Papercut style illustrations

The project tested the digital imitation of the papercut style. It is a design style known for its layered and minimalist approach, and is mainly practiced in Estonia by the artist Eiko Ojala. The experiments were completed as an independent research and creative work.

PURPOSE
The goal was to learn and understand the specifics of the papercut style, highlighting the spatiality and digital lightness with digital means. It was important to maintain the naturalness of the layers and shadows without the result becoming too artificial.

APPROACH
Simple but strongly figurative motifs were used in the creation of the illustrations: a wine bottle in red tones and a chess knight in gray tones. The structure of both works was based on creating virtual layers and observing the dynamics of light and shadow to achieve a spatial effect. The composition and choice of colors remained deliberately minimalist, emphasizing the purity and prominence of the form.

RESULT
The completed works demonstrate a successful experiment with digital emulation of the papercut style. The illustrations convey a layered sense of space and visual depth, while maintaining graphic clarity and simplicity. This experiment opened up possibilities for further stylistic development and provided practical experience in using digital layering techniques to create aesthetic and contemporary illustrations.