I create paper cutting artworks using cutting tools such as scissors and craft knife. My artwork is handmade and based on my original ideas and sketches.
Types of Paper Cuts
I produce two styles of paper cuts. The first is fold-and-cut style, which produces symmetric patterns, much like paper snowflakes. The second style involves cutting a flat sheet of paper, usually with a sharp craft knife. In both styles, I sometimes draw on the paper before cutting it.
Images: Fold-and-cut style paper cuts made using scissors
Images: Paper cuts from a flat sheet of paper, made using a craft knife
Material
Paper: For the fold-and-cut style, I use square paper ranging from 6 inches square origami paper, to 12 inches square for larger pieces.
For the larger pieces, I work on black silhouette paper. Silhouette paper is a special type of paper that is matte, black colored on one side and white on the other. The black side is the front side of the paper cut and creates a nice contrast against a white background.
Cutting instruments: I use both scissors and craft knives. Scissors are good for fold-and-cut style paper curs, while knife is useful for everything else.
The scissors I like are small, sharp and have pointed ends. The knives I use are special craft knives that have replaceable, sharp blades.
Design Process
The conceptualization of design and idea of my paper cuts usually starts much before I do the cutting. I use a small-sized sketchbook as a log of my ideas. I occasionally take some notes along with the sketches to remind me of specific motifs or rendering ideas.
Some ideas for my paper cuts are inspired by specific themes, for example, science fiction or mythology. Other ideas are driven by exploration of specific shapes and patterns, for example, geometric patterns or abstract patterns.
Cutting Process
I use scissors for small fold-and-cut style paper cuts. I often produce four- or six-point symmetric patterns. The patterns are produce by folding a square piece of paper (origami paper) and turning it while cutting it with scissors.
The more intricate, complex pieces are produced using a knife. I use the knife for large fold-and-cut style and for cutting flat sheet of paper. I place the paper on a self-healing cutting mat before cutting it.
Mounting
Paper cuts may be mounted in standard picture frames available in art stores. I prefer two special types of frames, which are floating frame and shadow box frame.
A floating frame is a frame with two sheets of glass. The paper cut is sandwiched between the glass sheets. The see-through effect allows the paper cut to cast shadow.
A shadow box frame is like a regular picture frame but deep. This type of frame allows suspending a paper cut or making layered paper cuts.