Paper Cut & Shadow Light Box

Capturing light in a paper shadow box has a surreal effect, with layers of cut paper enhancing texture, depth, and drama. The latest sculptured art piece, 'The Perfect Day', is a testament to this. This shadow box art piece is a visual representation of a perfect day, with each layer of cut paper contributing to the overall texture and depth, creating a dramatic effect when illuminated. 

Taking a sabbatical from painting, I explore the possibilities of sculpture using paper & battery LED fairy string lights. Digging through my drawing paper stash, I find the perfect off-white, 110-lb. drawing paper that is stiff enough to cut with an Exacto blade, keeping the edges vertically in the lightbox. 

Supplies needed to create this shadow lightbox:

• Scotch Quick-Drying glue with precision tip
• E6000 Glue
• Shoe Goo
• LED Fairy String Lights
• Double-sided tape
• Foam-core
• 110 lb acid-free drawing paper
• Exacto blade
• Gesso
• Golden Acrylic Paint (ultramarine)
• Plastic clear & opaque book covers
• Watercolor paint
• 5 wine corks
• Decorative papers
• Matboard
• sketchbook
• tracing graphite paper

Size: 12" height x 8" wide x 6" deep Weight: 9 ounces

The LED fairy light switch is ingeniously attached to the back of the lightbox, offering an on/off switch for convenience. The two small-type batteries can be easily replaced by flipping open the white plastic cover, giving you the freedom to display the lightbox sculptures anywhere in a room. The versatility of the battery LEDs is sure to inspire your creative process. 

The design of the shadow box is not just a complement to the story, but a personal invitation to the viewers to explore the layered cut paper inside. The box is framed flamboyantly with beautiful, handmade, textured papers, each carefully chosen. The paper's designs, such as the dramatic ZigZag pattern for the frame and the tiled silver paper for detailed corners, add a unique touch to the design, fostering a sense of connection and engagement.

As someone who does their own custom framing, I have a stash of sturdy foam core pieces that I can use to build anything 3-dimensionally, without the need for POWER TOOLS! This freedom from power tools, coupled with the use of foam core and glue, allows me to create the lightbox and separation pieces for 11 layers of cut paper, which in turn makes the illusion of depth and shadow values. This process is sure to empower and equip you to take on your own creative projects with confidence.

After building the shadow box from foam core and glue, I coat it with two layers of gesso to seal the foam core and provide a better surface for painting with Golden Acrylic Ultramarine blue. I apply two coats to achieve a rich blue color, followed by a final varnish coat. The deep blue nicely shows the positive paper cut-outs from 2 layers featured inside the box.

I love color and decided to paint a plastic book cover with watercolor. This feature brings color when the lights are on or off, and I prefer it over relying on color lights that can only be seen when the lights are turned on. To protect all that is inside the shadow box, I glue one clear plastic book cover onto the last paper cut scene.

I save corks to use in creative projects and found them to be useful as stilts to raise the box off a table. Gesso and blue paint were used to cover the corks.

To attach the cork stilt legs to the shadow box, I use Shoe Goo, a favorite thick glue that works well for all kinds of surfaces. I let it dry for 24 hours.

To get started with the paper story, I go to previous artworks to find inspiration for 'The Perfect Day' shadow box. Years ago, I created from scratchboard paper a fun piece titled, 'Moonlight Dance'. 

Read more about scratch paper.

I drew out the design in my sketchbook, thinking about how many layers to create for depth and shadows. I trace out the design for 11 layers onto 110 lb paper and then cut with an Exacto blade.

Moonlight Dance on Scratchboard

Primal Roots by Minaz Jantz
Paper Shadow Box
71/2" height x 8" wide x 6" deep  WEIGHT 6.3 ounces

My first lightbox, 'Primal Roots,' was a pleasure to create, but I didn't have much of a clue, so I started drawing and cutting into 8 pieces of 110lb drawing paper, layering each cut piece until I got something I liked. 

'Flower Power', POP-UP cut paper design.

I had recently been having fun creating a POP-UP paper design. I had made a blue butterfly from glossy photo paper and art markers for one of the cards, but it didn't end up on a card. Instead, I used it on the first shadow lightbox. I had also saved Japanese paper from a wrap on a biscuit box to cover the outside of the shadow box perfectly. The wine corks are from a wine called 'Primal Roots,' and I decided it was also an excellent title for this paper shadowbox! 

Primal Roots by Minaz Jantz
Paper Shadow Box

Primal Roots by Minaz Jantz
Paper Shadow Box

Primal Roots by Minaz Jantz
Paper Shadow Box

Looking forward to designing more shadow lightboxes. You will find me in a closet peering into the surreal worlds created by Fairy lights & paper! Minaz