L’Atelier Paper Art, the art of quilling by Cindy Michel
FR - A creator of paintings and decorative objects based on old magazines, Cindy Michel has created her own world.
PORTRAIT
I've always had a passion for art, so it was only natural that I should start by studying architecture, which enabled me to decipher all the secrets of this rich field, to which I devoted myself for around fifteen years.
However, in 2023, I felt the need to give a more creative twist to my work, closer to the manual and, above all, more in line with my philosophy of life. So naturally I turned to creating pictures and decorative objects from recycled magazines.
Several years ago, I realised how many magazines and adverts were ending up in the bin. At that time I decided to give them a second life by reworking them, trying out different techniques, to make the most of the freedom offered by their unexpected shades and captivating textures.
What's more, for me this approach is a blend of art and sustainability, where transformation becomes a universal language.
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The technique of rolling paper, quilling or paperolle, requires paper that is thick enough to hold together well during collage. ‘Originating in Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries, it was used by nuns to decorate sacred objects, From the 18th century onwards, it became a recreational activity for ladies of high society’ (The art of quilling, Clairefontaine.com).
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The technique of rolling paper appealed to me straight away because it was flexible and particularly entertaining. I thought it gave decoupage a new perspective of life and opened the door to a whole range of works: paintings, decorative objects and so on. The possibilities are endless! The proof is that geometry and relief are now a regular part of my everyday life.
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‘Each page becomes a precious resource, a palette of colours and graphics that feed my imagination... I painstakingly shape rolls of paper by hand, which I then arrange and glue onto various surfaces, My architectural eye shines through in the composition, structure and balance of the paintings.
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Faces, architectural motifs, a formidable potential for works in progress, all in thin little rolls of coloured paper, sometimes glossy, glued, sometimes juxtaposed, on different supports.
And the colours complement each other, clash, rub shoulders... A fantastic universe.
You'll find beautifully framed mirrors, decorative objects and, above all, paintings in a wide variety of universes (from figurative to graphic art) on my Instagram page or if you come to meet me at art fairs and craft markets...
Unique and above all original pieces, like no other. Because that's what paper art is all about!
Many thanks to Cindy Michel for her collaboration to this article and the visuals.
The right address: Find L'Atelier CM Paper Art on Instagram, Facebook and Etsy.