FELICIA'S FABULOUS FOLKART

ACRYLIC PAINTING: Meandering Stream in the Winter Woods

2012-02-01T19:49:00.000-05:00

This painting looks so much like the Finger Lakes Region where I grew up. It shows the snow on the ground and a creek that hasn't frozen over completely. It feels very cold but peaceful. I love the shadows that are emphasized in the white snow.

OIL PAINTING: SNOW ON THE FARM (COPIED FROM CURRIER AND IVES)

2012-02-01T19:37:00.001-05:00

I have always loved receiving Christmas cards with a scene of a reproduction of Currier and Ives paintings. I decided to do a little painting of a card that I had in my collection. It was quite nostalgic for me and brought back wonderful memories from my childhood.

ACRYLIC PAINTING: "SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS"

2012-02-01T19:07:00.000-05:00

When we visited Slovakia in September, 2008, we saw snow in the Tatra Mountains. One time it even snowed in the Tatras on the Fourth of July. The altitude is very high so the weather is very changeable. Poland has a lake called "Morske Oko" which is very beautiful. We had to climb and climb up the hill to get to the lake. They don't allow tourists to drive up into the mountains. There are many beautiful lakes and mountains in this wonderful world of ours. We must keep it clean and pristine.

WATERCOLOR: "ABANDONED SLED"

2012-02-01T18:56:00.000-05:00

I remember when my sister, brother, and I used to go sledding down the hill in the winter. We had an old-fashioned sled like this one which could be steered with the bar across the front. It was fun sliding down the hill and then climbing up to slide down again. We didn't have those plastic things that kids use these days when they go for fun in the snow. I think this kind of sled was wonderful.

WYCINANKA: "GROOM AND BRIDE" Finished!!!

2011-12-08T19:12:00.006-05:00

This Wycinanka is the finished copy of the original two cuttings that appear below. I started out with the black silhouettes and then added the colored paper to enhance all of the clothes, features, and flowers. These were glued right over the original black silhouette shapes. I used Origami paper which has many colors to choose from. My scissors were short and very sharp with rubber handles to protect my hand. I used Elmer's Glue.
I framed it with a double mat of white and dark blue.
It measures 8 1/2" X 11" without the frame.
This wycinanka now resides in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

WYCINANKA Polish Paper Cut: "Groom and Bride"

2011-12-04T14:37:00.003-05:00

Here are the Groom and Bride from the silhouette below. I have cut paper of different colors to design the costumes of the couple. It is not finished yet. Everything is cut from paper, even the eyes and eyebrows.

WYCINANKA Polish Paper Cut: GROOM AND BRIDE SILHOUETTE

2011-11-02T15:34:00.004-04:00

PISANKI BY FELICIA

2011-09-24T18:05:00.000-04:00

How to cut out a Wycinanka....Steps 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

2011-09-22T00:03:00.004-04:00

These photos show how I plan the cutting of a wycinanka and start to glue on the pieces of cut paper. I draw it first with pencil and then start to cut out each piece. If something is identical, such as the roosters, I cut out two at a time and glue them down symmetrically. Then I continue with the flowers.

How to cut out a Wycinanka....Steps 7, 8, 9

2011-09-22T00:00:00.001-04:00

WYCINANKA: "Gorgeous Roosters Conversing Under a Flower"

2011-08-27T14:01:00.000-04:00

Roosters are very popular in Folk Culture and are supposed to represent fertility. I just think that roosters are beautiful. The colors in their wings and tail are totally amazing. When we go to the County Fairs, we love to see the chickens and noisy roosters. They always have their own personality. My roosters are not realistic as such but are more stylized. This is typical of the Polish Paper Cutting or Wycinanka. It is a representational design of real roosters.

WYCINANKA: Aniela's Garden #1

2011-08-27T13:47:00.000-04:00

This is Aniela's Garden in its first cutting. I had made it in one color. It's the same little Goddess in the Tree of Life but with some amazing flower-type shapes included. Later, I felt that I would like to add some colors to this cutting because it represented my mother Aniela. She was a fantastic person and artist.

WYCINANKA: Aniela's Garden #2

2011-08-27T13:02:00.001-04:00

I had cut this Wycinanka in one color...a dark maroon. After I had completed it, I decided to do another one in all kinds of colors with overlapping colored paper shapes. This was named after my mother, Aniela. She was a very beautiful lady who loved colors so I felt that this really shows off her love of flowers and happiness. She always said "Don't Worry, Be Happy".

