Publication: Owen Gildersleeve's lovely new book celebrates paper artists of all stripes

Date
10 June 2014

The hugely talented, crisply bearded Owen Gildersleeve popped into the studio last week to deliver a copy of his new book and my word it’s a real belter. Paper Cut: An Exploration into the Contemporary World of Papercraft Art and Illustration does exactly what it says on the cover by way of showcase 25 case studies into individuals and studios working in this medium. From Rob Ryan and Chrissie Macdonald to Andersen M Studio and Le Creative Sweatshop, the subjects come from different countries and use different creative approaches to make the most of paper’s tactile qualities.

Owen – who wrote the accompanying texts himself – believes that because paper is so cheap and so easy to replace if you make mistake, working with it “leads to the ultimate freedom of artistic expression, where the artist has no boundaries or restraints.”
He goes on: “In a world that’s become saturated with faultless digital design, the importance of human interaction and its inherent imperfections has become hugely important. We want to feel a connection with the imagery we re looking at, and even if it’s just a photograph of the finished illustration, knowing that it exists as a physical artwork is hugely satisfying.”

Thanks to some great behind-the-scenes imagery of the paper artists at work, whether you’re familiar with the work or not the book is endlessly illuminating. And with Chris Clarke of The Guardian overseeing the design, it’s a fine printed experience from start to finish.

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Owen Gildersleeve: Paper Cut: An Exploration into the Contemporary World of Papercraft Art and Illustration

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Owen Gildersleeve: Paper Cut: An Exploration into the Contemporary World of Papercraft Art and Illustration

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Owen Gildersleeve: Paper Cut: An Exploration into the Contemporary World of Papercraft Art and Illustration

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Owen Gildersleeve: Paper Cut: An Exploration into the Contemporary World of Papercraft Art and Illustration

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Owen Gildersleeve: Paper Cut: An Exploration into the Contemporary World of Papercraft Art and Illustration

Above

Owen Gildersleeve: Paper Cut: An Exploration into the Contemporary World of Papercraft Art and Illustration

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Owen Gildersleeve: Paper Cut: An Exploration into the Contemporary World of Papercraft Art and Illustration

Above

Owen Gildersleeve: Paper Cut: An Exploration into the Contemporary World of Papercraft Art and Illustration

Above

Owen Gildersleeve: Paper Cut: An Exploration into the Contemporary World of Papercraft Art and Illustration

Above

Owen Gildersleeve: Paper Cut: An Exploration into the Contemporary World of Papercraft Art and Illustration

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About the Author

Rob Alderson

Rob joined It’s Nice That as Online Editor in July 2011 before becoming Editor-in-Chief and working across all editorial projects including itsnicethat.com, Printed Pages, Here and Nicer Tuesdays. Rob left It’s Nice That in June 2015.

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