Paper Sculpture

Book excerpt: Paper is readily available and inexpensive in comparison to other sculptural media, and can be manipulated with a set of simple tools. It is a tactile medium, which can be formed into three-dimensional shapes quickly and immediately through folding and cutting. This hands-on element is something I feel is important -- it allows the artist to engage immediately with the material, resulting in something physical and tangible. It is, perhaps, these factors that make it so appealing, not only as a tool to apply in different fields, such as model making for architecture, but as an activity for its own sake. A section of this book is dedicated to a selection of the techniques I use in the creation of my work, and which I demonstrate in my workshops. My aim is to show the basic principles of form-making in paper, which can then be expanded on and explored as the reader wishes. Also included are my sources of inspiration and details of my working practice, which shows the evolution of an initial idea into a final artwork. I hope this book offers an insight into my work, while offering inspiration to those who wish to explore the creative potential of paper.