WYCINANKA: Little Girl in Tree of Life

2011-08-27T12:45:00.001-04:00

The Tree of Life is a popular theme for a lot of Wycinanki. Usually there is a Goddess in the tree, along with the birds and other animals. I decided to place a little Polish girl dressed in her costume and standing at the top of the tree. You can also see the little Goddess at the bottom in the negative space.

WYCINANKA: Partridges, Deer, and Sheep in Tree of Life

2011-08-15T19:06:00.002-04:00

The Tree of Life is a common theme for making wycinanki in Poland and is also practiced in other countries in their art as well. As you can see from the symmetry in this paper cut, I folded it three different times, to make the cuttings. First, you see the center fold where the partridges, deer, and sheep are "nose-to-nose". Then there is another fold that runs down the center of the large trees and branches. The third fold is located down the middle of the small "Christmas tree" shapes. It cannot be cut with just one center fold, because you would lose some of the symmetry.

WYCINANKA: Modern "Eagles Guarding the American Flag"

2011-07-29T21:29:00.001-04:00

The subject for this paper cut was "Patriotism". I wanted to show the American flag in my cutting and decided to make two identical Bald Eagles to fly in front of the flag. The mountains were made with pastel chalk that was colored along the edge of ripped pieces of newsprint paper. I then rubbed the pastel colors with tissues onto the background to create the mountain effect. Everything else was cut out of colored paper. I especially liked the idea of having the Eagles' wings spread out onto the matting.

WYCINANKA: Modern "Tree in Art"

2011-07-29T21:18:00.000-04:00

I sketched a tree on white computer paper, drawing it from the roots up to the branches. Then I placed three pieces of colored paper under it and stapled them together. I cut all four trees out at the same time. Then I started to arrange the trees side-by-side, above and below vertically, and then decided on a random placement. I used rectangular and square pieces of many colors of paper, placing them behind the trees until I liked the look and feel of the scene. Having glued everything in place, I can feel sky, grass, leaves, fields, and other scenery around the trees, exactly what I was thinking.

WYCINANKA: "Lowicz Dancer"

2011-07-29T20:37:00.001-04:00

The costumes worn by the people of the Lowicz region of Poland are amazingly beautiful. You would see them worn by dancers for the most part these days. On a trip to Poland, you might be lucky to see a Baptism or Wedding where some of the people would dress in costume. At festivals, even the little children are dressed in these beautiful costumes. They are so colorful and outstanding. I once had the opportunity to wear the woman's outfit for a television show in Pennsylvania.

WYCINANKA: Birds, Horses, and Tree of Life

2011-07-16T21:20:00.003-04:00

I made this Wycinanka Polish Papercut to fit a card that I created for the 85th birthday of Mrs. Ruth Ziolkowski, President and CEO of Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation and wife of the Polish-American sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski, who dreamed of making a monument in South Dakota to honor Crazy Horse. As he started the sculpture, he worked alone, using his own money and willpower. His amazing vision is coming true every day, as now his wife and children continue his work on the mountain. All four presidents' heads of Mt. Rushmore can fit into the head of Crazy Horse, the Native American hero. They are now in the process of blasting and forming the arm and eventually the horse that Crazy Horse rides.

WYCINANKA: "Six Roosters in a Tree"

2011-07-07T23:28:00.000-04:00

I had made this Wycinanka Polish Paper Cut in one color, the dark brown on light brown paper. After I had made it, I decided to add colors to the roosters and tree by making colored paper feathers, flowers, and other details. Many Wycinanki are made in only one color. They were used to decorate the walls and rafters of the houses. The earliest Wycinanki were made from sheep skins and cut with sheep sheers. The most important use of these cuttings was to cover the windows with lace-like designs, letting the light come through the holes and making the room warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

WYCINANKA: "FORSYTHIAS"

2011-07-04T20:54:00.004-04:00

Real flowers are a great inspiration for making paper cuts. I remember my mother taking flowers apart and using the petals for patterns to make her crepe paper creations. In doing Wycinanki or Polish Paper Cutting, the flowers are very stylized rather than realistic. It's like cutting a flower in slices and seeing it from the inside out. You really feel as though you are looking through the flower.

