Chigiri-e--Collage

Chigiri s a Japanese art form in which the primary technique uses colored paper that is torn to create images, and may resemble a water color painting. The technique dates from the Heian period of Japanese history when it was often used in conjunction with calligraphy. Handmade paper is essential for the creation of chigiri-e images.  If you just saw chigiri-e from a distance, it looks similar to a water color or sometimes an oil painting.  But, then upon closer inspection you realize that the image is actually created with paper and it takes one imagination by surprise.

In Japanese, chigiru means to tear or shred and “e” (eh) means picture.  The technique begins with tearing washi into small pieces to create depth, texture and dimension for the image, a method similar to collage.  The pieces are then pasted onto an art board – like painting with paper.

Purple Mountains Majesty by  Barbara Harmer

Free Digital Catalog--Unraveling Identity: Our Textiles, Our Stories

 

George Washington University Textile Museum has this interesting

free digital catalog to view. 

This publication explores some of the exhibition's themes and pieces on display through essays by museum curators Sumru Belger Krody and Lee Talbot, Research Associate for Southeast Asian textiles Mattiebelle Gittinger, and GW Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Ingrid Creppell

Folded Woven Paper.......................................Art!

We continue with more lovely paper pieces! 

MAYUMI KANEKO works with great sense of design--take a look at the website to see how paper can be transformed into lovely art pieces!

Shifu

One of my passions has been Shifu--the art of paper garments.  Using hand pulled paper, which is cut into small continuous strips, is then spun into fine paper yarn.  I have made several garments using this method.  Not only have I used hand pulled Japanese paper but also comic pages from newspapers and tissue paper (the kind used for wrapping gifts).  Today I share with you the technique that is unusual but has a long history.

Hand spinning paper into yarn, Video

Paper garments have long been used.

Enjoy this brief encounter into the art of

Shifu and paper spinning.

For more information and the beauty of Shifu,

check out this website

Art--Paper.......................................Creations!

Nathalie Boutte is a French artist that works with paper strips!  Yes, she cuts long narrow strips of paper and then she patiently assembles, one by one thus creating a feather effect which constantly evolves. 

We call this art too!!

 

Art Continues--Paper Weaving

Art is many forms--today we venture into the world of two weavers, each with an unique technique to achieve their form of art.  A collaboration of the minds--one from Japan, the other from United Kingdom.

 

Paper Rhythms features the work of Mayumi Kaneko.  Mayumi is a hand weaver. She has always been developing woven textures and patterns in various yarns to make beautiful and intriguing fabrics.  Recently, her main focus has been the exploration of the potential of Japanese paper yarn. The yarn is made from Manila hemp fibers and a Japanese paper making method is used to make it into yarn. It is a very unique, fascinating and sustainable material.

Jennie Parry works with an interesting loom, ‘Tri Takadai’ which is pictured in the bottom photo.

Whether it's origami or kumihimo technique, we call it ART!  

Revisit--ART! Paper......................................

On a recent blog topic, I asked "What is Art?"  So I thought it might be interesting to explore different aspects of "Art" pieces.  For the next few blog articles, I will feature art pieces and their makers.  First up is

Helen Hiebert who works in paper!  She features a weekly blog with different topics.

This weeks topic is Folded envelopes

What fun to work with handmade paper.  Her website gives you the opportunity to

enjoy the art of paper making.  Check out Pinterest and the art of envelope folding.

I spent a good hour or more browsing through her artistic pieces and learning how

this 'art' has influenced our lives!

What is Art?--Paper!