Giles Miller

Many people see cardboard as a fragile, disposable material when in actual fact it is really quite rugged and versatile. This gorgeous laptop bag comes from Giles Miller of UK design outfit farmdesigns and is made from 100% recycled corrugated cardboard. Miller is also responsible for some wonderful cardboard furniture and lighting designs. See the farmdesigns website for more.

Via Inhabitat.com

Ingrid Siliakus

These delicate sculptures are the work of Dutch paper artist Ingrid Siliakus. Inspired by the pioneering work of Prof. Masahiro Chatani in Japan, Siliakus began exploring the possibilities of paper sculpture based on mathematics and architecture and the work of artists such as M.C. Escher.

Paper Architecture is the art of creating an object out of a single piece of paper. It is done by a combination of detailed cutting and folding. To design a pattern from scratch, the artist needs the skills of an architect to create a two-dimensional design, which, with the patience and precision of a surgeon, becomes an ingenious three-dimensional wonder of paper.

Toypaper

Meet Harrington, an endearing little love monster from Toypaper, an impressively instinctive website with tons of free downloads. There are four love monsters in series one available now, and many other categories of models to download as well. Remniscent of many Readymech characters, these simple models are great for kids and beginners, but their lovely style and design is worthy of even the most advanced paper aficionado.

Paper-clone by Bert Simons

While the science for creating an identical copy of yourself still seems a little way off (and fraught with ethical complications), this might just be the best interim option.

As a response to his mid-life crisis, Bert Simons created this paper version of his own head using 3D software techniques. The end result looks something like a strange physical rendering of a Second Life character.

The intriguing process is documented here. Terrific stuff.

Via Notcot.org

Antlors

These little guys are a fun room decoration. You get one free as a pdf and can buy the others from pretty much anywhere in the world. If you are a creative type, a blank one is also available to be personalized any way you wish.

I'm actually working on a kids' book now that is a little bit strange and dark and involves a few animal heads on the walls. I'm hoping to make my own little paper taxidermy heads from the book sometime this year, but these guys from Antlor.net are probably a bit more stylish than mine will be...

(via an awesome blog called Rag and Bone )

Paper Wallet

The Popular Science Blog has a "How-to" on making this paper wallet. Take an 8.5"x11" piece of paper, make a few cuts, and add a piece of tape for a wallet that holds 6-8 credit cards and lots of cash. That is assuming that people who carry paper wallets have cash to put inside.

Beautiful Books: Part 2

Fellow Flickrite Pamphile recently alerted me to the incredible world of miniature books. There seems to be a thriving collector's market for these with many exquisite works still being crafted today.

Wikipedia defines a miniature book as ranging from .5 inches square up to about 3 inches. These books became popular in the latter years of the 19th century because they were easily concealed and made it possible for a person to carry a small library when travelling.

Mosaic Press has a fine catalogue of miniature books online, but there are many more presses, printers and artists producing miniature works around the world. Asobi Tsychiya has this imaginative take on miniature books - Insect Poop is a personal favourite.

Further reading: (links generously compiled by Pamphile)

The Joys of Miniature Books by Charlotte Smith
Collector's Corner: Miniature Books by Michele Alice
Cushing Memorial Library Exhibit
University at Albany Exhibit
Miniature Book Society

Beautiful Books: Part 1

Paper arcade customization contest

Here is a cool paper toy contest sponsored by Marrs Bar that Dan passed along to me. Download the template for the paper arcade machine, customize it, and then send it back in. This contest ends April 30th so if you want to do it better hop on it quick!
If you don't want to join in this contest but want to build a paper model of a classic arcade game like Pac-man or Defender check out this site.
Ahh memories of a wasted childhood preserved in paper.

A-Light by Donna Brady

Brooklyn based designer Donna Brady produces a range of hand-crafted lighting and interior décor objects under the Re-Surface label. Inspired by New York's dilapidated building facades and the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, her beautiful lighting range brings the fractured aesthetic of the street to interior design objects.

Pictured above is an example of her A-Light range; the shades are made of paper and the bases of reclaimed birch.

When Donna is not making her wonderful lamps, she is playing rare vintage synthesizers (and sending me the photos just to make me drool!)

Matthew Sporzynski

It's official - anything can be made out of paper.

So says Matthew Sporzynski, the creator of these paper constructions.
Sporzynski's clients have included everyone from John Galliano to The Museum of Modern Art.

Thanks to Damien for the link.

