This helps the artist in choosing the right type of paper for a particular project. Here are the most common types of paper available in the market today:

1. Repro paper

This type of paper is also known as ‘printing paper’ or ‘offset paper’. As it is commonly used across the world, this variety of paper is produced in large quantities. The sheets are generally made with a small amount of cellulose and greater quantities of filler. 

This facilitates printing, which is the main application of this variety. The common range of weight is from 70 to 90, but it can go as high as 100 grams. Manufacturers often want the highest possible degree of whiteness for this type of paper. Fillers are used for this purpose. This variety of paper doesn’t require much handling. It is only made strong enough to be folded or to go through a printer. 

The evolution in the manufacturing process of this material resulted in the integration of pulp factories into paper factories. This was done to reduce costs and conduct the entire process in the same place. Normally, this paper is produced at a speed of 2,000 meters per minute in 9 to 10-meter-wide runs.

2. Couche or coated paper

This variety of paper is produced with shorter fibre. The filler used is joined to the fibre with the help of a binding agent. It can be either natural or synthetic. For better printing and resolution output, a coated layer is applied to the cellulose. 

As a result, the ink remains on the surface and the result after printing is shinier and colourful. White coated paper is the most common option because the background colour won’t be apparent if the coating cracks. It has a matte or semi-matte finish, which involves the application of surface ink. 

In this case, the ink is less shiny. This type of paper is less strong, as it has a greater amount of fibre and short fibre. It is manufactured at speeds of up to 1,000 meters per minute. The paper has production runs between 7 and 8 meters of width in the machine.

3. Tissue paper

Absorbent and soft, this type of paper has water resistance depending upon its sub-types. The paper used for making handkerchiefs withstand liquids to prevent them from falling apart. On the other hand, paper is used for making napkins dissolve easily. In order to achieve this, different treatments are done during the manufacturing process. 

This type of paper is generally produced with virgin fibre. A mass-dyed process is used to manufacture coloured tissue paper. Once the paper comes out of the machine, prints and reliefs are applied offline. This type of paper is generally made in rolls and is 4 meters wide.

4. Fine art paper

The paper used for fine arts has different functional and technical features depending on the artistic method. It was devised as a better economical option for canvases. Some of these papers have excellent characteristics and can last for almost a century without turning yellow. 

Between 1920 and 1930, the natural paper manufacturer Guarro Casas began manufacturing special papers. This was for the works by Miro, Pablo Picasso, and Garcia Lorca.

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Paper can be easily moulded when moist and used for creating three-dimensional shapes. So, paper can be one of the most versatile mediums for the creation of fascinating sculptures. You only need to have no restrictions on its use.

Origins and the techniques used

The connection between paper and art is almost as old as paper itself. The use of paper began with papyrus scrolls made by the Egyptians as early as 4,000 BC. It was created using papyrus reeds. The modern paper was first made from cellulose fibres in 100 BC in China. The creation of paper sculpture dates back to the 17th century. 

The earliest forms of paper sculptures were made in Japan by employing a variety of folding techniques. This particular art came to be known as ‘origami’. Ever since the paper was invented, many artists have worked on paper through drawing, printing, and calligraphy. When it comes to paper sculpture, only a few artists have ventured into the field. 

One of the reasons is that artists who think three-dimensionally are quite a few. Besides, this is one of the most difficult skills of art to teach. The creation of such sculptures often involves bending, cutting, and curling paper. They also involve embossing, moulding, layering, and the combinations of some or all of these techniques. 

There are instances when paper drinking straws, tissues, and other household materials are used. Such sculptures can be seen during occasions like Mother’s Day when they are handed out at church. Once you learn the knack of it, such sculptures can be created within a few minutes.

Teaching the art of paper sculpture

How the paper is utilized in the creation of a sculpture would obviously depend on the kind of paper used. For example, tissue paper looks and behaves differently than corrugated cardboard. For many years, corrugated cardboard has been used to teach architecture. It is used to create model homes. 

Similarly, the quantity of paper used influences the methods and the results to a great extent. As children, many individuals have made Christmas trees by folding paper to form a cone shape. Later they were spray-painted and decorated with painted ‘spitballs’. One of the best aspects of the paper in the creation of sculptured art is that it is inexpensive. 

