APPRENTICESHIP SUMMARY
This paper-focused apprenticeship will advance artist Cordelia Perry’s skills in handmade papermaking, bookbinding, and intaglio printmaking under the guidance of mentor Diana Arcadipone. Cordelia’s apprenticeship goals include mastering the art of creating handmade and decorative papers from recycled materials, exploring intaglio and eco-dye techniques to integrate into bookmaking, and refining bookbinding methods such as Coptic, Japanese Stab, and Dutch binding. Inspired by Diana’s ecological approach, Cordelia seeks to build a sustainable art practice while developing a collection of handmade books featuring their prints. Through 100 hours of one-on-one training in Diana’s studio and visits to other artist studios in Norway, this apprenticeship offers a deep dive into craft, ecology, and storytelling through paper arts.
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MENTOR
Diana Arcadipone (Otisfield, ME)
“I am captivated by the natural world. Through my visual work, I strive to foster awareness, joy, and a deeper commitment to preserving our environment. My work combines traditional craft techniques with painting and printmaking, celebrating my love of natural materials, sustainability, textiles, storytelling, folk art, and primitive art”.
Diana Arcadipone’s artwork is rooted in the transformative possibilities of paper. Her love for creating with natural materials and mixed media stems from an early interest in craft traditions like papermaking, book arts, basketry, embroidery, and textiles. Drawing inspiration from folk art, anthropology, travel, and an enduring connection to nature, her work captures the intersection of these influences, forming the foundation of her artistic voice.
Arcadipone often creates her own paper using archival materials, crafting a rich surface for her work. She paints with gouache, achieving vibrant, opaque layers of color, and integrates handmade ink, text, and fabric scraps applied with rudimentary tools like handmade brushes and sticks. Her pieces sometimes include written narratives that
evoke the habitats and stories of the species or environments depicted, offering viewers a window into the intricate balance of nature.
“I am deeply honored and excited to collaborate with Cordelia and continue our ongoing exploration of art and craft. When we first met during the installation of an exhibition, I was immediately struck by their intelligence, energy, and work ethic. Our conversation sparked instantly, and we quickly discovered a shared passion for similar ideas, concerns, and visual themes as makers.” – Diana Arcadipone
APPRENTICE
Cordelia Perry (Norway, ME)
Cordelia Perry was raised in the Saco wetlands until their migration to Bar Harbor to attend College of the Atlantic. They graduated with a B.A. in Human Ecology after their interdisciplinary study of printmaking, philosophy, anthropology, and asking questions. Informed by their academic pursuits and their love for drawing, Cordelia is an artist exploring dreams, bodies, and nature. In their joint senior exhibition EGGTOOTH, Cordelia focused on the representation of their “self” through exploring the demarcations between past and present, animal and human, and self from Other.
“Immediately upon meeting Diana Arcadipone, I knew she was someone I wanted to learn from. Her dedication to skilled craftsmanship and similar thematic elements of dreams and deer are direct inspirations for my art practice. The work she has produced over the entire course of her career is incredible, and the growth of her interests and themes is something I hope to see in my own work. Diana is a role model to me as a Maine artist and as a woman, and I hope to carry out a similar legacy.” – Cordelia Perry