Marie-Helene Grabman
Mixed media
Using surgical scissors, I create cut paper designs from a single sheet of black or white paper, creating the dramatic effect of light versus dark with small bits of color (painted or cut paper) for focal points. A few of my designs have added layers of cut paper over the base cutting to create a dimensional effect.
The art is called “scherenschnitte”–or scissor cutting, a very old art form that developed in Switzerland and Germany in the 1500’s. The process is like woodcutting: you start with a blank resource and create the art by cutting parts of it away. Precision is paramount and it demands full concentration. Many of the cut lines are no thicker than thread-width. The paper is attached to the base mat with only small dots of glue so that the cutting floats within the frame, creating shadows. I feel this is an important part of the composition and it also works to identify the paper cutting from a pen and ink work or print.
Kid Friendly! Watch as a cutting is started then take it home and finish it yourself. Learn about the history of this almost lost art.