Making Paper in Chicago

If you’re not associated with a school or artisan center, papermaking resources are not easily available, a fact that Dave was not happy about. Once the class at SAIC was over, he would bug Aidan to sneak him into the school’s studio so he could access pulp and continue his papermaking journey. Aidan had to break it to Dave that his choices were limited: he could do an artist’s residency somewhere like Penland School of Craft, do an internship at the renowned papermaking institution Dieu Donné in New York City, get an MFA, or teach as an adjunct at an institution.

The following summer, they both went on to participate in a 2-week intensive taught by Andrea Peterson at Ox-Bow School of Arts & Artists’ Residency in Saugatuck, MI. After the session ended and not sure what to do next, Dave approached Aidan with his idea of opening a papermaking studio together. She thought he was crazy. Aidan knew all too well that setting up a papermaking space was notoriously costly and usually out of reach for many artists. Needs include room for large vats, a reliable water source, proper drainage and a regular supply of natural fiber. But the real road block was that no papermaking facility was complete without a beater — a large piece of equipment that runs between $16,000 to $40,000.

Papermaking Basics

Paper has been made by hand for centuries, first out of necessity and today as an artform. Paper artists create not only bespoke stationary but also home décor, clothing and artwork. At its core, the process of making paper by hand today is similar to the process used thousands of years ago: natural fibers like cotton and flax are broken into fine pieces then diluted with water; the mixture goes into a wooden frame to form the sheet of paper which is then pressed and fully dried. The introduction of a mechanized beater to macerate the raw fibers made the process slightly less labor-intensive.

Dave didn’t want to accept no for an answer. He was much more optimistic and undaunted about starting up a studio. He spent most of his career working with large machinery at his HVAC and sheet metal company that he had recently sold. He was convinced that with Aidan’s artistry and papermaking experience and his mechanical know-how and funding, they could make it work.

Left: A handmade paper sheet made at Chicago Pulp as part of a collaborative project. Right: An array of handmade paper sheets made in one of Chicago Pulp’s marbling workshops.

Photos courtesy of Talia Kimberly Wright

First Steps

The pair started the business in Dave’s basement, thinking the space would work well for their new company. Unfortunately, the layout was not ideal so they pivoted and leased a space in Bridgeport on the South Side of Chicago.

The vibe and layout were perfect – a former warehouse and distribution facility with tons of light – but a lot of work was ahead of them to fix the floor, add new water lines and install additional hoses. From there, Aidan tapped a friend from college to make them a 48” x 48” paper press, allowing them to make very large sheets of paper. Next, they ordered the all-important beater. After waiting months for it to be manufactured, Dave drove back and forth to New York to pick it up. The studio was taking shape and they opened their doors in September, 2025.

Generating Revenue

As things started to fall into place structurally, Aidan and Dave came up with their plan to generate revenue for Chicago Pulp in multiple ways. They curated a menu of workshops appealing not only to serious artists but also for those new to papermaking, something Dave was passionate about.

He says, “I think most people take paper for granted because they’re so removed from the process of actually making it. That’s one of the big reasons why we wanted to bring it to the public and build a place where other people could actually do this.”

Classes include pigment workshops, introduction to marbling, open studio time and a week-long papermaking intensive with Andrea Peterson – Aidan and Dave’s instructor and mentor from SAIC. Their summer session, for kids ages 8-14, is called Camp Pulp. Private studio sessions for groups or individuals are available to those who want an immersive, multi-day papermaking experience.

Another revenue generator for Aidan and Dave and one of the cornerstones of the business is selling their pulp – a very popular resource for fellow papermaking artists. They offer various types of flax, cotton and abaca pulp in 2-pound increments. Individual sheets of beautiful, finished sheets of handmade paper are available for purchase as well.

Aidan and Dave have definitely found a niche for their services and are thrilled at the broad popularity of Chicago Pulp.

Aidan reflects, “Originally, we didn’t think the public access side of this was going to be as robust as it is. We anticipated there would be more demand for supplies like pulp from artists who don’t have access to a beater or a studio.”

Left: One of Chicago Pulp’s open studio sessions. Right: Chicago Pulp offers private studio sessions for individuals or groups, shown here.

Photos courtesy of Talia Kimberly Wright

Marketing Chicago Pulp

For their marketing, Aidan and Dave use the power of organic social media and word of mouth to attract new customers, and so far, that has worked well: classes regularly sell out and have waiting lists. Their newsletter is another key to their success with nearly 500 subscribers. They’ve been featured in multiple Chicago area news articles and TV segments.

Aidan credits Talia Kimberly Wright, their marketing and communications partner, for creating the orange-forward Chicago Pulp brand graphics and all of their marketing, website and PR activities.

A True Partnership

Aidan and Dave are currently the only employees at Chicago Pulp but they have a team of people, including artists Ayah Yusuf Abdulkadir and Izabelle Brandli, who they rely on for education and site work in exchange for studio hours. As their business grows, they hope to have the means to employ staff.

Some days Aidan can’t believe she’s a business owner.

“I’m still kind of in disbelief. It really was serendipitous. It’s been instrumental to work with someone like Dave. A lot of the infrastructure that we’ve created is because of Dave’s prior experience. And then a lot of the other infrastructure that we’ve created is because of my paper experience.”

She definitely likes where the business is headed. “I feel like part of the magic is that this is ever growing. If there’s a problem or if something breaks, we realize there’s a solution. It has definitely been trial and error but with error comes a lot of growth. I’ve grown exponentially as a teacher.”

In many ways, Chicago Pulp is more than a studio — it’s a testament to what can happen when artistic passion and practical expertise come together. As demand for their classes, pulp and collaborative space continues to grow, Aidan and Dave are carving out a place in Chicago’s contemporary craft world.

Chicago Pulp is located at 1100 West 37th Street, Suite #002, Chicago, IL. Appointments and info at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Paula Wilson

contributor