Paper Tales of North Yorkshire

I love colouring paper before using it as part of a paper cutting piece, either cutting shapes out to form a collage or as ‘infills’ on a paper cut. Mostly I use traditional watercolour paints to do this, scattering salt over the surface to get interesting patterns. Before Christmas, I saw an artist I follow (Kate Bird’s Art and Crafts - www.facebook.com/katebirdsart) using Brusho to add splashes of colour to some handmade Christmas cards. I’d never heard of Brusho but it looked fun, and so I was chuffed when I managed to get a mixed boxful of little pots from the university art stores. Brusho is basically little pots of crystals which explode into vibrant colours when mixed with water. ‘Be careful, it stains’, warned the uni technician. ‘I just stick my hands in bleach afterwards which gets it off’ he added. Err, I didn’t really fancy that, so point noted. He was right! The little pots are hard to open without the odd minuscule speck escaping, which then bursts into a bright...

What’s it all about? Hello! I’m Leela. I’m currently studying MA Future Design at Teesside University. I am currently undertaking a period of research covering the following two strands… Paper art Specifically, cut paper art. I’ve dabbled into collage and paper cutting in the past. I’m now looking into the origins, the history, the differences across cultures, and modern uses and interpretations of the medium. I’m experimenting along the way, with the aim of developing my own unique and distinct style using paper to create illustrations. Folk and fairy tales and superstitions of North Yorkshire I love North Yorkshire. From the wilderness of the North York Moors, to the lush daffodil-covered dales, to the bustling fishing villages. It’s a special place full of unique and friendly people which holds a place forever in my heart. And, like many places steeped in history, it’s also full of myths, stories and legends. I want to create a series of illustrations celebrating the...