Papercraft Specialization: Techniques for Three-Dimensional Designs

I'll tell you about the themes that most influence my papercraft: traditional children's stories, the work of Studio Ghibli, botanical illustration, and historical costume. I'll also introduce you to some paper artists and illustrators whose work has sparked my interest in papercutting, such as Rebecca Dautremer's Little Theatre and the pop-up books of Robert Sabuda and Aaron Carter. Finally, I'll also tell you about some of my inspirations, artists, and pioneers in papercrafting.

Influences | Noe Arata

Module 2

Discover how to take your illustrations beyond paper with Cristian Garrido. You'll learn to create volumetric compositions using cardboard, wood, and recycled materials. Explore textures, planes, and shapes to create immersive settings that connect with the viewer visually and sensorially.

14 lessons (3h 1m)

Particularities of the technique

I'll start by explaining the technique through examples that illustrate how materials are added to a character's structure and how it is assembled piece by piece while you learn the logic of construction.

Materials and tools

You'll learn all the materials and tools you'll need to develop the project. I'll also explain their uses and advantages so you can get the most out of them based on your project's needs.

How i get inspired

In this lesson, I'll share different ways to develop an idea. You'll also learn how to search for visual references and synthesize images based on geometric shapes to simplify your design.

Sketches, materiality and colors

To begin, I'll explain how to develop a sketch based on a mood board. Then, you'll learn how to select the most suitable materials for the project. You'll learn how to work on creating a color palette based on materiality and color theory.

Build vegetation and environment 1

Before you begin building the project, I'll teach you some exercises to help you loosen up your hand. You'll also learn how to create different types of vegetation and surroundings.

Build vegetation and environment 2

During this second part of the lesson, I'll show you another example of a tree you can create for your projects.

Cut and intervene pieces: birds 1

It's time to start cutting the pieces according to the final sketch. I'll show you how to assemble and present the final pieces in the sketch. In a nutshell, you'll learn how to start the project's protagonists: the birds.

Cut and intervene pieces: birds 2

During this second part of the lesson, you'll see how to continue working on the bird's body. I'll show you how to build the front.

Cut and intervene pieces: birds 3

Finally, you'll see how to finish assembling the birds by adding the wings and some details to give them volume. I'll also share some tips to avoid making a mess with glue.

Cut and intervene pieces: environment 1

It's time to move on to creating the surrounding pieces that will welcome the protagonists of the final work. To begin, I'll show you how to develop the trees and flowers.

Cut and intervene pieces: environment 2

Next, you'll see how to create the rest of the elements. You'll learn how to make an insect, clouds, and the sun.

Finally, you'll see how to assemble each part of the work. I'll show you how to glue the pieces together, how to color, and how to correct every detail. I'll explain how I'll present the elements in their final format before gluing them onto the base of the final work.

Assemble the piece

At this point, your illustration is complete. In this lesson, you'll learn how to create the support that will allow you to display your work.

Create the support

13m

Care and other supports

Finally, you'll learn about the options available for using this technique. I'll analyze other, more complex projects and other media beyond decorative ones, so you can fully utilize the technique's potential and volume.

Module 3

Explore the human body from a topographic perspective with Ale Rambar. You'll learn to create volumetric portraits using layers of paper, combining artistry, precision, and message. Discover how to cut, assemble, and paint each layer to construct three-dimensional works that invite reflection on identity, equality, and environmental awareness.

11 lessons (2h 5m)

All on paper

Here we will learn about the ideal types of paper and the tools we will use to complete our work.

Tools: cutting and pasting

In this lesson, you'll learn about some types of cutting and gluing tools and which ones are ideal for this job.

Materials: watercolor

In this course, we'll use watercolors to create our artwork. That's why, in this lesson, I'll tell you about my favorites, as well as the materials I need to use them.

Drawing of the work 1

First, we'll draw the contour lines on parchment paper over the photograph. In this lesson, I'll explain how I create them, so you can be inspired to create your own works.

In this part we will draw each of the layers onto the parchment or transparent paper using the colored markers.

Drawing of the work 2

We'll transfer the contour lines from the parchment paper to the cutting paper. This is done by placing the parchment on top of the paper and using a blunt pencil or skewer to create the contour lines.

