ARTIST SPEAK
5 Paper Cutting Artists that create masterpieces of intricate precision and care
A delicate art form that requires great care, attention to detail and artistic vision, paper cutting reveals itself to be uniquely awe-inspiring. We shed light on 5 notable paper cutting artists whose artworks intrigue the beholder, while simultaneously stirring the artistic soul.
What is it about the paper cutting art that inspires you ?
What inspires me is the world, it’s me, it’s the people, it’s my mood at that moment. Everything around me gives me a vibration, a feeling, and so I have to channel the emotions into something, I found the card for this. I find it liberating for me to carve between the sheets of paper. There are those who write thoughts on a sheet of paper, instead I shape them on it.
What is art to you ?
Art is simply what man is. If you want to understand a person looks at what he writes, what he draws. Look at the lines, the curves it gives to that object. Anyone who approaches art knows that he will expand himself into another form. I feel that there is not enough space in the head, that’s why you take a piece of wood or a blank canvas, and you start to express. Art is to make real what a moment before was only a fantasy; and a moment later denotes visual emotion, that is true art.
Briefly describe your art and design.
My art is made of soul! People stop to look because the sculptures I make are of paper, but then they realize that there is more to it. I express a concept, a moment; I make sure that what you look at leads you to ask questions, a search. There are many hidden messages in each of my sculptures, but everyone is free to freely interpret what they see. Fantasy has no limits, so let’s go back to dreaming!
What are the key difficulties associated with using paper as your creative medium ?
I think there are many aspects, as paper has its own consistency, and the difficulty lies in mastering its structure. But in addition to the difficulty of cutting neatly with a scalpel and scissors, sometimes I push myself to create microscopic pieces. Cutting a rounded shape is not easy, and requires a fast and continuous cut to give a natural look. Then you have to find a way to bend it, being able to shape at will. Also this art is greatly affected by the type of paper, the weight, and its density. And therefore, I’m always looking out for new paper card options, because despite the same specification, the cards always turn out all different.
Being an very intricate art form that requires great care, what is the biggest lesson that it has taught you ?
I believe that this question should be left open section, because every time it teaches me something. Every time he knows how to give me a new experience. Creating something so difficult, takes you to an inner search, I realize that the patience that is acquired is such that it can be transferred to everyday life. I find all this is spiritual, it helps to mold character, to understand how to overcome an obstacle and to understand that the longest road is the one that will bring good results.
As an artist that uses paper, what are your views on the current sustainability trends ?
At the beginning of my work with paper, I immediately thought about the impact this could have. Before using white paper, I started with books, old used books and yellows, give life to something already read/used, that people would have thrown. Then when switching to white paper, I searched for recyclable, low environmental impact papers as the aspect of the earth and its plundering is a matter that I always have in my heart.
What is it about the paper cutting art that inspires you?
Being such an ancient art form, it has roots in so many different cultures and I love that! I really enjoy the patience needed to sit and work just with my hands - starting with a simple blank sheet of paper and seeing it become something quite beautiful.
What is art to you ?
I couldn’t put it better than, “the human expression of a creative nature.”
Briefly describe your art and designs.
All of my artworks start as a simple sketch, which I then play with and refine in Adobe Illustrator. I have a background in Graphic Design and I think this influences my way of working digitally. Once I’m happy with the final design I use a scalpel and blade to delicately cut and create each piece.
What are the key difficulties associated with using paper as your creative medium ?
I find no real difficulties - it’s something that brings me real pleasure and I’m always happy when I’m cutting.
Being an very intricate art form that requires great care, what is the biggest lesson that it has taught you ?
Papercutting is unforgiving - one slip of the scalpel and you can really alter a piece! So I’ve learnt that you can’t rush, you need to take your time, enjoy the process and change your blade often.
As an artist that uses paper, what are your views on the current sustainability trends ?
I’m very conscious that it’s my responsibility to only use papers that are sourced from sustainable forests and manufactured carefully. I have boxes and boxes of colourful scraps which I try to find different ways to use artistically - creating botanical collages is a particular favourite. Recently I’ve been looking into making handmade paper using recycled off-cuts from my papercuts,
something I’m really excited to share!
What is it about the paper cutting art that inspires you?
I love the way that you can turn something so simple such as a single sheet of paper and turn it into a unique piece of art by using just one tool.
Being a very intricate art form that requires great care, what is the biggest lesson that it has taught you ?
Definitely patience, working slowly yet methodically and how to plan out the positive and negative shapes in a design. Also, to never wear nail varnish whilst working! Many of my pieces have almost been ruined by pink smudges.
Briefly describe your art and designs
When I’m creating a piece for myself, I’m heavily influenced by my love for nature and the environment. However, if I am working with a client on a bespoke piece, I usually take influence from their own life stories, especially when working on pieces for weddings and anniversaries.
