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The Art of Paper Sculpture
Like other forms of sculpture, paper sculpture is an art form in which artists express themselves by replicating an object or image using specialized materials ranging from the finest vellum to cardboard and newsprint. The talent of the sculptor may be expressed through their inner feelings and ability to shape the material into a form in which they sees life’s objects and people.
The styles of sculpture are many as well as the materials available. The finished effect in the case of our subject is the creation of a work, which can be achieved through, molding, pasting, cutting or folding of the paper material.
The most popular forms of artistic sculpture through the use of paper are:
Paper Mache
Paper mache is a popular art form that has been in practice for hundreds of years. Artists would use this material to create boxes to hold jewelry on dressing tables as well as dishes and other decorative trinkets. As a material used by sculptors it can be applied to a mold or constructed form and after it is dried, it can be painted or decorated. Only the talents of the sculptor limit the artistic form of paper mache in the creation of figures or decorative items for use in the home or office.
Quilling
Quilling or filigree is an art form by which sculptors combine narrow strips of paper into artistic arrangements. It involves the rolling of paper strips and then shaping them into their final form. The work is time consuming but the decorated finished product is generally quite remarkable.
Origami
Origami is a Japanese art form, dating back over four hundred years, using flat sheets of paper which are sculpted through folds made by hand. ‘Ori’ and ‘gami’ are the Japanese words which exactly define this delicate process of ‘paper folding’. The work involved is intricate and necessitates the delicate handling and folding of the paper. The finished product can attest to the artistic talents of the sculptor. Elaborate and detailed figures of animals, birds, trees and flowers are popularly sought after items which are used for home decoration.
Paper sculpture in any of it’s processes has become a popular and desirable art form, and is sought by designers and homeowners for decorative purposes in homes and apartments. The popularity of paper sculptures is also evident through the growing number of exhibitions of this recognized style now taking place in art museums and galleries throughout the world.