Traced on paper

We'll cut our design out of paper using a craft knife. We'll cut each curve in parts, and I'll show you some paper-cutting tricks.

Paper cut

13m

Bonding the layers

In this part, we'll glue our layers of paper together using double-sided tape. I'll show you tricks for gluing very large and very small pieces together.

Painting your work (part 1)

In this lesson, we'll paint our paper composition with watercolors. I'll explain how to paint between the layers and prevent them from curling in the water.

Painting your work (part 2)

We continue adding touches of color and beautifying our work.

Bonus track: Framed

So, we've finished our work. We've spent time cutting, pasting, and working on paper. How do we keep our work intact for as long as possible? In this lesson, I'll explain how to frame and protect our work so that it survives the passage of time.

Module 4

Create flowers that never fade! With Manuela Maya, you'll learn to design and create paper bouquets from scratch, inspired by nature. Discover how to shape each petal and leaf to create botanical arrangements full of detail and eternal beauty.

11 lessons (1h 37m)

Natural References and Color Palette

In this lesson, we'll choose our references and search together on Pinterest, in books, in pictures, or in flower shops for the flowers we like most.

Materials to Make Paper Flowers

Now that we're inspired, I'll tell you what materials you'll need to get started creating, and I'll show you some additional items that might be helpful.

Let's Talk about the Paper

Here I'll tell you about the characteristics you should look for in paper so you can keep them in mind when choosing it.

Botanical Template

Here you'll learn how to create the botanical template. We'll take out the templates and measure each part of the flower.

Technique 1: Basic Technique and Assembly of the Daisy

We'll start with the most basic paper flower technique. You'll begin to see how, petal by petal, we create the first type of flower.

Technique 2: Intermediate Technique

Once you understand the basic technique, I'll show you a new procedure for making the flower that stars in our arrangement.

In this lesson, I'll teach you how to add color and detail to paper flowers. This helps us add texture, shadows, depth, and a realistic touch to our flowers.

Paint and Details

Assembly of the Protagonist Flower

Little by little, our main flower is taking shape. In this lesson, I'll show you the assembly technique you'll use to join the petals of this other type of flower.

Cocoons

Finally, I'll show you how to make the buds that will give an extraordinary touch to your final composition.

In this lesson, I want us to organize the flower shop together. You can find containers and separate the flowers, foliage, and buds by species and size, so we can begin gathering the elements and arranging them in the arrangement. I'll also give you some floral arrangement tips.

Our Florist

Let's Put Together the Project

Finally, we will create the project and you will see the result of your work.

Module 5

Discover the book as a three-dimensional narrative object with Paz Tamburrini. You'll learn to create merry-go-round books using the papercut technique to transform cuts and folds into scenes full of depth. Explore how paper can shape stories that unfold beyond the page.

19 lessons (4h 6m)

Materiality of the Book

One of the course's objectives is to help you discover great creative possibilities in the book object and in playing with paper. In this lesson, you'll see some ways to incorporate the medium for narrative purposes.

Materials

You'll see what materials are needed to get started with paper and formats.

Introduction to the Technique of Cutwork on Paper 1

You will learn the technique of paper cutout, and you will also learn the fundamental principles of this ancient art.

Introduction to the Technique of Cutwork on Paper 2

You will continue learning about the paper cutout technique.

Harlequin Characters and Fanzine 1

I'll show you how to use the Harlequinade format to search for your characters.

Harlequin Characters and Fanzine 2

You'll see a procedure similar to the one in the previous unit, but this time it will be to find another of the characters in the story.

Environment or Scenery Elements 1

I'll teach you how to find the elements that give identity to the setting where the story takes place by exploring two fanzine formats.

Environment or Scenery Elements 2

I'll show you how to create variants of the elements that will be part of the project.

Combine Environment with Characters

You'll explore on a stage-like support that will allow you to move the pieces of your story around until you find the color, size, and climate relationships you like best.

Choose Your Own Adventure

You've already created a ton of characters and elements of your setting, plus you've thought about colors, shapes, and how to create different atmospheres. Now, it's time to tell the story. You'll learn how to analyze the characteristics offered by the two carousel variants to determine which best captures the story you want to tell.

