Okay, I'm for sure the last person in the world to discover the incredible work of Elsa Mora. But it enchants me so thoroughly that I just had to share. Elsa---or Elsita, as she's called---creates teeny tiny paper cuts and sculptures that are absolutely magical.
Elsita was born in Cuba, and you can definitely see a Latin-American/magical realist influence in her work. It's as though someone handed Frida Kahlo a pair of scissors. The metaphor in this one, which is entitled 'Secret Anatomy of a Young Girl', is particularly haunting.
Elsita has an Etsy shop at which you can buy prints of her paper cuts. But I'd love to have an original; wouldn't it be amazing to mount it in a shadow box so that you could experience the 3-D nature of her craft?
And speaking of 3-D, not only are her paper sculptures astoundingly detailed, they are miniscule! That's a DIME for size comparison. A dime!
Just look at the incredible detail on this little lady's dress. Those scalloped pockets! The textured stockings! If only my own outfits were this finely wrought.
Elsita also does illustrations that ooze fairy tale wonder. If I had a little girl I would frame these and hang them in her room. It's the kind of art that can grow with a child, and be equally appreciated by an adult. Can't you imagine a collection of four prints representing the seasons?
Love how this girl's hair wraps her like a scarf. And again, the entrancing details like the tree branches growing from her brilliant red coat---I'm blown away (no pun intended!).
And finally my favourite, which Elsita calls 'Zen Girl'. It's both feminine and mystical. Elegant lines, dreamy colors. Gorgeous. She's also made a cameo pin out of this piece, which I just might buy :)
All images here are courtesy of Elsa Mora. Be sure to visit Elsita's Flickr photostream to admire her work. Also check out her blog, where she shares not only her own creations but also other things she admires. And thanks to HowNowDesign's photostream for leading me to Elsita!
oh ... my ... goodness
how beautiful
Posted by: christine @ pretty.pretty.paper | November 06, 2008 at 02:03 PM