Tell us a little about your piece?

This piece is about 11 layers of paper cutting, divided into segments with a lasercut wood frame. All elements are hand drawn and hand cut. To add organic variety to the color, I painted each piece with watercolor. I wanted to create an image of a healthy ocean that we are currently struggling to maintain on our earth. This beauty is what we risk losing.

What was the most challenging part of the brief?

It is always a challenge when the brief is so open ended. It is both a boon and a hardship. I was also challenged both by the color range of the paper (though I was able to create what I needed using additional pigments) as well as getting the small details cuts without the paper ripping.

What part of the collaboration did you enjoy the most?

I enjoyed researching coral reefs and different aquatic life. I haven't done much representational ocean work, and it was a lot of fun to conceive of, and subsequently create, a piece that represented that.

How did you enjoy working with the paper?

I found it good at times, as well as challenging at times. It almost felt like working with construction paper in how it cut, which is not my favorite to work with. It made detail cutting feel less smooth than it can. But overall, I made it work. It held watercolor well, and I'm please with the finished product!