Modular Carousel

In this lesson, you'll learn the engineering process for building a modular carousel book. You'll determine the number of scenes you want to represent and what you need to do so.

Illustrate the Carousel

You'll learn how to illustrate each segment of the diorama. I'll help you understand how images are conceived to compose multi-layered scenes.

You will see in detail the process of laying out each layer of the merry-go-round segments.

Let's Cut 1

13m

Let's Cut 2

I'll show you how to glue the pieces you cut out for your merry-go-round.

You will see how each module and the entire merry-go-round are assembled.

A Ride in a Carousel

19m

Pull-Out Carousel

I'll show you how to build a fold-out merry-go-round book. In this model, the layers are made up of accordion-folded strips of paper that are gradually reduced to create air between them. This will enhance the sense of depth.

Illustrate the drop-down carousel

You'll learn how to illustrate accordion strips. I'll also explain how images are conceived to compose multi-layered scenes.

Let's Pierce and Assamble the Carousel 1

I'll show you how to cut out the fold-out strips and show you a way to join all the pieces together to create the merry-go-round.

Let's Pierce and Assamble the Carousel 2

You'll see all my openwork pieces, and I'll show you how to arrange them so they look their best. Finally, you'll see how to complete the final details of the merry-go-round.

In this lesson, I'll tell you which materials are essential for developing the papercut technique and which ones, while dispensable, can make your work easier.

Module 6

With just paper, scissors, and creativity, you can build magical universes. Noe Arata will guide you through the art of layered papercutting to create a fantasy scene from scratch. You'll learn how to design molds, cut precisely, and assemble folding structures ready for frameless display.

20 lessons (5h 7m)

Materials and tools

The papercut in the world

I'll tell you about some traditional papercut expressions from some parts of the world.

The story

What can you do? What do you want to tell? What message do you want to share? Maybe you have a ton of ideas in your head that you want to bring to life, and choosing just one can be difficult. So, I'm going to tell you how I decide what I want to tell and how I choose to tell it.

10m

The layered scene

I'm going to show you what things I take into account when breaking down an image into different layers to generate a scene with depth.

The language of papercut 1

I'll share several exercises with you that will help you understand the language of papercutting so you can then apply it to your final project.

The language of papercut 2

It's very important that you know how to make cuts in different ways depending on their shape. I'll continue to teach you some detailed exercises so you can master the technique better.

Now, I'll tell you how I finish defining the final mold using the resources learned in the previous lessons of this unit. So you can do the same with your own final project.

The final mold! 1

You'll see how to finish the final mold. It's a time-consuming process, but it's worth it because even now it's important to pay attention to the details of your project.

The final mold! 2

Transfer to cutting paper

In this lesson, I'll show you how to transfer the final patterns onto the paper on which the layers of the final project will be built.

To Learn More: Layers to Mold

In this video, I show you another way to convert your layers into papercut templates using Photoshop and a graphics tablet. Remember, the options are endless! Choose the one you feel most comfortable working with.

28m

To Learn More: The Scene to Layers in Digital Format

In this video, I explain how to go from sketch to broken-down layers using Photoshop and a graphics tablet.

27m

Cutting technique: workspace and straight lines

In this lesson, I'll tell you about the features that make your workspace more comfortable when cutting. I'll also share the secrets to starting to cut straight lines and closed shapes.

19m

Cutting technique: curves

Now I'll explain the secrets to starting to cut open and closed curves. I'll also show you how to cut all the broken-down elements and how to glue them onto the openwork sheets.

Cutting technique: extra elements and gluing

You'll see how to cut all the broken-down elements and I'll show you how to glue them onto the openwork sheets.

The second most anticipated moment has arrived. You'll see how I build the folding structure on which the openwork layers will be mounted. Ready?

Pop-up structure

External structure: Kamishibai 1

You'll see how I build the external structure inspired by Kamishibai boxes.

10m

External structure: Kamishibai 2

I'll finish teaching you how to put together this structure. This structure can help your work have a greater impact.

Assembling the final piece

To start, I'll show you how to assemble all the pieces together to finish putting together the final folding scene.

19m

Alternative mounting methods

There's more than one way to do things. I'll show you a couple of definitive framing methods and tell you what to consider before having an openwork piece professionally framed.