To Deckle or Not To Deckle
Of course, that is the question. A follow up...
In my recent newsletter on deckling fine art papers, I received some emails asking me to clarify a couple of things.
I guess the first thing to add is that deckling is not for everyone, nor for every use. In fact, for a more pronounced effect amidst a body of work it should be used sparingly. Use it after considering "normal" print presentation options.
By that I mean that if you go on a deckling binge, after a while it may lose its luster. That's not to say that you shouldn't do an entire exhibition, for example, on Awagami Bizan handmade paper, which comes already deckled. That single use case would probably look stunning. In fact, in our studio we are currently working on such an exhibition.
The next thing I'd like to clarify is that deckled papers should be used in the appropriate context. Not every image would be enhanced by a deckled paper. Quite the opposite. I've seen the story of many an image weakened by the distraction of the deckling. The key is to see if the deckling enhances the image or adds depth to the story you're trying to tell.
As an example: I've written before about the book, portfolio and exhibition we are preparing on the mountains of China. Oddly enough, we are using Japanese washi papers from Awagami for the exhibition. Included in the presentation is original calligraphy by the famous Chinese calligrapher Yuming Sun.
Since both China and Japan have a very long history of gorgeous handmade papers, Bob and I debated for a long time how we wanted the story to unfold. For the exhibition, which we will mount on oversized paper (A2), we felt that Awagami's Bizan paper would actually add depth to the story. The imagery is not just about mountains, but about its people and lifestyle. To that end, the deckled paper adds to the story. Another plus is that Bizan is beautifully textured and has great D-max, so there's good contrast in each scene.
Of course, the same holds true for DIY deckling. The thing I like most about deckling your own papers is that you can vary the effect to suit your images. Perhaps a more subtle deckled edge for small prints or ones that have a "soft" storyline, while a larger print with a more dynamic story might call for a more pronounced deckle edge. That's an artistic call.
Let me know if you have other thoughts about deckling your work.