Newspaper Collage Art by Keiko Suzuki

 Congratulations to jc, giveaway winner!

Today wraps up lucky-seven weeks of paper themed giveaways that I hope have delighted, surprised and inspired you. I'm always on the lookout for creatives/suppliers who make/sell unusual and useful paper art and paper, and will continue to host an occasional giveaway in the new year.

And now, onto this week's giveaway...

Keiko Suzuki is the artist behind the Etsy shop with a playful name, Bless Hue, for which she creates softly beautiful hand torn collages from the simplest of materials, newspaper.

Originally from Tokyo, Keiko moved to Seattle in 2011, and soon after launched an earth-friendly business that conveys her fondness and respect for animals and nature.

 

Pet portraits with personality are her specialty, as well as a variety of elegant botanical, wildlife and aquatic art.

The labor-intensive technique Keiko utilizes, chigiri-e, is ordinarily done with mulberry paper, but she searches for newsprint images to impart subtle color. Keiko first creates a sketch to serve as a pattern, debosses its outline on newspaper, and then softens the lines with a watered brush.

This allows her to carefully tease away the paper and produce a feathered edge. The resulting shapes are applied to watercolor paper with starch paste and layered to provide texture. 

Finally, she scratches the glued newspaper with a sharp pin to create additional details and applies highlights with paint.

Enjoy this video that condenses the steps from start to finish in just two and a half minutes.

She is currently developing an African animal series that will be released for sale in early 2016.

Framing is available for giclée print orders and custom pet portrait orders for U.S. and Canadian customers via Keiko Suzuki Art, due to a partnership with Framebridge.

Each print listing comes with two or three frame options that Keiko has selected to complement the art piece. For pet portrait orders, she will personally send frame options upon completion of the work. Read more about framing choices on her blog.

Keiko makes less detailed pieces for holidays and special occasions that can be found on cards and other items at her Zazzle Holidays Collection.

Keiko can be contacted via her website, Keiko Suzuki Art or Etsy shop, Bless Hue. She blogs and is on Instagram and Facebook.

Now about the worldwide giveaway! [ENDED] Keiko will be sending a $35 (USD) gift card to one winner who will be able to use it for giclée prints available at her website or Etsy shop. It may also be applied toward a commissioned pet portrait.

The giveaway ends on Friday, December 11, 2015. Leave a comment on this post along with a way to be contacted within your comment (for example: janedoe at gmail dot com). If you are on Instagram, double your chances by liking the giveaway photo. Make sure you are following @blesshue and @allthingspaper. The winner will be drawn at random and announced at the top of this post and on the Instagram giveaway photo. Good luck!