As paper became more affordable, paper-cutting became one of the most important types of Chinese folk art. Later, this art form spread to other parts of the world, with different regions adopting their own cultural styles. Because the cut-outs are often used to decorate doors and windows, they are sometimes referred to as window flowers or window paper-cuts. People glued the paper cuts to the exterior of windows, so the light from the inside would shine through the negative space of the cutout.
There are two methods of manufacture: one uses scissors, the other uses knives. In the scissor method, several pieces of paper — up to eight — are fastened together. The motif is then cut with sharp, pointed scissors.
Knife cuttings are fashioned by putting several layers of paper on a relatively soft foundation consisting of a mixture of tallow and ashes. Following a pattern, the artist cuts the motif into the paper with a sharp knife which is usually held vertically. Skilled crafters can even cut out different drawings freely without stopping.
There are several great paper cutters such as Maude White.
New York-based artist Maude Whites comes from a family of visual storytellers> She was fascinated by the various stories and ways of telling them that she experienced in her youth. The discovery of paper as a medium for her own visual stories came next.
Incredibly enough, White works by hand, using a craft knife to cut tiny lines and draw images with the paper’s empty negative space. “I have great respect for paper. When I cut, the thin membranous material reveals its strength to me,” the artist explains on her website. “Paper is everywhere and it has been telling stories for centuries.“
To check out more of her work, visit White’s online portfolio and keep up with her latest creations, including fascinating process photos, via her Instagram account. She also offers some of her creations for purchase via Etsy at Brave Bird Paperwork
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