Paper cutout art work

Posted on 2012/09/19. Used Hakuouki, Rurouni Kenshin.
Categorized as Pop Culture

Paper cutout (切り絵) is an old Japanese art style. Paper cutout artists express various things through a sheet of black paper. Haduki, who has just started paper cutout, is one of the people fascinated of the art. Today, I interviewed Haduki and I was shown her beautiful artworks.

Kenshin and Tomoe from Rurouni Kenshin.

Paper cutout of Rurouni Kenshin

Kenshin Himura

Paper cutout of Rurouni Kenshin

— When did you become interested in paper cutout?
One day, by chance I saw an amazing paper cutout art work of Hakuoki on Niconico Seiga (ニコニコ静画; A Japanese online community for artists by the company of Niconico Douga), and it got me interested in the art style. As I watched many kind of paper cut out, I began to think I want to create them.

— What do you usually use for the art work?
An art knife only. Sometimes tweezers.

— How long does it take for creating?
Depends on themes. Sometimes an hour, and sometimes it takes about five hours.

— Your art works are really beautiful. Please let us know how to create them.
First I prepare my favorite picture in color and black-and-white. Then tape black-and-white picture on a black paper, and run art knife along the line. At the same time, refer to color picture and I balance the dark part and light part. Everyone has their own personal style though, this is my style.

Goku from Saiyuki

Paper cutout of Saiyuki