MODERN PAPER CUT: PATRIOTIC QUILT DESIGN

2011-07-04T20:44:00.000-04:00

I cut Red, White, and Blue paper into triangles to make this striking patriotic design. I have used designs like this on my Pisanki Eggs and wanted to see how they would work with paper. I am very pleased with the effect. I have done very little quilting with cloth, so I thought working with paper would be so much easier.

WYCINANKA: "RADICAL ROOSTERS"

2011-06-07T12:38:00.000-04:00

I had more fun creating these roosters. I wanted to make them sharp and wild-looking. I folded the red paper and drew half of the design with pencil on the back. I cut out all the spaces around the roosters and chicks as well as the tree and branches. As I opened the cutting, I decided what colors would emphasize the feathers and flowers and cut them out (two pieces at a time). I glued everything down with white paper glue that dries clear. This papercut now resides in Shanghai, China.

WYCINANKA: "GODDESS WITH BIRDS"

2011-06-04T20:35:00.001-04:00

I am always impressed by the magnificent costumes that are worn by the dancers that come from Poland to perform here in the USA. I once wore a Lowicz costume, when Jake and I were in the Tatra Folk Dance group. It was made of wool and was heavily embroidered, along with the apron and white blouse. I had fake braids and a wool scarf (babushka). We had to dance for a Pennsylvania Polka Show, including dancing for the commercial over and over again. It was so HOT!!!! but we had to look gorgeous for TV. We were "brought back by popular demand", as we filmed about 4 shows the very same day. This little lady is wearing the "gown of my dreams". The headdress is a bit much, but I wanted her to look like a Goddess. Aren't those birds amazing?

WYCINANKA: "BIG FLOWERS IN A TINY VASE"

2011-06-04T20:20:00.000-04:00

I love the big, gorgeous, and graceful feeling of these flowers in their tiny vase. I started with green paper, folded, and drew half the stems and leaves with pencil. After I cut them out, I glued them on the white heavy poster board. Each flower had to be folded in half, cutting out two at a time....the background color first. Then the smaller pieces were cut the same way and glued. I use white paper glue that dries clear. It's amazing to think that they cut these wycinanki in Poland using sheep shears!

WYCINANKA: "BLUE ROOSTERS IN A CIRCLE"

2011-06-04T19:58:00.004-04:00

These are my beautiful blue roosters that I cut free hand by folding the paper in half and drawing half of my design on the back white side. I used fadeless paper. I cut out all the "holes" or negative space of the design and then unfolded it to see the blue cutout. I used sharp pointed cuticle scissors...my favorite tool. Then I planned all the colors for the feathers and flowers and had to cut them out by folding symmetrically or cutting out two at a time. Overlapping the colored paper is a typical characteristic for the paper cuts from the Lowicz (Woh-veech) region of Poland.

WYCINANKA: Lowicz Paper Cut Wedding Scene

2011-06-02T11:49:00.003-04:00

This Wycinanka (Vih-chee-nahn-kah) is a wedding scene taking place in Lowicz, Poland. A paper cut of this style is made with overlapping colors of paper. You can see the bride and groom on the left, the orchestra serenading them, and the guests arriving by horse and carriage. This piece of artwork (11" X 30") was in a traveling exhibit "Out of the Ordinary: Community Tastes and Values in Contemporary Folk Art (tour dates: January 1995 - January 1998). This tour brought together a significant cross section of active New York State folk artists and their works to be shown to educate the public about various folk art that may be centuries old but still is practiced today. I place high value on keeping up the traditions of my family history, preserving them for the next generation, and educating people about the beautiful art of Poland. Jake and I, along with our entire wedding party, were dressed in traditional Polish costumes.

WYCINANKA: "Lowicz Wedding Scene" Step-by-step

2011-06-02T11:14:00.000-04:00

Using a sheet of scrap paper (12" X 32"), I did a drawing in pencil of the scene I wanted to create. This would be a wedding with everyone wearing folk costumes, along with the decorations on the horse and wagon. I wanted to tell a story with my wycinanka paper cut. I cut all the large pieces first and then proceeded to add all kinds of cut paper embellishments to bring out the beauty of the paper cut scene. I use cuticle scissors and regular paper glue.

