The Sunday Paper #408

April 10, 2022

I’m in Richmond, California for the Codex Book Fair, which opens at 12:30pm today. I can’t wait to see many old friends and colleagues, and I look forward to making new ones. Here are the books I’ll have at Table #15. You can click on each one to read more, or better yet, come see them in person)! I will also have autographed copies of The Art of Papercraft.

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I’m not exactly sure why, but when I see diagrams like this, I get excited. Maybe it is because I wanted to be an architect, and it reminds me of architectural renderings. Click through to see the book that architect Yusuke Oono created from these drawings using CAD and a laser cutter.

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Most of us have seen and heard of folding 1000 paper cranes to make a dream come true. Check out these miniature paper cranes by Naoki Onogawa that adorn the branches of bonsai trees.

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I love this description of the exhibition – The Politics of Paper – which was recently on view at Emami Art, Kolkata, in India. Brittle, durable. Flimsy, sturdy. We take these paradoxical qualities of paper for granted but since its invention in China in 105 AD by Ts’ai Lun, an official at the imperial court, paper has been used by artists, thinkers, writers, scientists and craftsmen as the medium for their creations, which, thus enshrined, have survived the wear and tear of centuries, largely unscathed. 

MITHU SEN’s Unwing – mixed media on kozo paper and light box | Photo Credit: Emami Art

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I’m featuring one-sheet wonders here on the blog, since the projects in my new book, The Art of Papercraft, fall into that category. I’d love to feature your one-sheet wonders!

Here’s the Floral Lantern project from The Art of Papercraft. One of my Paper Year members, Claudia Waruch, created the project with some gorgeous eco printed paper. This project involves turning a sheet of paper into this uniquely shaped lantern or vase by connecting a square, four triangles, and a few tabs. Then you can add a twist to those geometric shapes by curling the papery ends. Just pull the paper along the edge of a pair of scissors—like with a ribbon—and watch curlicues form. This project was inspired by a tea bag pouch. I’m always looking at packaging and other printed materials for inspiration — it is a great way to come up with new designs.

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Check out this unique foldable cup! It isn’t paper, but it utilizes origami folds.

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Paper Tidbits:

• Have you had a chance to listen to my interview with Molly Grosse from Rock Paper on Paper Talk?
• Come work with me, Carol Barton, Denise Carbone and Amanda Degener.  at a paper retreat at ICA Arts in Umbria, Italy in September.

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In the Studio:

I open registration for my Paper Year membership program quarterly, and today, April 10th is the last day to join us this time around. Members enjoy the following each and every month:

• Project instructions designed to spark ideas that keep you creating for the rest of the month;
• The chance to explore creative paper techniques, including origami, pop-ups, paper weaving, book arts, paper cutting and more;
• Participation in a growing community of paper lovers online, where we learn and share in a warm, encouraging, supportive, creative community.

Find out more and register here.