Shin Tanaka + Onitsuka Tiger

Tokyo-based paper artist Shin Tanaka has kindly supplied this template for building your very own Mexico 66 sneaker. When you're done, send in a pic to Onitsuka Tiger and if they like your style, you'll be rewarded with the real thing.

I actually have a pair of these in green, still going strong after something like eight years.

For more on Shin Tanaka see Matt's debut post.

Via Sneaker Freaker

Cardboard Sound Installation

Corrugated cardboard architecture continues to surprise and delight. Titled Mafoombey, this cocoon-like sound installation is the work of Helsinki architects Martti Kalliala, Esa Ruskeepää and Martin Lukasczyk.

This is a grown-up version of the cardboard-box houses we built in the living room as kids. Its simple, playful forms creates the ultimate listening and relaxing space, helped by the sound-absorbing properties of the cardboard. What I find particularly beautiful is the fact that no adhesives were required - the layered structure simply stays in place with the aid of gravity. From the website:

Made from 720 half square sheets of 7mm thick corrugated cardboard, stacked in 360 layers, this cavernous sound space is set within a 2.5m cube. As a space for listening to and experiencing music, the initial concept for the design developed from the architect’s ambition to create a strong spatial intensity and a distinct internal atmosphere. With an irregular free-form interior set within a regular cubic volume, the object has a profound duality. Made from one material it also has an implied solidity that strengthens the architect’s distinction between inside and out – a distinction that is heightened when the full acoustic ambience is experienced from within.

Beautiful Books: Part 1

For years the gurus have been forecasting the demise of books as we move into the digital age. It hasn't happened yet, and I can't see it happening any time soon.

The humble book is still the perfect container for words, and I for one would still rather take a good book to bed than my Mac. But books can also be fascinating art objects in their own right. FunForever.net currently has a great round-up of book related art. Some we have seen before on this blog, but there are also many interesting new discoveries like this fantastic laser-cut cross-section by Olafur Eliasson (below) and the Book of Lights by Takeshi Ishiguro - a working lamp that folds away into a book.



Disclaimer: This link contains explicit scenes of book mutilation. Don't say you weren't warned!

Afterjoyce by Robert The pictured top.

Butterfly Stroke

Paper Forest reader Bryan sent me in this link to a PingMag story "Paper Robots and the Future Of Advertising". It's about Butterfly Stroke of Japan who incorporates paper toys into there advertising campaigns. They also mention the very popular and fascinating world of fighting paper robots "KAMI ROBO".
And if your like me and love downloading and building free paper toys Butterfly Stroke has got you covered with Copets. just move your cursor over the moving animals in the big picture on top to download the paper kit.
I built the giraffe.

YouTube Tuesday

You might remember Jen Stark from Jaime's post back in February. Well I just discovered this stop motion video over on Make. And if you haven't already investigated her website, do so now!

Jared Eberhardt just sent me this amazing stop motion video he produced for the band CSS. Alot of great cardboard and paper engineering (and a very catchy song to boot). Apparently he constructed all of this in just 17 days. If anyone has seen my cardboard miniatures (thanks for the post, Jaime!), they would know this is right up my alley.

Jen Stark's work pictured above.

Our Very Own Dan McPharlin

We have some talented posters on this blog. Shelley is working on a stop motion animation masterpiece, Matt is an illustrator with previous entries here devoted to his paper sculptures, and our newest (and quite prolific) contributor is Dan McPharlin. Dan is a great illustrator who also manages to find time to make these beautiful tiny models. You can check out more photos on his Flickr account.

Star Wars Papercraft

If I had more time on my hands, this is the kind of thing I would actually build; a full galaxy of Star Wars papercraft. Thankfully there's nothing here from the prequels, just wall to wall vintage Star Wars goodness; Tie Fighters, AT-ATs and Jawa Sandcrawlers to name a few.

There's also a Back to the Future DeLorean and even the Huey, Dewey and Louie robot drones from Silent Running.

All models are downloadable as PDF files for you to build yourself. Go forth.

Via Craftzine.com

Life-size cardboard vehicles

Sometimes only a full-scale representation will get your idea across. Shannon Goff, a member of the Detroit based Telegraph artist collective, is resposnsible for some truly amazing cardboard sculptures.

Shannon's Helicopter, above, is constructed from corrugated cardboard and measures 165" x 378" x 81.5". Other objects in the series include giant egg-beaters, grand pianos and phonebooths.


Chris Gilmore's work, such as this Model A Ford, is built from unwanted cardboard and cigarette packets. Also check out his Aston Martin DB8, the ultimate luxury vehicle rendered in throwaway materials. I'm not sure 007 would approve.