WYCINANKA: CHRYSANTHEMUMS

2011-06-01T15:30:00.001-04:00

I had just been invited to show my artwork at Elmira City Hall and had taken everything up to the third floor where the works would be hung. That same day I received a phone call from a lady wanting to purchase one of my pieces, a Wycinanka Polish Paper Cut called "CHRYSANTHEMUMS". I informed her that all my work was in a show but hadn't been set up yet. She told me that she knew that because she works at City Hall. So I actually sold a piece of artwork even before it went on display.

WYCINANKA: "THISTLES AND DUCKS"

2011-05-28T15:20:00.000-04:00

I folded the dark green paper in half and drew half of the flowers, leaves, and ducks on the back with pencil. Then, keeping the paper folded, I cut out the symmetrical design. When I unfolded it, I felt the flowers and leaves needed some colors, so I folded and cut pieces of scrap paper and glued them onto the shapes, keeping the design identical on each side.

WYCINANKA: "CUTTING IT OUT"

2011-05-28T15:03:00.001-04:00

I am demonstrating how to cut out a Wycinanka. First, I cut out the largest shapes and arrange them on the background paper. After I glue them down, I cut out smaller pieces and glue them on the shapes to emphasize feathers, flowers, leaves, etc. I continue cutting out smaller and smaller pieces until I like the design.

PISANKA EGG DECORATING BY FELICIA

2011-04-28T15:35:00.008-04:00

The scratched eggs are called "Skrobanki" and are made by dyeing the eggs first and scratching a design to reveal the white egg shell. I dye the egg first and then very lightly draw pencil lines where I want to scratch off the dye. Then I use an sharpened nail or Exacto Knife to scratch the shell very
carefully, since the egg is so fragile. I don't want to put a hole in the shell. Sometimes when the white lines don't look clear enough on a regular pisanka, I scratch the white lines and then varnish over the egg to seal it.

The second group of pisanki are Batik art and represent butterfly designs on the egg shells and done with beeswax and dye. With this method, I draw on the white or brown egg shell, which has been blown out to make it hollow. I draw lines lightly with pencil, (don't erase mistakes...just don't wax over them). I apply the melted beeswax by heating the pisak in a candle flame, scooping up some wax and drawing on the egg shell. Each dye bath is done after the wax, light colors to dark, until the whole egg is dyed and waxed. Then the wax is removed by touching close to the candle flame and wiping the melted wax with tissue. Varnishing is the final step, to make the eggs shiny.

For anyone out there who is a Pysanky Artist, I have just discovered a new group of people who work with eggs and make the most impressive pysanky you will ever see. The group is:
PysankyUSA.com You can see the eggs made by the artists and even purchase supplies. Check out their site.

WYCINANKI DEMONSTRATION IN WISNER PARK, ELMIRA, NY

2011-04-24T17:20:00.000-04:00

Community Arts of Elmira has a tent each Thursday in the summer at Wisner Park in downtown Elmira. There are all kinds of vendors selling flowers, produce, flavored popcorn, food, plants, and information tents about different projects available to the public. Musicians from our area play on a stage at each market throughout the summer. I was asked to demonstrate the art of making pisanki. I met some wonderful people and loved the idea of informing them about my folk art.

MORE PISANKI BY FELICIA

2011-04-16T21:14:00.013-04:00

COLLAGE FROM PAPER SCRAPS

2011-03-19T20:27:00.002-04:00

I used the scraps that were left over in my Scrap Box from cutting out Wycinanki and glued them randomly all over the posterboard background. After I finished the Collage, I outlined the shapes with black marker.

Wycinanka Polish Paper Cutting and Scherenschnitte German Paper Cutting

2011-02-27T21:10:00.003-05:00

The paper cutting above is a Wycinanka, or Polish Paper Cutting. It has a stylized cut for the tree, horses, and animals. This one includes the "Goddess in the Tree". Roosters represent fertility and life. The curlicures represent water and air.

The paper cut below is a Scherenschnitte, or German Paper Cut. The figures and the tree are more realistic, similar to a silhouette. Some of the earliest "photos" were shadow silhouettes of people, animals, and nature.

SCHERENSCHNITTE (German Paper Cuts): Heart Designs

2011-02-27T20:47:00.006-05:00

The heart shape is fun to work with in paper. First, you choose a piece of paper with the color that you want and fold it in half. You then draw half of your design with pencil and cut out the negative spaces (holes) with a pair of sharp-pointed scissors. When you have a design that isn't completely symmetrical, like the boy and girl in the heart, you cut out the heart leaf design first and complete the cutting of the people separately. Otherwise, you would have two identical people face to face. When the design is unfolded, the delicate paper cut is glued carefully on the card stock background and matted..

