The history of paper art is old as paper itself. From origami and papier-mâché to quilling and collage, the techniques of folding, cutting, and gluing paper seem to never end. But even amongst paper artists, the work of Amy Genser stands out.
Treating paper as pigment, Genser rolls and cuts tiny pieces of colored paper, which she then organizes in geometrical shapes. “The rolling and cutting process is actually pretty quick,” she remarked once in an interview with online publication All Things Paper. “It’s the composition/editing process that usually takes the longest.”
Painting a surface that is either canvas or paper, using an acrylic and gel medium, Genser proceeds to place her rolled paper pieces on top and manipulates them until she has a satisfactory composition. “It’s like putting a puzzle together, only I don’t know the final picture until I see it,” she notes.
According to Genser, she rolls her pieces as she develops and builds her piece. “It’s a back-and-forth process,” she says. “The paper and the piece lay on different tables in my studio. I attach the paper onto the canvas with PVA once I have the pieces where I want them.”
In order to enjoy her work, it’s best to view it from a distance. The end result usually resembles a majestic a body of water – an ocean seen from above, with coral reefs and waves swirling about. Inspired by the flow of water, the shape of beehives, and the organic irregularity of plants, flowers, rock formations, barnacles, moss, and seaweed—Genser’s work is in direct dialogue with her natural surroundings.
