Distinctive Quilling Style - The Serial Quiller
New trends have developed to the point that the definition of quilling now encompasses all manner of designs made up of paper strips placed on edge, whether they are rolled, folded, or in the case of today's featured artist, Zoe, better known as The Accidental Quiller [edit: name later changed to The Serial Quiller], stacked side by side.
She is a prolific artist in England who creates images that are surrounded by blocks of paper strips often arranged as a gridded background. Judging by the number of varied pieces in her Facebook gallery, it's safe to say Zoe prefers to quill each design only once, often with a focus on animals and art supplies.
Note that the gridwork is not layered with the central image placed on top... instead, the background of squares is fitted around it on a canvas covered board. Most finished pieces measure 8 x 10 inches, with 10 x 14 inches being the largest she has created to date. Tiny strips impart texture, such as the tips of these paintbrush bristles.
Zoe mainly uses her own photos and ones she finds on Pinterest as references. "I have reworked other artists' paintings and they loved them. Some are just an idea that I'll draw."
"With the crisscross background, each individual piece of paper has to be layered very tightly to the next piece to create the best effect. I found out early on that adding multiple pieces at a time to make the process go more quickly doesn’t work."
"I was always stuck as to how to fill a piece once I had the main design; a solid or empty background just wasn't right. I played about with the crisscross idea and it’s been my trademark background ever since. I cut my own strips using a variety of guillotine blades and regular A4 80 gram paper. Thicker paper doesn’t make the piece look as tight as I like."
I was curious as to why Zoe calls herself an accidental quiller and learned that she turned to paper crafting to pass the time while caring for her ill husband at home. Wreath making and book folding held her interest for a while, but once she came across quilling via Facebook, she was hooked.
Zoe began with rolled newspaper, then moved to colored paper and the creation of playful items like these vases and heart. Fringed flowers took over for a time... just look at the number she made to cover a mannequin!
Zoe, The Accidental Quiller [now The Serial Quiller] is on Instagram and Facebook.
Are you doing groundbreaking quilling or paper art? If so, let us know via a comment below.
