Paper artist Joelle Webber started making books at the age of seven. Forty-five years later, she is offering a drop-in workshop making colorful paper flowers during the Wiscasset Art Walk on Thursday, Aug. 27, 4-7 p.m. Find her on the sidewalk under a tent (in case of rain, Midcoast Creative, 72 Main St.).

Webber grew up under the tutelage of a very creative aunt, a book artist and calligrapher, who encouraged all the children in the family to give book arts a try. And for Webber, “it just stuck.” Over the years, her aunt continued to instruct, encourage, and involve her in workshops. During Webber’s childhood, her father was building the family’s home, giving her another opportunity to “learn how things work.” This experience became instrumental in Webber’s developing repertoire and expanding exploration of hand-made books.

 Webber, who lives on Westport Island, is known along the Maine coast for her instructional workshops in which students learn to make colorful paste papers, bind simple books, and create sculptural forms, like flowers, with paper. In her private work, she makes ‘artist books’, one-of-a-kind pieces that Webber describes as “sculptural paper landscapes” using pop-up, paper sculpting, and box-making techniques.

 They often include hand-calligraphed poems and removable pieces that fit together like a puzzle. They stand or lay flat, and they take a long time to make. She looks forward to a time when her collection of artist books is large enough to stage a solo exhibit.

 During the Wiscasset Art Walk on Aug. 27, visitors who drop in to Webber’s sidewalk workshop will create sculpted paper flowers using the rugosa rose as the model. Webber will guide participants in cutting the petals, gluing them together, decorating with ribbons, and finishing with something unique for the center.

In five to 10 minutes, says Webber, and “a little bit of scissors, paper, and a button, the materials are given life by turning them into 3-D flowers.” The free workshop is family-friendly, and all materials will be provided. 

For more information about Wiscasset Art Walk, visit www.wiscassetartwalk.org or email to wiscassetartwalk@gmail.com . Wiscasset Art Walk is a program of Wiscasset Creative Alliance, www.WiscassetCreativeAlliance.org .