and KN95 straps that hold the mounted Polaroids in place. Edition is 1/1. Exhibited at the University of Iowa Center for the Book (2024).
Selection of copic stitch cyanotype journals made with handmade paper (2023).
“Muse” by Jo Shapcott (2022)
French fold with hand carved linoblock. Printed on a Vandercook machine at the Center for the Book at the University of Iowa. 1/25. Photo by Dana King.
Selection of Prints
From top left clockwise: Sail (2023) hand printed lino block print with suminagashi background on handmade kozo paper; Lemons (2020) two color hand printed lino block; Evelyn (2021) hand carved rubber stamp; selection of prints including Pomegranate (2020) and Barred Owl (2021); finally, his beautiful neck (2021) two color hand printed lino block. Sail, Lemons, and his beautiful neck all exhibited at the University of Iowa Center for the Book (2024). Photos by Dana King.
All works created under The Dreaming Dog Press imprint.
Camille Davis 