Artist in La La Land - Paper Play

Melissa Kojima loves Halloween and all that goes with it... the costumes, dressing up, and pretending. This is evident in many of her paper creations, each of which has retro vintage appeal. Her whimsical paper puppets, pop up cards, and articulated paper dolls are inspired by the circus, literature, and the Victorian Era... it's a paper toy wonderland geared to older children and adults. Yes, grown-ups get to play!

Here's the Headless Horseman from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Melissa created this card that features a scary, yet comical witch (wait, isn't that an oxymoron?) from one of her original painted paper puppets that's available as a downloadable PDF from her Etsy shop, Artist in La La Land [no longer active].

Ms. Witch puppets can be cut out, assembled, and used as party decor or given out as favors.

Melissa told me she's been making art all her life, but wasn't really encouraged to pursue it as a career... in fact, her degree is in French and she taught English to high school students in France before returning to the U.S. to study illustration. She's taken quite a few classes, but mainly has found that working at art each day is what continues to improve her skill most of all. 

Each of these vintage monster men with twisty heads is pretty frightening... you might recognize Wolfman, Shrunken Head Man, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Count Dracula.

I'm not quite sure what to make of this paper puppet fox in a chevron dress... let's just call her stylishly creepy!

 

Lastly, a paper mache tattooed bunny caught my eye... not only is his expression priceless - a touch haughty, no? - but he has a secret keepsake box in his belly.

Melissa can be contacted for custom designs via her website.