Coloring Japanese paper

I told you about it a few weeks ago in my article presenting Japanese paper but for more than 10 years now, I have been developing my own colored ranges! To follow up on this article, I wanted to tell you a little more about this coloring work, dear to my heart.

(above, the “Retro Plum Blossoms” collection to discover in the “Japanese Paper – Flowers” ​​section)

This work around color is a real playground for me! It's one of my favorite things about what I do: composing one or more colorful worlds around a pattern.

To do this, I select, from a wide range of patterns offered to me by the manufacturers with which I am in contact, a design that appeals to me, an arrangement of patterns, a particular construction, etc.

(above, the “Maneki Neko” collection to discover in the “Japanese Paper – Animals” section)

I then imagine a colorful range according to my tastes of course but also my desires of the moment, the season, what may have appealed to me in the past months, but also what you like, your wishes that you were able to share me during your visits to the store or even on social networks.

I also select papers that I offer to you “as is”, without any color modification on my part. This is particularly the case for papers with simple designs, for which there are few color passages during screen printing.

These personalized ranges that we offer you are “Adeline Klam” exclusives which are only available in store and on the e-shop!

(above, the “Leaves, Berries and Fruits” collection to discover in the “Japanese Paper – Foliage” section)

What I particularly like about this work is the poetry that emerges from the colorful universe that I can offer around a motif and how it resonates in everyone.

Sometimes, a pattern depending on the colors with which I have chosen to associate it can evoke something warm and sunny or on the contrary something softer and vegetal for example. The possibilities are endless!

Sometimes I grab my colored pencils and scribble down some ideas to see things more clearly, to observe how the colors respond to each other. I particularly do this work (the old-fashioned way!) when I imagine several colored ranges for a single pattern.

(above, the “Leaves, Berries and Fruits” collection to discover in the “Japanese Paper – Foliage” section)

I then move on to work on the computer, accompanied by one of my beloved colleagues! I look for precise PANTONE © references for each color on the paper, which I then send to the manufacturers with whom I work.

When we receive our different color tests screen-printed on Japanese paper at the store, it's a bit like Christmas! It is often an opportunity for us to gather around the large workshop table (which you must know well if you have already come to do a workshop at the store) and to see everyone's preferences, the ideas of hearts of each other...

Once we have selected the papers that we ultimately want to produce, I place an order with Japan to start manufacturing the papers, receive them a few weeks later and finally offer them to you in store and on the e-shop!

I hope you enjoyed this behind-the-scenes article on my color work! Do not hesitate to share with us your questions about Japanese paper in the comments. I will answer them with great pleasure!

I will see you again very soon for new articles.
Until then, take good care of yourself,

Adeline