PASTE MIXES

There are two types of pastes used in lion making: binding paste and pasting paste. Learning how to make either from a master requires the kind of gongfu seen in old Chinese movies.

We’ve taken the drama and vengeance out of making paste. Who’s got the time? Perfectly-measured bags of paste mixes take all the guesswork and frustration out of the picture, leaving you with maximum time to create the art you love. Each bag has just the right amount of ingredients to make enough paste for a comfortable-length work session.

Our paste formula is made with the exact ingredients used by the masters. One of the ingredients is added to give the paper a tight, crispy quality. It’s not poison, but it’s not yummy either. Do we really need a disclaimer? It’s paste folks. Listen to your classmates. Don’t be a paste-eater.

Binding Mix - 3 bags Item #P046 $12

Pasting Mix - 3 bags Item #P047 $12

Craftsman’s Corner

In the strictest traditions, aspiring lion makers start their apprenticeships under masters by learning how to make paste. The would-be students spend weeks, even months at the task. The drudgery is one of the master’s tests for finding students with patience and character. When the student satisfies both requirements AND demonstrates the ability to make just the right amount of perfect paste, the master begins teaching the art of binding.