The second is it’s relatively lightweight when compared to materials like bronze. Another great thing about paper is that it’s available in large quantities. It also lasts longer. More importantly, the errors don’t cost a great deal when compared to materials like marble. The learning curve is quite gentle when it comes to the creation of sculptural works using paper. 

Many individuals get the opportunity to learn 3D paper art in the first grade using construction paper. Those in the 12th grade learn the art using cardboard. Their ages do not matter, as the students attain the same degree of success.

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Many artists use papers meant for acrylic or watercolour paintings to create two-dimensional and three-dimensional sculptures. The best medium is believed to be acid-free paper. Making these wonderful pieces of art involves several techniques. Here are the most popular ones:

1. Sculpture Folding

Paper sculpture artists utilize a variety of folds to make a fabulous sculpture. The sculpture folding techniques also include origami. This paper-folding art from Japan incorporates a series of different folds. Pleats, mountain, reverse, and squash folds are some of the basic folds used in origami. Petal and triangle folds are also used in this Japanese paper-folding art.

2. Curls and Spirals

For creating spirals and curls, solid square boxes, round objects, edges of tables, and scissors are used by sculptors. There’s a brilliant technique that sculptors employ for creating a soft S-curve using paper. It involves tugging a piece of paper gently along one of the edges of a wooden block. Some tension is also applied on the opposite end for getting the desired result. 

In order to cut a spiral, you must begin at one end of a circle cut-out. Then you can go ahead and cut into the circle. While doing so, you must follow the curve of the paper until you arrive at the centre. Cones and cylinder shapes are created by the paper sculptors using rolling techniques.

3. Razor and Scissor Cuts

Sculptors who work on relief paper use a cutting stylus. It has pointed, tipped, or rounded razor blades that are interchangeable and fit into the end of the tool. Although scissors are also used, the razor-bladed tool gives the sculptor more control. 

This is extremely useful when creating cuts that are intricate and snowflake-like. After the overall design, smaller pieces are cut, moistened, and moulded into specific shapes. They’re then held together in place using acid-free glue.

4. Embossing and Molding

Anything that creates an impression into a sheet of paper is used by paper sculpture artists. Wood blocks, textured fabrics, found objects, and elements of nature are some examples. A paper sculpture artist uses an excellent method to create recessed, raised, or textured areas in the sculpture. First, the paper is moistened and then some pressure is applied to the item on the paper. 

This is done while it’s sandwiched between two pieces of felt. Heavier and thicker watercolour papers are ideal for this. In another embossing method, the wet paper is dried around the item that’s moulded. Thicker papers are used to create more vivid results.

5. Tools, Accessories, and Scoring

Small, flat, oil paint brushes are also used by paper relief sculptors to put on glue where it’s needed. This is done to attach parts of the sculpture to itself. Pencils are used for drawing out designs or for curling. The wooden or metal stylus is used to score paper to make an indentation. 

Rounded shapes are created by safety compasses and a small ruler is used for measurements. Techniques for glueing involve holding the glued piece stationary for a minimum of 30 seconds. This is done until the white glue bonds properly.

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This is because the artist has to make sure that the artwork is stable and permanent. Paper requires a special approach, as it is a softer material for making sculptures. It also requires a great deal of patience and precision. One of the several forms of paper sculpture is origami. It is the art of folding paper, which is associated with Japanese culture. 

However, there is a big difference between paper sculptures and origami. Paper sculptures are made using several pieces of paper, whereas origami uses only one. In such types of sculptures, paper is not only the object but also the subject. Everything else is just tools. Many sculptors have used paper as a material in their art over the years. 

Usually, they combine paper with a stronger material, such as wood and metal. One of these sculptors is Pablo Picasso. He created many sculptures with paper as a material, but it was used as a decorative element. There are many fascinating sculptures that have been created using only paper. Here are some of them:

1. Magic Circle

Rogan Brown is one of the prominent contemporary artists who explore organic growth and natural architecture. He uses paper as his main sculpture material. It is cut using a scalpel knife. At times, it takes several months to complete the process of creating a single piece. 

