Cardboard Animals by Johan Scherft

Netherlands-based artist Johan Scherft designs cardboard models animals, especially birds which were hand-colored using colored pencils and watercolor paints.



"The first model I made was a model of a flying bird, a Merlin, designed by the Englishman Malcolm Topp. This was the beginning of my own exploration in designing paper cardboard models. I started making my own designs when I was about 14 years old."



"It appealed to me because it combines so many different techniques like working in three dimensions combined with drawing and painting."



"Although I use computer programs for the basic design, most of my work is done by hand. There's a lot of trial and error involved before a model is satisfactory. Each species has its own distinctive shape, so I never use a standard design."



"Of course, it is impossible to capture every curve of the bird's body in paper, compromises have to be made, or the model would have too many gluing tabs, making it too difficult to make. A lot of the realism is suggested with the paintwork. For this part, I take the most time. With very fine brushes, I try to achieve the most realistic effect in color and detail. I use watercolors or gouache paint. It's always an exciting moment once the template has been painted to assemble the bird and see what the result is."



"I always do some adjusting and extra painting after a model is assembled. Sometimes models require a considerable amount of extra painting, like on the eyes or other important details."



"Nature has always been my source of inspiration. I like to go out bird-watching and watch and observe animals. Birds I find nice to make out of paper, because of their varied colours and shapes. A mammal is more difficult, they have fur which is difficult to suggest with the paper. Recently I decided to make something different, so I made a realistic paper vampire-bat. I thought it would make a good contrast with the more friendly and cuddly birds. And I have made a series of deepsea-creatures. There are not many photograph’s of the animals living in the deep, so I let my imagination run free. Some of the animals I gave a light, using optic fibre."



"I use thin acid-free paper, scissors and paper glue. The paintwork of the models is done with watercolor and gouache. I consider my models to be three-dimensional paintings. A template of a model is painted before it is assembled, which is a lot easier than painting the model afterwards. Also I can scan the templates in case I decide to make one or more copies of the original in the future. The assembled models I touch up considerably after they are put together. When a model is completed I frame them behind glass to protect them."



Check his website: www.johanscherft.com

Source: strictlypaper

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