Craftsman Crate: The Kirie Japanese Papercutting Crate

Description

Paper Cutting as an artform has been around nearly as long as paper. Paper was invented in China in 105 A.D. The oldest surviving paper cutout artpiece is from the 6th century in Xinjiang, China. Paper was first imported to Japan from China by way of Korea in 610 A.D. and not long afterward, cut paper artwork began to appear there. Kir-e literally means cut picture in Japanese, cutting out small bits of paper and using negative space to make art. That art was used at shrines and in religious ceremonies, but also in homes and the special celebrations of life.

That same idea of negative space art in cut paper has show up around the world. Mexican artists have been making cut tissue paper cutouts hung together in banners for decorations since the 16th century. Since about the same time or even earlier, Jewish papercutters in North Africa and the Middle East used techniques similar to those used in China and Japan to decorate book covers, marriage contracts and their homes. Around that same time, Swiss and German artists developed Scherenschnitt (scissor cutting), a symmetrical way to cut paper into intricate designs incorporating landscapes and natural themes. German immigrants brought the art to America where it was used to embellish important documents such as birth and marriage certificates.

Even today, artists are continuing these traditions and so will you as you create kirie artworks in this Craftsman Crate!

The Kirie Japanese Papercutting Crate Contains: 

Kirie Tool Kit – includes a ruler, tweezers, craft knife and blades, extra fine scissors, pick tool, and spreader

Artist Quality Watercolor Tin Set – Watercolor paints used to create backgrounds for your artwork

Watercolor Paper – 100% cotton paper specially made for use with watercolor paints

Palette – for mixing paints with water

Flat brush – use to paint swaths of color across your paper

Spray Bottle – use with water to keep your watercolor paper damp until you are finished painting.

Black Lightweight Cardstock – the paper that you will actually cut to make your designs!

Washi Tape – use to hold down your water color paper or to take your pattern onto the black paper

Nori Paste – a slow drying, natural starch paste which is used to glue down your kirie masterpiece

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