Design Process: Paper-Cut Collage

Every mural design begins with a paper-cut collage…

From a young age, I found it easiest to communicate through the language of shapes, colors, and forms. As a neurodivergent artist, this visual expression is crucial for me since using words has always been challenging. I find comfort and joy in my tangible, playful, and tactile design process, where I arrange colored materials to express my ideas and creativity.

Setting up in various spaces with my paper cut shapes, I bring a piece of home with me, drawing inspiration from many different environments.

Creating a portable art practice isn't just a method—it's my sanctuary, offering both safety and security.

Creating a design process that I can share with others is very important to me…

Through my "Drawing with Scissors" workshops, I've shared the calming, meditative practice of collage with others. There's something truly special about coming together collectively to focus on creativity. Sharing what I usually do in solitude with others brings a magical element to the process and adds immense joy.

In collecting materials, I find inspiration in the items I use—tape, stickers, textured papers, and old magazines—to create captivating collage worlds…

Sometimes I feel my collage work may seem chaotic, but I view these pieces more as mood boards. They help me create and enjoy tiny fragments of forms, which I can then incorporate into my mural designs. This method of playing with materials often leads to happy accidents, resulting in layouts and patterns that I couldn't achieve through drawing or digital creation alone.

There's a satisfying aspect to the mess I create when crafting collage artworks. My mural practice demands precision and accuracy, so it feels liberating to embrace messiness during the design process.