Final answer:
Artists create paper sculpture by selecting durable papers and employing methods such as cutting, shaping, and gluing. Techniques range from soaking and pasting to create three-dimensional pieces to collage, with materials and processes varying according to the artwork’s purpose.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Paper Statues Are Made:
Artists who create paper sculpture often begin by choosing high-quality paper that is durable enough to withstand manipulation and various wet media. Crafting a paper statue may involve pulping organic material which is then spread onto a wire mesh frame, known as a ‘deckle’. This process yields handmade paper with a distinct, uneven edge. The papers are painstakingly cut, shaped, and then glued to create a three-dimensional representation. Not only is the variety of paper (such as heavy handmade paper) significant, but also the technique used to bend and shape it plays a crucial role in the final outcome.
Some artists use paper statues as a preliminary model or ‘maquette’ for larger works in other materials such as marble or metal. Even great masters like Michelangelo often began with such a model before sculpting in stone.
Regarding technique, artists might soak individual pieces of paper and combine them onto a surface creating an image or statue, exemplified by album covers for music artists designed in Surrealist-inspired themes. Alternatively, traditions like collage have been embraced by great artists such as Picasso and Matisse, as well as by members of the Harlem Renaissance like Romare Bearden, who utilized cut and pasted papers expressively to capture cultural experiences.
In summary, the choice of materials and methods adapt to the needs of the artist's vision and the environment where the artwork will be placed or displayed.