Washi paper screen

"Washi Shoji" which I have posted on my blog before and which is also featured on the LadyRisa homepage.
Thankfully, it was well received, and we were asked to make it again! (From within the company)

A detailed explanation of the process leading up to the product's completion. It's long, so please take a look when you have time... m(__)m

① Cut the Japanese paper. This time, we will use a commercially available three-fold shoji screen with slightly smaller squares.
First, I purchased the shoji screen with a simple click.

(I didn't take a photo of the whole thing...)

Once you receive the actual item, measure the size of the shoji screen square (the area where the washi paper will be pasted) and cut the washi paper to that size.
*Of course, we will be applying glue to the frame before attaching it, so we will measure the size including the frame. At this point, I was still busy with other work so another staff member did the work for me.
The total number is about 150. Thank you for your hard work...(>_

② Design ※It is difficult to work with a three-fold shoji screen as it is, so we remove the parts and separate it into three pieces.

Once the cutting is done, they decide how to arrange the pieces. At this point, I join in the work.
The layout was left to the discretion of the artist, so while looking at the cut washi paper in various colors and patterns, we came up with various ideas such as "Gradient?", "Should we make it like a color wheel?", "We have three pieces, so should we separate them by color?", and so on. In the end, we came to the conclusion that we should "separate them into cool colors, warm colors, and neutral colors."

Once that is decided, we diligently divide them into three groups.
Of course, Morisa's paper also comes in achromatic colors such as black and white, so that's a different story.

After dividing, we actually arrange them and check the balance. This arrangement is the most difficult part...
We try to avoid having the same patterns next to each other, and to avoid blurring by having the same shades of light and dark. We do this so that the finished product looks well-balanced.

Once we had completed the placement of one piece and had a third person check it and give us the OK sign, we immediately moved on to gluing.

Then tragedy struck... (laughs)

After the lunch break, I was feeling motivated and about to start working in the afternoon when a child who was working with me said

"I was asked to do another job."



『…Eh?』

That's right, I make washi shoji screens in my spare time, so when a busy on-site job comes my way, of course it takes priority.
It would have been fine if I had only glued them down, but I hadn't thought about how to arrange the two pieces yet, so I panicked because I have no sense of fashion (・・;)
Since I still had a little time, I decided to stop gluing and think about the placement of the second piece, but it seems that God is not so kind, and she soon disappeared, leaving behind the words "Good luck"... Sad (T_T)
From there, I put my meager talents to full use and completed the arrangement of the second piece. I thought it was a good one, so I forgot I was alone and moved on to gluing the pieces together.

③ Gluing The three-fold shoji screen we used this time, of course, already has paper pasted on it, but we don't need this paper to paste the washi paper, so we'll say "Excuse me..." and peel off the paper from the area where we'll be pasting the washi paper. *The peeling off process is also a lot of work, so if you want to make a washi paper shoji screen, please buy the frame only if one is available.

In the middle of the peeling work, I stopped by the factory to prepare for shipment, where I met a senior colleague who told me, "I finished my errands in the morning and am free." I knew he was making washi shoji screens, so I explained the situation and asked him to help me, and he readily agreed, saying, "Sure. Let's work together!"
It's my savior...! The person I met at the factory was my savior.

Afterwards, we returned to the office and, just like last time, we peeled off the paper and glued it down, placing it in order from the bottom up.
As we watched the shoji screen gradually take shape, we praised each other, saying, "It's so pretty!"

We continued working for about three hours, including breaks. Each of us completed one Japanese paper screen. Thank you, senior!

④ Finishing The next day, everyone was busy but I was full of motivation from the morning to finish the last piece, but the first thing that awaited me was deciding the placement.
As expected, this took quite a bit of time...

I had intended to use warm colors, but many of Morisa's papers have similar red and pink colors, so they end up looking blurry.
I somehow managed to decide on the placement, and then I silently glued the pieces together. (I'm alone, so... sad.)

I was worried whether it would ever finish, but by 2:30pm, all the gluing was finished!
The paper will inevitably bend, so as a finishing touch, spray the three sheets with water and let them dry.
*Please note that depending on the type of washi paper, if you pour too much water on it, it may become soggy and not return to its original shape.

Once it dries, gently touch it to make sure it is properly stretched. Be careful not to tear it!
Once it's done, put the three pieces back together and it's complete (^^♪

*Black is also a standard color, but we have not included it for balance reasons.

After showing it to everyone, the shoji screen was put back into a cardboard box that same day.
This shoji screen will be exhibited at "Kami no Jikan" in Tokyo on November 15th and 16th.
I'm not sure if you'll be able to take photos in front of the shoji screen, but if you're visiting, please come to the Morisa booth♪

Thank you for reading to the end m(__)m
If you are interested, please give it a try(*^^)v