Japanese





 How to create the art of paper cutting by Teruo Nakamura?



A making process of his beautiful paper cutting is described here.

By using Kingfisher as an example, his skill will be demonstrated step by step by himself.

At the end the interview with Teruo Nakamura-san is posted.


 1.Determine the composition for a paper cutting based on the photo of     wild bird.



He uses Photoshop and manipulate the photo of wild bird as the original picture for paper cutting.

He mainly uses the photos taken by himself, but in case there is no photo he would like to use,

he refers to a free material of wild bird.   



Currently he uses Photoshop, but when he started the paper cutting, he had put a square on his photo

and then transcribed it.

 2.Transcribe into a picture

He transcribes the processed photo by Photoshop into a picture using iPad pencil.

He says it is very useful ! He uses “Procreate” as painting software.



 3.Print the painting on the rear surface of black paper

He daubs the black water based ink on an entire surface of paper and then prints out the painting

on the rear surface of this black paper.

Finally it flips left and right because he cut the back side which he prints the painting.



He prints the painting with dark gray color because if he uses the black ink for printing, it would be

difficult to see the cutting edge of cutter. The other reason is ink saving.



He leaves the black parts of painting uncut. These black parts are continuously connected with

other black parts. When the paper cutting is finished, every part is connected. How fantastic!  

 4.Cut the printing


The following is the process of paper cutting. 

  

  



It is finished. Every black part is connected with other black one.  

 5.Color the paper cutting

He once used Photoshop for coloring the paper cutting on PC, recently he uses iPad and Apple Pencil

(Procreate) for coloring.



In the case he does not have a time to prepare black paper for cutting, he cut a white paper and then

paint it black, sometimes the paper tears by ink stickiness.




 Tools for the paper cutting


Here are his tools for the paper cutting and his work place.  









This is Teruo Nakamura-san who is creating the paper cutting.

His working place is in his car!

He can make the paper cutting in his car even at a visiting place to work.   

His delicately beautiful paper cutting was made in his car, What a surprise it is!!


 Interview with Teruo Nakamura-san

I asked him that you would like to know about his paper cutting.



Q1.  When did you start your paper cutting?

A1.  I think that Rock Ptarmigan would be the first one on August, 1995.

    Now I review it and feel my immaturity.


Q2.   What made you start the paper cutting?

A2.  That was Uematsu-san’s word “The cover of our bulletin id dull….”

    I had started a woodcut but it took a long time, so I chose the paper cutting.

    (note: Uematsu-san is current chairman of Wild Bird Society of Shinshu.

    Nakamura-san’s paper cutting has been on the cover of WBSS bulletin every month.)


Q3.   Is the cutter knife you have use a commercial product or your hand-made?

A3.   It is a commercial product.

Q4.   Have you taken all photos which are based on your paper cutting by yourself?

A4.   Almost I use the photo taken by myself but sometimes there is no photo.

    In a case I refer to the free material of wild birds.


Q5.   How long did it take you to create the paper cutting from composition to completion?

A5.  Previously it took 1 day but recently I need 3-4 days.

Q6.   I am very impressed in your cutting complex bird feather pattern and delicate expression of the

    surrounding nature. What is the most difficult part?

A6.  Usually the background of wild bird picture is not well, so I look for the other

    background and make it look natural.


Q7.   Which bird will you want to create the paper cutting next?

A7.  Not particularly. It is easier that I can select same bird 3 or 4 times.

Q8.   Various your paper cutting become postcards. Where can we buy it?

A8.  You can buy it at Kamikochi Myojinkan. I have given it to express my gratitude to

    someone, so there may be other places you can buy it.


Thank you very much, Nakamura-san!

We are very looking forward to seeing your paper cutting which we feel the beauty and vivid ecology

of wild birds.


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