German Paper Cutting or Scherenschnitte: MORNING GLORIES AND LILLIES

2011-02-10T11:20:00.002-05:00

This is a German Style Paper cutting called Scherenschnitte. The paper is folded in half and then the holes are cut out through both sides at the same time. This can be done with sharp-pointed scissors or an exacto knife with a self-healing mat beneath the cutting. When the cutting is unfolded, the sides will be symmetrical with the designs repeated on each side, only reversed. I placed it in a round mat and added the little symmetrical shapes to the four corners, to set off the design.

Wycinanka Modern: HEARTS IN SYMMETRY

2011-02-10T11:10:00.002-05:00

I measured and lightly drew lines with pencil from the center of the poster board, horizontally and vertically and then from each corner. Then I proceeded to cut out 4 hearts freehand with no patterns (by folding and cutting half of a heart each time). I saved the inside cutout as that was also a heart. Then I had hearts with heart holes in them and regular hearts. I did this with a multitude of different colors and paper and many different sizes of hearts. Then I began to arrange the hearts from the center outward. I glued some right-side-up and others up-side-down, every which way that was pleasing to me. From the scraps I added curlicues to give the piece pazzazz. As my poster board was not square, I added a line of hearts across the top and bottom, to balance off the piece.

PISANKA EGG DECORATING representing several countries

2011-02-07T20:09:00.017-05:00

Pisanki are made with melted beeswax that is applied to an egg shell (which has been blown out with a special egg blower). The first lines on the egg will be the color of the shell, which is then placed in the yellow dye and dried carefully. The next lines and shapes will be yellow, if you cover the yellow design with melted wax. Putting the egg shell in orange gives you a new color to work with in wax. Green may be added before the orange dye. The final color will be brown, blue, dark green, purple, or black. Finishing the process includes cleaning off the burned wax by carefully melting it in a candle flame and wiping with a tissue. A high gloss polyurethane makes the design permanent. These pisanki are very fragile and must be handled with care.

FELICIA'S BLOG BOOK

2011-01-28T14:46:00.004-05:00

I had everything, from the beginning of my blog, made into a hard-cover book. It came out just the most amazing book that I could ever think of having. I am so excited to show it to everyone.

When I went to the website: http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/ (you can see it on the left top corner of my blog), I noted that they will make your blog into a blog book for you. I chose the hard cover so that it's more permanent. I was surprised how well it was done and also how soon they sent it to me.

PISANKI AND WOODBURNED CROSSES

2011-01-24T17:32:00.008-05:00

I bought several wooden crosses at an arts and crafts store and decided to decorate them with similar designs as are made on pisanki eggs. I drew on the bare wood with pencil first and then proceeded to burn the lines into the crosses using a woodburning tool. It has different types of points that become heated to a very high temperature and actually burn the lines in the wood. I colored one of the cross designs with permanent marker and then varnished the crosses to make them permanent.

AVIARY TREE WYCINANKA

2011-01-24T14:16:00.004-05:00

I folded the blue paper in half lengthwise and drew half of the design on the white background with pencil. I then proceeded to cut out all of the negative spaces with fine point very sharp scissors, as are used for embroidery or scherenschnitte. I like cuticle scissors the best. When the design was unfolded, it revealed the completed Tree of Life with roosters and birds in the tree and on the ground. I found a piece of scrapbooking paper that had the golden squiggles on it and felt that it gave my cutting the whimsy that I was looking for and it made the blue color POP!

WYCINANKA Class in Elmira Public School

2011-01-12T16:24:00.005-05:00

I used to work for 15 years as a Visiting Artist for the Arnot Art Museum in Elmira, NY and introduced hundreds of children and adults every year, in schools, libraries, churches, organizations, clubs, restaurants, stores, and museums....teaching them the Folk Arts of Poland (Wycinanki-Polish Paper Cutting) and Pisanki (Batik Egg Decorating). I also taught Origami (Japanese Paper Folding), Chinese Paper Cutting, Calligraphy (Fancy Handwriting), Molas (Paper Cut Outs of Central America), and many other kinds of folk art....too numerous to mention.