Via DetroitArts

Pop-ups by Hiroko

Some exquisite work from Japanese paper artist, Hiroko. I can't remember how I came by this link, but it is well worth the jump.

Cardboard Speakers

These cardboard speakers were part of a display promoting a music festival in Lausanne, Switzerland last year. I think there's a strong visual style going on here. Very nice work.

Update: The design outfit responsible is Fulguro. Their website can be found here.

Rabbit-man on Flickr

Flickr is a treasure trove of cool paper toys and art. I came across Rabbit-man by Buding and had to build it instantly! There are some preliminary sketches as well as the template to print and build your very own Rabbit-man. The resolution is a bit low but it still looks great when you build it. Good Stuff.

Paper Art 101

Today, a few tips I thought I might share with you. This is not a definitive how-to, just a few ideas that may be helpful to anyone starting out in paper or cardboard sculpture.

• A sharp knife and a good pair of scissors is essential.
  
  
• Make sure your workspace is well lit. Your eyes will thank you.
  
  
• When gluing materials I often use a couple of clothes pegs to hold things together. Make sure you place a piece of card between the peg and your work so the peg doesn't leave an impression. Tweezers are also a good investment if you are gluing small parts.
  
  
• Have a look around the kitchen or garage. There may be tools that will allow you to form paper in new ways.
  
  
• Don't be afraid to incorporate other materials, unless you really are a paper purist. This will make your work unique.
  
  
• If you are making very clean looking folds, you will need to score the paper first. Use a metal ruler and a sharp knife, pressing lightly but firmly.
  
  
• Home printers are now of exceptionally high quality and the inks are more robust. My epson prints for example fare much better in direct sunlight than most commercial printing. Your printer could be your most important tool.
  
  
• Most printers can handle various thickness of card. If rigidity is required you should use something a bit thicker than 80gsm copy paper.
  
  
• Some papers have a very rough surface or tooth, while others are quite smooth. Choose the paper according to the material you are simulating - concrete, metal, wood etc.
  
  
• If you are photographing your work for the web, take the time to set up a shot that does justice to your art. Be sure to light your sculpture adequately. Natural light is usually the best, but direct sunlight can be too harsh. If you can, find a shaded area outside. Choose a solid colour background that best compliments your work. If in doubt, stick to black or white.

Here are a few more from h-bomb:

• Use a clear drying glue, like Elmers or Uhu if you are in Europe (I think that's the brand)
  
  
• For glue application I have found nothing better than a plain round toothpick and a piece of waxpaper or a ziploc bag.
  
  
• Also, Dover Books publishes (or they did at least) some excellent paper models of buildings. I've got Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House on deck, and currently I'm working on a great welsh castle (I think it's Caernavon or something)

If anyone has any more ideas or useful links, please let us know via the comments section.

Photograph by Stiickler.

Cardboard SLR Camera

Another wonderful cardboard camera that really works. The Domokon Experimental is the work of photographer Alexander D. A pencil is used to rewind the film, the rest is cardboard apart from the lens and mirror. Details are scarce and all the links I had a few days ago on this seem to be down, including some very interesting YouTube videos.

Cardboard House

Providing sustainable housing for the world's ever increasing population will be one of our greatest challenges in this century. Innovative solutions are needed now for the sake of the planet and future generations.

The Cardboard House by Australian architects Col James and Stutchbury and Pape is made from 85% recycled materials, and is 100% recyclable. It is conceived as a kit of parts comprising a flat pack of frames, floor and wall panels. It can be assembled by two people in six hours, and is transportable in a light commercial vehicle.

I can see a great many uses for this, whether as a permanent environmentally sound housing option or for emergency housing, refugee housing, or even for recreation and camping. All we need now is for Ikea to put out something like this.

Thanks to Damien for the link.

Heather Cox: Tissue

Increasingly we are witnessing artists and designers explore the possibilities of honeycomb geometries in their work. In 2004 Heather Cox created these silent yet confronting life-size figures for an installation in the Nohra Haime Gallery, New York.

A majority of the figures are hung from the ceiling, while others are attached to the walls and folded into corners. The viewer is allowed to wander amongst these three-dimensional shadows, the air currents created gently turn the hanging figures.

Constructed from black tissue paper, the 64 inch figures appear the same from all angles, which makes the effect somewhat unsettling.