Rogan Brown is known for mixing science and art. Among his most famous works of art is Magic Circle. It reflects patterns that occur naturally in microbes, coral, and bacteria.

2. Vortextural

This fabulous piece of paper sculpture was created by Jen Stark. It is distinct and can be recognized easily for its use of attributes that are cyclical and colourful. Jen is a contemporary artist from the United States, known for her fantastic paper sculptures. 

She is known for creating sculptures that mimic intricate colours and patterns of nature. They also explore the ideas of infinity and replication. Most of her works of art are multi-coloured. They are a reflection of her desire to represent nature’s richness in her sculptures.

3. Bust of Michelangelo’s David

One of the most famous paper sculptors in the world, Li Hongbo uses paper and glue in his creations. He glues together thousands of individual sheets to make stunning artworks. Li builds blocks of paper, which he then carves into human figures and objects. 

Among his globally renowned works are the replicas of Italian and Greek busts. One such example is the bust of Michelangelo’s David. It can be easily mistaken for a porcelain replica of a famous sculpture. It is only by close scrutiny that one realizes that the sculpture has been made entirely out of paper.

4. No Titled (Troublehead)

Peter Callesen is a Danish artist known for his great paper-cut artworks. He is also well-known for his paper sculptures. He usually creates his sculptures using A4 sheets of paper. The reason is that this type of paper is the widely used medium of information today. 

Peter shows all the potentials of paper as a material for creating art through his sculptures. Among his popular works is No Titled (Troublehead). It features a head created out of sentences cut out from a diary.

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There are certain artists in this world who are capable of something exceptional. Such individuals can transform any ordinary material into an astonishing piece of art. Here, we’ve presented some of the talented paper sculpture artists who give life to ordinary pieces of paper:

1. Jeff Nishinaka

This artist has been a paper sculpture artist for three decades. Jeff Nishinaka earned an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He then went on to pursue his passion for the craft at the Art Center College of Design. This is a renowned art school in California. Although he was interested in painting, Jeff’s experiences in the Art Center took him in a different direction. 

He decided to enhance his talent by handling several elements, which included paper. Jeff realized that paper was quite a flexible medium. This led him to create some amazing masterpieces by shaping paper while maintaining its character in the process. Paramount Pictures, Coca Cola, and Visa are some of the brands that have benefited from his works.

2. Yulia Brodskaya

A brilliant paper sculpture artist from Russia, Yulia developed an interest in origami, textile painting, and collage. This happened even before she underwent a formal education in art. After moving to the United Kingdom, she took her master’s degree at the University of Hertfordshire. She incorporated three of the things in her sculptures that she loved the most. 

They were paper, intricate handicrafts, and typography. Some truly magnificent projects were thus born. Her hard work paid off as she went on to work with some of the world’s largest brands. Hermes, Nokia, and Starbucks were some of her clients.

3. Cheong-ah Hwang

She was born and raised in South Korea. When it comes to the manipulation of paper, Cheong-ah Hwang has a natural gift in creating art. Cheong-ah Hwang was fascinated by this medium from a young age. As her parents had a printing shop in her hometown, she had access to different kinds of paper. 

This unleashed her inner potential to make ornate pieces of art out of them. She now lives in the United States and has become quite famous owing to her marvellous skills. One of her famed projects was a 2010 campaign for Kickstarter. It is an organization that provides funds for creative programs. 

She reproduced her complicated pieces through this project and they were sold at lower prices. She is also renowned for creating a cover image for Philip Pullman’s book, Grimm Tales for Young and Old.

4. Alexei Lyapunov and Lena Ehrlich

With the use of paper, this duo is focused on creating 3D figures and settings. Alexei Lyapunov and Lena Ehrlich are from Russia. They utilize cutting and slicing tools, rulers, tweezers, and metal wirings while making their elaborate artworks. Some of their popular paper sculptures are of music icons, such as Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and The Beatles. 

They also received a lot of praise for ‘People Too’, their elaborate 3D miniature installations. It depicts some mundane scenarios, such as aeroplane travel and an office setting. These pieces of paper sculpture are laced with vibrant colours and a sense of humour.

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