Artist Calvin Nicholls Creates Stunning 3D Paper Animal Portraits

From the ancient art of origami to intricate 3D paper art, papercraft has become more than appealing than ever. We’ve seen humble pieces of paper turn into beautiful animal sculptures, geometric artworks, and quilling paper paintings to name a few. Paper artist Calvin Nicholls presents a new stunning way of using sheets of paper for the creation of delicate animal low-relief sculptures. Three-dimensional portraits of birds, horses, bears, lions, dogs, dolphins, and other wildlife entirely made of archival papers which are cut, embossed, and scored to present the desired form.

Nicholls meticulously cut and form the sheets of paper by using various cutting tools, burnishers, and metal texturing tools. He uses thick paper to form the base where the animal portrait is glued. To replicate the fine feathers or fur of the subject, he uses thinner sheets for the detail pieces in tiny cuts and texture. The low-relief sculpture has an overall depth of around one or two inches, allowing each portrait for shadow box framing to preserve the integrity of the artwork.

3D Paper Art Featuring Delicate Animal Portraits

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Nicholls has been creating 3D paper art for 38 years. His interest in crafting low-relief animal sculptures blossomed when he studied paper as an artistic medium in his graphic design classes in college.

“I still recall working on my first bird sculpture and marveled at how my interest in drawing, model making, sculpting and photography blended so beautifully with my lifelong interest in wildlife and the natural world. Every piece is a discovery of sorts too. I’m always learning with each new sculpture.”, the artist wrote on his website.

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Depending on the complexity and size of the 3D paper art, Nicholls usually takes about two or more weeks to complete a piece. He is working on a commission basis, interested clients can reach him through his website where they can discuss the subject matter, size, timing, and pricing. You can also purchase some of his creations complete with conservation framing on his online shop. The artist also sells limited edition prints of his works to make the art more accessible to those who love and collect art.

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Artist Calvin Nicholls Creates Stunning 3D Paper Animal Portraits

3D Paper Art Featuring Delicate Animal Portraits

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