Packaging as Art: Part 1

I love getting stuff in the mail. I especially like it when the sender has put a bit of thought into the packaging of whatever it is they're sending. MAilmeART.com wants us to think more closely about this packaging; infact they are calling for submissions for a London exhibition where the packaging itself is the art.

It seems like there is great scope for creativity here; the only rule is that the postman must be able to see your work.

The exhibition is planned to be in 19 months, but the project is ongoing with new works regularly added to the website. International entries are welcome.

Submission by Jemillo pictured above.

Tom Seymour

These Honey Comb Lamps are the work of designer Tom Seymour. Not the first time we've seen paper lamps, but I thought these were particularly nice. Also check out his Note Table, made from 5000 sheets of paper. It's a note pad and a table - brilliant!

Discovered through my favourite website at the moment, Idealist.

Paper Chess #2

I have been asked for paper chess a few times recently, and here is a great paper chess set option. The pieces are blank, so you can color them or customize them as you wish. Perhaps you can overlay a nice wood texture, and make a faux-wood paper set. Download the free pattern here.

This is the second chess set I've posted. There is another one on Iceberg Links that I posted awhile back, but that link no longer works. If you'd like to find that set now, Follow this link,
Click on "Papermodel", then " 3 other Models", and then "Chess!" to find the free download.

Have fun!

Kraft Paper Softseating

There seems to be a resurgence of interest in paper furniture at the moment. Molo Design have come up with this amazing seating range made entirely from kraft paper. By using a flexible honeycomb structure, each piece can compress like a book for storage, as demonstrated by this video (essential viewing!).

Designed by Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen, Paper Softseating is not intended to be a short term or disposable furniture solution, although it is 100% recyclable. From the Molo website:

According to the manufacturer, the paper actually improves with age, as the surface texture of the paper edges softens with use over time into a pleasing natural patina. When one sits on the paper stools or loungers, the edges of the paper will gently soften and crush, creating irregular facets that catch the light and form a unique organic pattern within the crisp honeycomb geometry of the structure. As the surface of the paper softens, the stools and loungers maintain their structural integrity, because the honeycomb geometry lends the paper strength and enables this economy of material resources.

If you have a small living space and need a flexible seating solution this looks like it could be a real winner.

Update: It appears the video shows a derivative product based on the original Molo product. Please support the original, not the copy.

Hicalorie + Ready Mech = Scrabbit

Here is a fun collaboration between illustrator and designer Hicalorie and the folks at Ready-Mech. Download your very own scrabbit today. It looks like this little guy could really use a good home.

Paper Aibo and More

Robots are an ideal subject for papercraft. Their angular geometric forms lend themselves perfectly to the medium. These models of real robots on Japanese robotics site Robosquare are pretty nice. PaperKraft.net has a post up on the Sony Aibo cut-out, but there are others that I think are equally impressive.

The DIY cut-outs are available as free downloadable PDFs. Instructions are Japanese only but apparently the construction is quite straightforward.

Being made of paper there is hopefully no chance your robot will malfunction and "kill all humans".

Via PaperKraft.net

Paper Costume

One of the great joys of Flickr is discovering artists like Polyscene, aka Polly Verity. While most of us are making our paper creations ever more miniature, Polly is wearing hers with pride. Above is her Cyberchic costume. She has also produced paper outfits for sound installations, fashion shows and even weddings.

Also, check out her wonderful Hybrids collection.

Robinson Fredenthal: Deep Space

This beautiful collection of cardboard models is the work of Philadelphia based artist Robinson Fredenthal. On display at the Philadelphia International Airport, Fredenthal's 157 hand-made works date from 1966 to 2006 and are only part of a collection of more than 3,000.

Each object explores the geometric properties of cubes; endlessly skewed, stacked, deconstructed. A Parkinson's sufferer, Fredenthal was forced to utilize the help of assistants to build these works over forty years. They are meticulously crafted variations on a theme, which can be seen echoed in his large-scale public sculptures.

Photograph by Mikros.

Richard Sweeney

Hi all. This is Dan McPharlin with my first post for Paper Forest.

I am fascinated by paper art in all it's forms, from simple cut-outs to room-filling sculptures and furniture.

Paper Forest was a recent discovery for me, but I am extremely grateful to Jaime for the invitation to contribute. I will do my best to uncover work that is unique and inspiring and pushes the envelope (ahem) of this wonderful medium.



First up is the incredible work of Richard Sweeney. Richard is a talented and prolific British sculptor whose work I have been following for a while now. He utilizes paper and cardboard to produce exquisite geometric forms derived from architecture and nature.