Of all the materials available to mankind, none beats paper. It is the medium for books, for art and for writing: pretty much everything I hold dear. Like water, it is almost ubiquitous: like water, it holds little value until it is scarce.
Indeed, in the past, paper was the preserve of the rich, but now it is so cheap that it is used and thrown away without a thought. This post hopes to rectify that. I’m not suggesting that you hoard every scrap but that you come to love paper, as I do, for the infinite ways that it can bring you joy. When planning this piece, I realised that I would have to limit my enthusiasm to just one aspect of paper use and I have opted for the three dimensional. Paper, like plastic, can take an infinite variety of forms, but unlike plastic, can be safely and easily recycled.
Inception
My paper obsession started in childhood. Television was rather more educational than entertaining then and I remember finishing a programme and rushing off to find some old newspapers to make palm trees. They did, sort of look like palm trees, but the final result didn’t matter too much – what did was the pleasure of creating them. And unlike other toys, they didn’t clutter up the house before being relegated to the back of the wardrobe; they were created and returned to the bin.
When I was a little older, the playground craze was for snap dragons (see above) – a simple origami form that opened up to reveal your fortune. Why nine-year-old girls trusted their fates to such inventions is by the by, but it did introduce me to the idea of origami, which I have loved ever since.
Keeping it simple
What makes paper play perfect for children is that the materials are cheap and readily available. Though my paper play has become a little more sophisticated over the years, my basic materials haven’t changed much at all. I’ve added a scalpel, a bone folder, a cutting board and specialist ruler, yet all I really need are scissors, paper and glue.
Once one’s paper obsession begins, it is quite hard to keep restrained. After all, there are so many amazing papers out there and costing little more than a cup of coffee. I try to keep my collection under control by getting only specialist origami papers and the occasional Flow paper book. Leafing through my paper books alone can bring hours of entertainment, crammed as they are with paper projects of every kind. Below are some little houses, pre-printed, that I made up as 3D models.
Art for free
Yet, enjoying making art from paper, doesn’t require expensive paper books or Japanese origami papers, absolutely any paper will do. Old newspapers, magazines, music paper, wrapping papers and old books can make the most elegant pieces. I often cut up old calendars for their beautiful images and then reimagine them as cards. The art of collage, that I have yet to master, thrives on found images reconfigured. Book lover that I am, I adore things that are made from old books. These tomes can be made into clocks, jewellery, decorations, sculptures and even clothes. It has become its own art form with exhibitions of the most stunning creations made from whole books to the pages of old telephone directories. The delicate and almost ethereal qualities of paper only adding to their charm.
Having dug out my Playing with Books edition, I decided to make some spring blooms in honour of the season. An added advantage is that I shan’t have to water them.
Inspiration
For me, the hardest part of any venture – especially creative ones, is getting started. What if I fail? What if my beautiful lily turns out looking like a turnip? (quite a few of my early attempts did). The beauty of working in paper is that every failure only results in a slightly more full recycling bin. Whatever time you have ‘wasted’ will have taught you valuable lessons about working slowly and carefully – rush with paper and it will rip. Sometimes, even when you don’t rush, it will rip.
Though working with paper requires absolute and methodical concentration, it generally does not take long. Making my granddaughter’s quilt took me the better part of a year; making my paper flowers, an afternoon. With only a few materials needed to get started, it is the perfect occupation for when you have a little time spare and want to achieve something rather than watch something.
But if you prefer paper play as spectator sport, there is no end of amazing content in books and on-line. Whatever you choose, take a little time to appreciate the paper in your life. Who knows, you may end up a paperphile too.