CHINESE PAPER CUTS

2011-01-01T23:24:00.007-05:00

Chinese Paper Cutting or Jian Zhi has been practiced in China for almost 1,000 years. Paper was invented during the Han Dynasty 105 AD. Paper Cuttings started appearing 420-589 AD and became a more important art form during the Tang Dynasty 618-907 AD.

TEA BAG FOLDING: Pink Splendor

2010-12-29T17:02:00.014-05:00

Tea Bag Folding is a fascinating folk art to learn and is very rewarding when you understand the folds in creating your design. The paper with repeat designs can be found online and downloaded, to use for your creations. The 1 1/2" squares are cut apart and then folded into intricate Origami (Japanese Paper Folding) shapes. I usually fold my card stock paper in half to make the card, measure horizontally and vertically with a light pencil line, and then glue the shapes where they look the most interesting to me. Pieces of rolled clear tape can be used so that you can move your shapes around until you decide on your finished placement.

TEA BAG FOLDING: #14- #20

2010-12-23T11:37:00.005-05:00

WYCINANKA: "CHRISTMAS TREES"

2010-12-19T16:43:00.007-05:00

WYCINANKA: AND TEA BAG FOLDING CARDS

2010-12-14T17:12:00.007-05:00

Children are taught to fold a square or round piece of paper three times and then cut out holes and shapes from the edges. When the cutting is unfolded, all the cut holes are repeated around the circular shape.

These can be called "Snowflakes". I included a teabag folding of a star to glue to the center of the snowflake. Little triangular foldings were placed in the corners to add to the design.

TEA BAG FOLDING: #13

2010-12-07T10:13:00.004-05:00

I used Print Shop 22 designs to make the cards and glued the 3-D tea bag folding rosettes on the card. Many beautiful designs can be found on computer programs, especially those that are used to make greeting cards.

RECTANGLE AND TRIANGLE CHRISTMAS CARDS

2010-12-07T09:57:00.008-05:00

When I used to do paper cutting lessons with children in elementary school, I would use give them shapes like the triangle or rectangle to have them use their imagination and make them into Santa Claus or Christmas Tree designs, using cut paper. They came up with some very interesting "many faces of Santa Claus," and the Christmas trees had some very unique symmetrical objects cut out on the branches within the tree shape. The paper was always folded in half in order to teach the children symmetrical design.

TEA BAG FOLDINGS...#9, #10, #11, #12

2010-11-06T20:17:00.011-04:00

Sometimes I use fine line markers, rulers, protractors, and other shapes to make designs around the tea bag folding shapes.

Tea Bag Foldings...#7 and #8

2010-11-06T20:07:00.010-04:00

This is a folk art that developed in Europe where tea came in colorful wrappers, too pretty to throw away.
A new art form was born when these little squares of colored paper were folded in repeat designs, similar to Origami (Japanese Paper Folding), to make 3-dimensional ornaments and beautiful handmade greeting cards.

TEA BAG FOLDINGS... #3, #4, #5 and #6

2010-10-26T21:37:00.009-04:00

TEA BAG FOLDING ORNAMENTS... #1 and #2

2010-10-25T15:43:00.007-04:00

TEA BAG FOLDING #1 & #2

2010-10-25T15:36:00.008-04:00

Sculpture: "POOR SOUL"....

2010-10-03T19:02:00.004-04:00

I poured water and Plaster of Paris into a large paper milk carton and let it harden until it felt warm. Then I ripped off the paper carton and found that I had a tall rectangular piece of plaster. As I began to carve the plaster with a small carving knife, I felt the presence of my lady hiding in the block. I set her free from the plaster!

Sculpture: "TROUBLES"...

2010-10-03T18:56:00.006-04:00

Wycinanka: "Tree of Life"

2010-09-13T15:26:00.006-04:00

This is a Wycinanka which is symmetrical (same on both sides) and stylistic...typical of the one-colored "Trees of Life" made in several regions of Poland. The blue paper is folded lengthwise, half of the design is drawn on the back, all the negative space is cut out carefully with sharp scissors, and when the cutting is unfolded, it is glued onto heavy paper. This paper cut is on permanent display at Roberson Museum in Binghamton, NY in their traditional folk artist section.

