H-ART TO H-ART INTERVIEWS
Meet paper sculptor Dionne Cole of Forward Fold who talks about the art of paper sculpting and her journey to realising her dream.
Ever since I saw her instagram page I was blown away by her artwork mainly because it was something I had never seen before made from paper with such fine detail. I first met Dionne while working together at an interior design company a few years ago. I moved on from that company and a couple of years later so did Dionne only to join the company I was now working at too. Colleagues again, while briefly catching up one lunch break, Dionne told me she was more actively pursuing her artist career on the side and naturally I was intrigued to find out more. I was interested to know all about the process of how she creates her artwork but most of all, as an aspiring artist/ maker myself, I was even more intrigued to find out how she was going about realising her dream while also having to make ends meet.
20 questions in 20 minutes…
1. On your instagram it says “paper sculptor”, at what point did you start getting involved with paper sculpting and when?
I think it started from uni days, so quite a long time ago, when one of our lecturers showed us a slide of different artists. I distinctively remember one artist called Zoe Bradley who does the most beautiful paper sculptures I had ever seen. It was then I said to myself, “I want to work with her one day”. So as soon as I graduated, I made several attempts to contact her via email until finally she got me in to work with her. From then on she kept calling me back for more freelance work. I had used paper at university before but it is really from this work experience that I furthered my skill in the art of paper sculpting.
2. So straight out of university you managed to secure an internship with a successful paper sculptor?
Yes! It started off as an internship that led to a freelance role. Alongside Zoe Bradley, I had the opportunity to work on projects for big clients like Disney and Chopard jewellery. Looking back, I would say that I always loved working with paper and that my journey with paper started during my studies. And then when I found an artist who worked in that field and was actually really successful I was like, “I really want to work with this person!”
3. What is it you were studying?
I was studying Product Design, so 3d design but it was more craft based. It was more hands on as opposed to more software based. We merely did a two weeks vectorworks course and the rest of the time was spent in the workshops. I think that helped me a lot to better understand the material.
4. Have you explored other mediums before going to paper? Or was it love at first sight with paper?
(Laughs) Yes, I worked with fabric, wood, metal and a range of different materials but I was always drawn to paper. I mean it’s so easy to come by, easy to manipulate and to create intricate shapes. Just simply, I have always loved paper.
5. How do you come about creating your sculptural pieces?
You know everyone always asks me this, I don’t know, when I work, I am just literally playing around with the material and I am just thinking “and what if I do this, what would happen?” It appears to be a lot of problem solving. On our course we were always told to just problem solve. They also said, whichever material you choose, first understand and get to know the material thoroughly so, even go as far as visiting paper mills to understand how paper is made. Almost like becoming a master of the material. So when I was finding new ways to work with paper, it was just always like trial and error.
10. Your pieces are so sculptural and different, I feel that even if someone was to propose the colours, it wouldn’t limit your creativity; and mostly it would still be unique to something only you would make. Would you agree?
I have a set of colours I prefer to work with, but clients, everyone has a different perception of what their favourite colours are, so whatever colour they choose I will just make it in a way that I know will look amazing.
““It’s knowing the gap and filling that gap.””
6. What other tools or methods do you use for your artwork?
Well, initially my artworks start off as sketches. They usually just come from my head. For example, I often get inspired from the Caribbean ocean, I guess because I am from the Caribbean, and I can see it all in my mind. This imagery is then put to paper as numerous sketches until it is brought to life as a sculpture made from paper. I start with loads of sketches and the strange thing is that when I am sketching, I sketch so many sketches, until I have created the sketch I know is going to be an amazing piece of artwork. To everyone else my sketches could look like mere scribbles, but to me, I know which ones are going to look good as paper art. And so from there, I draw up the shapes, and get them cut, and then use different folds, to fold the paper and arrange it in a certain way to make it look as per my sketch. Obviously I make tweaks as a sketch is two dimensional whereas when you are making a sculpture, you are creating in three dimensions, so it has to change slightly as pieces are overlapping and you’ve got to accommodate for that.
7. I am intrigued. And how is all this fixed together?
It’s a secret! See, that’s the thing, with my artwork I want people to still be in wonder of it; to be intrigued by how its been done.
8. And what about colours? How do you choose your colours?
Up until now, when creating for myself, I would normally go for more neutral colours like blacks, greys and whites and then have a pop of colour. However as I am working with a gallery now, they normally advise me on the colours usually preferred by clients. I find myself adapting to these preferences, as the aim is to make artwork that people want to buy.
