Papercraft Object: The Research!

 "We want to feel a connection with the imagery we are looking at, and even if it's just a photograph of the finished illustration, knowing that it exists as a physical artwork is hugely satisfying."

-.Owen Gildersleeve, Paper Cut: An Exploration Into The Contemporary World of Papercraft Art and Illustration.

Papercraft is a discipline that has had a flickering presence in the art scene for centuries. Papercraft and paper cutting has been part of different cultural traditions and has become one of the interests of many design and advertising companies. Gildersleeve mentions in his book how the digital era has pushed handcraft practices aside with its arrival, but at the same time created the perfect scene for their revival. People, both spectators and artists, are showing their appreciation for more traditional ways of creating art the more detached they feel from it when it is presented in a digital form.

Helen Musselwhite is just one example of the amazing artwork that can be achieved with this craft and the sensation it produces. Musselwhite is a talented paper artist that draws inspiration from the nature and suburban scene that surrounds her to create colourful-layered 2D and 3D pieces of outstanding quality. Her work is a living proof of the charming qualities papercraft exudes since it has been requested by many well-known companies like Audi, McDonalds, and Rayban.

Musselwhite passion for creation is imprinted all over her pieces due to the traditional nature that her papercraft process includes. Musseelwhite starts her artworks with multiple thumbnails sketched on paper, she chooses one to enlarge and photocopies it to add colour and make a loose composition before starting to cut every piece by hand and attach to the final composition. A process, she explains in multiple interviews, that she does not even track by how invested she is in it.

"I was looking to do something a little more with paper, making images that have layers so people can kind of look into it and think 'Whoa! I'd like to get into there!'" 

-.Helen Musselwhite, A Little Film About...Helen Musselwhite.

3D paper display for T2 store in Regent St, London, 2018 (1).

I selected Musselwhite's work as my inspiration for this project not only because of the stunning quality of her craft but also because of her mindset while creating it. In her interview with Creative Boom she's asked to give advice to aspiring paper artist and said "Look further afield for inspiration out of your social media bubble. There's always a current look/subject/style - try not to be a slave to it or at least try it from a different angle". Musselwhite shows with her personality and art that she enjoys every part of it and that she would not trade it for anything else, but does not disregards the influence digital art and media has in the design world.

Cover for Louise Greig's story book "A Walk Through the Woods", 2019 (2).

Musselwhite's work has struck me as an example of the wonders creativity has in store if one takes advantage of it. When one enjoys the process and becomes dedicated to it. Her work is delicate and cheerful, intricate and satisfying, dynamic and inviting. I aspire to have the confidence and pride she has over her work, to have the ability to show my presence clearly as artist in my work.

Back cover of Helen Musselwhite's children book "Little House", 2015 (3).