Have you ever wondered how some of those extremely intricate designs are cut into paper? I have, and when I got the opportunity to review a book about it I jumped at the chance.
The Art of Paper Cutting by Henya Melichson ( Quarry Books, June 2009, ISBN : 978-1-59253-525-5 ) answered my questions. I had heard the term scherenschnitte (I can even say it). and I thought this was the correct term for all papercutting. I was wrong. From the book I learned that the art of papercutting has backgrounds in many cultures, and different names for all of them. Scherenschnitte is from Germany and became very popular in the 1600’s. England, Poland, Holland, the Americas, Mexico, China and Japan as well as other countries also had their own versions. If you’ve ever folded paper and cut a snowflake as a child, (and who of us hasn’t?) you were doing kirigami, which is a combination of papercutting and folding that originated in Japan.
Papercutting was often used as a basis for transferring a pattern to clothing, walls, or other surfaces. The designs can be symmetrical (alike on both sides) or asymmetrical ( different on each side). Certain cultures use certain papers. For example, Dutch papercutting is always done on white paper.
The paper cuts can be positive (elements of the design stay in the paper and the background is removed), or negative (the design elements are removed and the background stays). Supplies are inexpensive and readily available which contributes to this craft’s popularity.
Henya’s book gives a fascinating but brief history of papercutting, and discusses the tools necessary. She describes several of the common images used and tells of their symbolism. Step by step photos for the 36 projects will have you anxious to try this craft. A dozen of the author’s own templates are included in the back of the book. The designs range from a simple but elegant bookmark (2” x 8”) to a jaw dropping 44” x 16” Noah’s Ark. My personal favorite – I think - is a symmetrical design of 2 birds cut in black paper. The background for this piece has been colored to make it resemble stained glass.
I also appreciated the tips provided through out the book by the author. The Art of Papercutting is due to be released in June, and it will make a wonderful addition to any paper crafter’s library. I do wish this book had been designed with a binding that allowed it to lie flat when open, but at $19.99 I still consider it worth every penny.