What are the key difficulties associated with using paper as your creative medium?
There are many! Paper can be incredibly difficult to work with depending on its weight, especially when you’re first learning. It can also be easily torn or if you don’t keep changing your blades, you’re likely to slip and ruin the design. With regards to the possibilities of using paper as a medium, they are almost endless! You can use different layers, colours and textures to add dimension to your work.
What is art to you?
I personally use art to express my thoughts and feelings on issues close to my heart and to raise awareness for causes such as mental health, climate change and endangered species. The art of paper cutting has always been very therapeutic for me, and I’m sure to a lot of others too.
As an artist that uses paper, what are your views on the current sustainability trends?
Everyday the environment pays a price for our choices, but I try to strike a balance between what I utilise for my art and the message it conveys. In the grand scheme of things, I believe that paper art has very minimal impact on the environment. Art is good for the soul and is a fantastic medium to carry messages across to raise awareness about what’s important to the artist.
What is it about the paper cutting art that inspires you ?
The simplicity of the materials. That by taking a blank sheet, you can make something beautiful by simply removing parts of it. It is such a versatile medium, and I love the challenge of trying to create movement and texture in a block image. Not only is it a beautiful medium to work with, the variety of things that artists can create from just a sheet of paper is very inspiring for me. When I first started, I found artists that were not only using a very traditional medium with a long history, they were also making contemporary work with meaning and context to our lives today and it made me want to do the same.
What is art to you ?
Art is communication
Briefly describe your art and designs.
My work is cut from a single sheet of paper, and will sometimes include other mediums such as painting, and most recently embroidery. The subject matter is eclectic, but mainly focused around nature, memory and pop culture. Every piece and every process is done by hand.
What are the key difficulties associated with using paper as your creative medium ?
The delicacy of paper. It has so many wonderful properties, but it is an unforgiving medium. Mistakes are permanent, you can get it wet, and you can’t repair damage. But I think that is also what makes finished pieces more beautiful.
Being a very intricate art form that requires great care, what is the biggest lesson that it has taught you ?
Patience, definitely. It requires focus and calm and patience and these are all things that I take forward into other aspects of my life too. You will hear a lot of paper artists talk about it being like meditation, to settle into a task and get into a rhythm and those skills are useful to have in all other aspects of your life. It teaches mindfulness and care over a task.
As an artist that uses paper, what are views on current sustainability trends ?
I think it is a really important aspect of making art. Therefore, we should be thinking about it and trying to find ways to adapt. Technology has meant that we can now use non-toxic materials as there are options available. In terms of paper, in an increasingly paperless world it leaves a lot of questions for us. For myself, I have always sourced paper that is at the very least from sustainable sources and am always on the search for more sustainable paper. I now use a beautiful washi paper for most of my work which is made at Awagami Factory in Japan. It is a very old paper factory that grows most of the materials they use from sustainable plants, and everything is made by hand without the need for machinery in the most environmentally friendly way.
Q. What is it about the paper cutting art that drew you to it ?
I come from an average middle class family and after my high school completion I got enrolled in an animation institute but I dropped out as they stressed only on 3d animation studies while it was 2d art-forms that interested me. So my academic books started serving as a canvas for my sketches. Initially to me paper cutting was a hobby; once I had enough artworks on hand to exhibit them, I conducted an exhibition in Kanoria Center of Arts, Ahmedabad, displaying 84 paper cuts.
Q. Briefly describe your art and design.
It takes a steady hand to create papercuts, which I think I had attained during my practice of cutting out stencils. But to know and study the composition of what to make and which paper to use, and the technical know-hows like how to hold the paper or which blade to use, took me six months. I use 120 gsm paper, surgical knife and pencil. I am pushing myself forward to invent something beyond what I already have. I don’t want to achieve anything as clearly don’t have any idea where i want to reach i just want to keep making new things.
Q. What are the key difficulties associated with using paper as your creative medium ?
I was presented with different challenges at different stages. But now with 2 years of practice I have gotten the hang of it. For me papercuts is a new form of art as I didn’t have any idea about this technique before. So the challenging part was how to do it, what to make and how to present it. But the excitement of creating new things keeps me going.
Q. Being an very intricate art form that requires great care, what is the biggest lesson that it has taught you ?
The artwork itself is my inspiration, teaching me lessons. Before I start creating an artwork I have an image in my mind, but even I’m unsure of what it’s going to look like in the end. I sketch on a white paper; cut out the artwork and then paint it black. To be honest it leaves me shocked at times and there are no words to describe my satisfaction at that moment. This makes me want to create more and more.
Q. As an artist that uses paper, what are your views on the current environmental trends ?
Yes , everything around us is art its just the way how we look. I want to change the normal day to day objects and waste into emotions of love and peace, so that people can connect with them and are motivated to spread positive vibes around.