Paper has been used as a medium for art for thousands of years. What started as simple paper folding has grown into a vast art form that virtually has no limits. There is evidence of paper artwork earlier than 2nd century B. C. however the true art was not readily available until then when wood pulp paper began to be mass-produced in China. Before that the early forms of paper were highly expensive and hard to come by.
The Chinese make paper art famous first. The early form of paper art is known as origami. This is merely the act of paper folding. This simple form of artwork is known and practiced by many throughout the world. The act of folding paper from simplistic airplanes to the more complicated forms of boxes and even cranes is common throughout the world, but less common to the masses is the intricacy of not only folding paper, but crafting it into what can only be called true and intricate pieces of art work. The world has become alive with amazing paper art that comes in many forms.
Paper Dresses
The 1960s brought us a revolution in a number of industries. Paper art was one of those industries. Clothing designers have always looked for different materials in order to make clothes. During the 1960s paper dresses were all the rage. Papers dresses were manufactured by the hundreds of thousands and in more styles and colours than one could imagine. Entire paper clothing stores sprang up all over and people were wearing paper dresses all over the world.
Like most fads, however there was a downfall. As smoking was also popular many women were subject to the dress being burned by a flick of a cigarette. This hazard, at best, would leave poor women in dire need of some form of covering or in more severe cases, in the hospital with critical burns. The other down side to this fashion icon was the fact that paper is stiff and uncomfortable. Plus a sudden downpour could render a person with a case of indecent exposure. By the end of the 60s the paper dress extravaganza was over forever.
Specialty Paper
Although typical paper can be used to produce beautiful pieces of artwork, but paper manufacturers have gone above and beyond to produce beautiful specialty papers that are artwork in their own right. Designers create paper with patterns and colours that rival that of famous artists. Paper designs are just as elaborate as the artwork people craft from them. In addition to design, these specialty papers are made from a variety of materials to gain the right effect and thickness.
Handmade Paper
In grade school there comes a time when we learn about paper production. Although it may seem a little gross, we have all been instructed by our teachers to bring in all the dryer lint we could find. The lint is then moistened, pressed, and dried on a screen producing a fibrous rendition that resembles extremely thick paper. It does not look like the standard paper we are used to, but is effective in teaching children how fibres are pressed together to make paper.
Handmade paper companies are now in high demand. Handmade paper can be used to make incredible artwork with textures that are unlike anything else. Handmade paper is also great when it comes to invitations to weddings and other high-end celebrations. The use of handmade paper will give your artwork or invitation that one of a kind feel that is so popular today with everything being produced on such a high velocity stamped out scale.
No Limits
Where paper art was once limited to merely folding something with a white piece of paper, people are now getting very elaborate in the way they use this medium in artwork. You can make almost anything from paper. With time and patience you can make some paper art look just as real as the real thing. One of the most popular forms of artwork with any medium is forming animals. Animal paper artwork has taken the world by storm. These animals are meticulously created by artists and used in displays. The inexpensive nature of paper makes it highly desirable for many artists who have been put off by the high expense of other forms of art mediums. The sky is truly the limit when it comes to paper art.
Twenty Fingers is always on the lookout for ways to use paper in artwork. We are working daily to develop new and interesting products for our family of customers to enjoy. We take inspiration from the world around us and look forward to creating your next piece of paper artwork. However, paper dresses have too many hazards to our customers, so for the love of the customer we do not manufacture those :) For all of your other paper art needs please contact us and let us help you.
