The papyrus plant grows in the Nile's fresh water. It has long roots and stems. The ancient Egyptians used it in building ships and making papyrus paper.

The outer bark of the papyrus plant is removed and the inner pith is sliced into thin strips. The strips are hammered to break the fibers and drain the water. They are then re-immersed into water for 3 days until the fibers become flexible and transparent.

The papyrus strips are then cut to the required length and placed on a piece of cotton with each at a slight overlap making two layers, one horizontal and the other vertical.

The papyrus sheets are put between two pieces of cardboard and placed under a hand press until dry. The cardboard is changed every 8 hours and the drying process takes about 3 days.

Finally, the papyrus sheets are ready for painting and are given to qualified artists. The mediums used are inks, oils, and gouache, although it is also possible to write, typewrite, and draw on papyrus.