It has only been boosted by my recent purchase of this book:
Paper Sculpture: A Step-by-Step Guide
I can't wait to experiment and makes me excited to think about future projects. It's given me a more optimistic view of my future in art, because it's something I really enjoy and can imagine myself continuing where most other mediums never have. It makes me think this is what the 4 (well, technically 8) years of college were for.
My first attempt was with an experiment based on my previous knowledge of origami:
(encouraged my professor, Peter Emmerich, which I will always be grateful for)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0bvRxugWpRwd5-70K3TtnCe323W7i_IWtOWAgxkouU1GxeysWOn9jaAlPp-jH69hMxpTleLUUKd8a4jZSX_usVqfbPApcBDyS3CiA_u1k60pu9lobrXriR5OePOnRxYuR8JHJ7bZj0WO/s320/sadako.jpg)
My first experiment, cut from sheets of origami paper:
(ignore my ugly chipped nails)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmALXHTKMV_yxkKnLrU8sYKxcjOVuv5DvK2_NHQb1fGJQro0KSdwBACKe99KZAPrAsZqNNwZX32G7FYwTX603dJavb18pT_VSzOybPzDPsmGAPI51fxRKTNFQB_zPooHsFW8MTBLQ-OWi/s320/blackdragon.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PS2PV6o7l3lOR4-NrjGxmi4kf_PrSTX5ogXMkmbvQK8xbUpcNMphkykNRklY2f1gE0SMg4PBCKqcEbjq6e8G5hdip3abZ0U_ni6pCzB06BwVUV-ouzHh4eu03tz8A-lFlLZGoH5QLfmZ/s320/blackdragon2.jpg)
And that lead to more experimentation, trying to make it more visible from a straight on angle...
One of my practice cuts for a class project, it's cut from a single sheet of Canford paper rather than layering separate pieces. If you can't tell it's (half) a dragon:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgQsJ3LHrFRKa978tSIC8qNiok0NzcxZXY6X4tguClRh581hQYCY40oeO0HPElV_wFLRugjDlTizrGOeAmFX4norRjgPExhMDRtK2vJw8XzYS1s9CoL3WUzMd6fum4sS4PV7W8JYSdX6C/s320/Photo+49.jpg)
It was an enlightening experience, but I think in the end it still doesn't read well enough from photographs even though I think it looks pretty cool in person.
I want to try layering, coloring edges, and curling next.
Lesson of the day: It is foam board that they use to create depth! Or double-sided foam tape, which I think is kind of ingenious but probably less archival in the long run. Must go out and stock up.