9. Is each piece unique?
Again, up until recently, all of them have been one offs. But now while collaborating with a gallery, I have been asked to create a series, mainly a series of five. This has actually proven quite challenging as I have had to work out a mapping method to be able to replicate an artwork basically five times and get it as exact as possible. I believe I have worked out a method but it will really be put to the test when I attempt to make the second piece (laughs). This series will be my first time exhibiting a series and it will be shown at the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea in March.
11. And you said you may imagine things inspired from your background. Lets say you wanted to replicate coral, I guess if someone else walks up to your piece, they could interpret this in a completely different way based on their own background. Have you ever had feedback from your artwork?
Yes, and what I like from hearing feedback is that everyone sees something different in each artwork. Someone actually once said, it looked like the Guernica by Picasso. Not to suggest at all that I am on the same level as Picasso (laughs), I think they were talking more about the collage style in reference to the Guernica, the monotone colours and the different geometric shapes; it reminded them of that.
12. You started off with an internship and then working as a freelance. When did you feel the need to create your own artwork? I remember you saying you did some window displays?
Well, I was doing window displays and using mainly paper and I loved doing that. But because it was very off and on, I needed something a bit more stable so I decided to put the whole making art on hold and, I just stopped it for a while to focus on my career in the interior design industry. Specifying artwork as an interior designer, I noticed there was a bit of a gap in the market for more bespoke and unique artwork. There’s so much beautiful artwork out there, so many amazing artists, but it’s hard to find something a bit different for the client, and it got me thinking “oh d’ you know what, I could actually make my paper sculptures almost like a sculpture within a frame”; its how I like to think of my work. It’s knowing the gap and filling that gap.
And that’s how it started.
My pieces before, as window displays, even though they were amazing displays, they weren’t something that could be kept forever. And I think the beauty of artwork is that its a keepsake item for someone.
18. I wish you all the best. It’s very inspiring to see you go after your dream. What I find inspiring most of all is that you are actually methodical about realising it. Because we all have dreams but not everyone makes them happen.
Yeah, it’s just finding that balance between working full time and creating. It’s having enough time to apply yourself fully to the full-time job, making art, but then also having time for yourself, because I don’t want to get burnt out. That’s why I like that I enjoy making artwork, because it is an enjoyment for me.
13. Have you kept any of the window displays?
Yes, I have kept one or two pieces. Actually, funny enough, one of the halloween themed windows I did for shop in Notting Hill was seen by a director of an interior design company. One of the paper crows had caught her attention and she emailed me saying, “I would love to have that crow as an artwork!” It wasn’t even meant to be an artwork, just a window display but I am now thinking I need to make an artwork, at some point when I have more time, of animal silhouettes. There is an image of the crow that started it all on my website.
14. I know you do your sketches and get things cut. Do you every cut yourself?
Yes, although a lot of the times, because of the scale and the amount of the artworks I make, it’s more precise to get most initial shapes cut. However when putting the artwork together, a lot of the times I am cutting at the same time because despite the fact that most shapes have already been drawn out, during the composing phase, there are certain shapes that I may want that I have not got. And it’s during this process that I need to make up new shapes. Putting the piece together is almost like a jigsaw puzzle, but then there are still bits missing at the end.
15. So you have already had your first exhibition? Where was this and how did it go?
It was situated in Deptford which has a very up and coming art scene, and it went really well. It was lovely speaking to people about my work and having them see it in the flesh. The best part was having my nan see my work. She was so proud and she was the star of the show.
16. And your next show as already mentioned is at the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea for people to see? Where else can they see your artwork?
Yes, the Affordable Art Fair is on in Battersea from 7th til the 10th of March. And people can also visit my website mentioned above and my instagram account @forwardfold.
17. Is there anything else you would like to add?
Just thank you. This interview has made me think more about the journey. I have always been aware of the journey but just some things I hadn’t really thought about until this interview, that I didn’t realise before.
19. So, at the moment when are you making your artwork?
Oh gosh, literally, when I get home at 7 at times, but mainly I will say weekends. Evening times are mainly spent on the laptop making enquiries for putting the artwork together like for example framing costs etc. I prefer to start my artwork mainly in the daytime as I find the daylight more helpful when prepping.
20. Finally, any advice for anyone looking to pursue their dreams.
Don’t let anyone stop you from your destiny, anything is possible! Obviously it does get hard at times, but then there are people around that can build encouragement and help you along the way. One thing I have discovered is that even though it’s just me making the artwork, there are so many people involved in it that I couldn’t have done it without them so its about finding people that are a part of that process and building a nice network of people. I think that’s the main thing.
“ “Don’t let anyone stop you from your destiny.””