READING ROAD STUDIO

Silver Spring, Maryland  

Reading Road Studio’s workspace for artist collaborations provides these options:

The paper studio offers a 2 lb. Hollander beater, many various sized papermaking  molds up to 4’x 8’, a large vacuum table for works up to 3.5ft by 5.5’, a hopper spray/compressor unit ,and a 20-ton hydraulic press for sheets sized 42” x 24”, for the traditions of Oriental and Western hand papermaking, and paper as a contemporary art form.

The dry studio provides a small etching press that is available for smart litho plates, woodcuts, monoprints, collagraphs, and lino-cuts; a small book press, a papermaking dry box, work tables and display areas.

The studio provides viewing of a collection of custom papers, artists books, and a library of inspirational and instructional materials.

Artist collaborations have included Buzz Spector, Randi Reiss-McCormack, Ellen Hill, Preston Sampson, Nancy Sausser, Elzbieta Sikoska, Sharon Fishel, Lisa Shreirer, Erin Devine, Maria Barbosa, Susan Firestone, Elsabe Johnson Dixon, Cheryl Edwards, Aziza Gibson Hunter, Tara Sabharwal, Mary Ting, Phil Qian, Soledad Salame’, and William B. Adair. Visit Facebook and Instagram to view more photos of artist collaborations.

Helen Frederick offers lectures for small groups, institutions and universities regarding visual and cultural literacy, and contemporary art, including the history of hand papermaking, printmaking and artist books. See helenfrederick.com for additional booking information and lecture descriptions.

You are Invited!

Plan a visit to Reading Road Studios for a tour, or take a hands-on workshop.

Dates upon request 

Enjoy a lecture and demonstration with Helen Frederick at her Reading Road Studio. Take the opportunity to learn about hand papermaking as an art form.

The talk on the first day will cover the traditional papermaking process as well as contemporary practices world-wide. Participants will try thier hand at making sheets of western and oriental types of paper.

On the second day Frederick will illustrate the use of her Hollander beater and the fibers she prepares to make small to larger paperworks. Various techniques of making paper will be demonstrated along with pulp painting free hand, with stencils, transfers, collaging, and other approaches, for participants to create colorful experiments in the papermaking process.

For more information:

Helen Frederick is available for select lecture and workshop engagements.

To inquire about these opportunities:

Email: hfrederick1945@gmail.com

Facebook: Reading Road Studio

Andrea McCluskey working in the studio with Guy Lewis.

Intern Guy Lewis pressing pulp paintings.

William B. Adair, artist and master gold leaf designer (Adair Gold Leaf Studio), using the Reading Road vacuum table in creating cast paper doors taken from his beautiful formed copper doors. The copper and paper doors will be exhibited in Italy at the American Academy in Rome, in the Tuscan town of of Volterra, and the Sicilian city of Gela. We recycled the thin tangerine colored gold leaf booklet papers with abaca and sizing to create 3.5” x 6’ papers for casting over the copper doors.

Soledad Salame’ working on large sheets for her Houston, TX exhibition, 2025.