Some artists use paper as a canvas, while others prefer shaping it into the most amazing sculptures that you’ll ever come across. That’s the case with Colleen Southwell, who’s using her delicate paper art to capture the beauty of nature in its full glory.
Southwell is based in New South Wales, Australia, and her creations are mostly inspired by botanical, entomological, and ornithological elements. She can best be described as a paper artist but doesn’t shy away from using other materials in her work, from fine gauge wire and entomology pins to cotton thread and found objects.
Southwell says that her art is meant to be observed closely because it can only be fully discovered when we take the time to pause, look, and really see.
“The finished works allude to scientific herbarium and entomology specimens, often a combination of both… My intention is for the work to be beautiful and reverent – paying homage to the brilliance of nature and a reflection of its fragility,” explains Southwell on her official website.
The Australian artist sees her work as a celebration of nature, both wild and cultivated. She goes by The Garden Curator on Instagram, where she also shares photos from her country garden, and she’s a huge advocate for the practice of mindful “slow gardening”.
