I can’t believe it was only a year ago I started exploring art. I was convinced I couldn’t draw. That’s why you loved animation. I could create in 3D shapes and make some amazing images and video.
I started drawing and incorporated Prismacolor color pencils. Three short months later I fell in love with COPIC markers. And in November I settled on my true love–paper sculpting.
Paper is amazing. It is soft, pliable, strong. You wouldn’t expect pliable and strong to be in the same sentence but with a few folds, you can turn paper into a stand that holds far more than it’s own weight.
Here is my first paper sculpture–Phoenix Rising. It consists of over 100 individually hand cut pieces.
This is the base form of the Phoenix. The wings have their individual feathers shaped and attached. And the first row of tail feathers glued on.

The completed paper Phoenix with some basic shaping. The tail has four rows of feathers. Two rows at the top and two sets of long feathers: one over the other.

Here it is in the paper frame with a few concept flames.

The pieces are laid out and shaped in their final, draft composition.

Originally I thought of creating the eye with paper to match the rest of the composition. That didn’t give me the effect I wanted. I decided on this glass gem which gave me the intended effect.

Even archival paper can be tricky to clean. I mounted the piece in a shadow box to protect it from the environment, especially dust.
I am very happy with how it turned out. Letting go was bittersweet. But it is now in a private collection.