Wycinanka: GODDESS IN A TREE

2010-08-29T16:47:00.003-04:00

Wycinanka: "EIGHT BIRDS AND A TREE"

2010-08-26T22:57:00.003-04:00

Wycinanka: "CLOTH APPLIQUE METHOD"

2010-08-26T22:18:00.003-04:00

I had made this same Wycinanka using paper. Then, I thought it would be fun to make a wycinanka from cloth. I used iron-on webbing and cut out the pieces. Then I ironed it onto the background white cloth.

Paper Molas: Created by students

2010-08-25T18:35:00.004-04:00

Here are some of the pieces that my students created. They actually made a mola-type design by cutting out holes and filling in colors behind them. With the positive pieces, they made an applique design by pasting the cut-out pieces and laying them on top of each other....just with paper. I had students of all ages who enjoyed every minute of the classes.

Scherenschnitte..."LACE BUTTERFLY"

2010-08-07T17:44:00.002-04:00

Wycinanka: "BLACK ROOSTER....Stop and smell the flowers!"

2010-08-02T21:06:00.004-04:00

Wycinanka: Wisner Park "MAKE AND TAKE" July 29,2010

2010-07-31T00:42:00.004-04:00

Working in Wisner Park in Elmira...teaching people to do Wycinanki Polish Paper Cutting...
one of the classes that I will be offering at Community Arts of Elmira on Lake Street in the fall.

Wycinanka: "RED ROOSTER" Polish Paper Cut by Felicia

2010-07-20T12:57:00.003-04:00

Wycinanka..."FELICIA'S GARDEN"

2010-07-20T12:49:00.005-04:00

When I started cutting this paper cut, I made some of the big flowers and glued them on the background. At this point I became very frustrated and didn't like the piece. I was going to tear it up and throw it away. You see, I am a very "symmetrical" person and this cutting was all over the place. It really bothered me! Jake told me to stop, walk away, and look at it again another day. After that, the next day I was able to continue working on it until it was finished. This Wycinanka received "BEST IN SHOW" at Da Vinci Art Alliance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The show was called "CUT IT OUT" and curated by Dr. Debbie Miller. I was very happy that I finished my wycinanka and won a fantastic prize!

Wycinanka...."FELICIA'S GARDEN" with Blue Ribbon attached.

2010-07-20T12:45:00.004-04:00

Modern Wycinanka Cut Paper Psychedelic Design...."FOOTSIE"

2010-07-15T17:22:00.005-04:00

"FOOTSIE" was not only in the POP & REPOP show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Da Vinci Art Alliance, but the show also traveled to Susquehanna Art Museum in Harrisburg, PA and High Street Design Gallery in Millville, New Jersey. Her picture was in THE INFERNO art newspaper and in the High Street Design brochure. She was also displayed on the Susquehanna Art Museum website.

WYCINANKA....."KOGUTY"

2010-07-15T12:40:00.003-04:00

I bought the frame first and then chose my colors

for the paper cutting to go with the frame.

ELMIRA & FINGER LAKES PISANKI

2010-06-27T18:05:00.002-04:00

MY PHOTO IN PERMANENT COLLECTION AT ROBERSON MUSEUM

2010-06-27T18:02:00.008-04:00

SCRATCHED EGGS....SKROBANKI

2010-06-26T21:02:00.002-04:00

Batik...."Singing Frogs"

2010-06-22T14:51:00.001-04:00

Oils....Black and White Study of Apples

2010-06-22T14:46:00.000-04:00

Hooked Rug Wycinanka Wall Hanging

2010-06-22T14:45:00.003-04:00

Pisanki on drying board

2010-06-14T18:40:00.003-04:00

Title of my show at Roberson Museum

2010-06-13T14:49:00.003-04:00

Wall of My Artwork at Cezanne

2010-06-13T14:46:00.003-04:00

BATIK....FLOWER

2010-04-25T12:48:00.004-04:00

"JOSHUA TREE"

2010-04-21T18:51:00.005-04:00

CERAMIC "SUN FACE"

2010-04-21T11:12:00.003-04:00

PISANKI by Felicia

2010-04-15T20:36:00.001-04:00

MY PISANKI IN A POLISH REED BASKET

2010-03-27T12:02:00.001-04:00

INDIAN SEED BEADS GLUED ON HOLLOW EGGS

2010-03-27T11:58:00.001-04:00

PISANKA EGG DECORATING ON A POLISH CRYSTAL PLATE

2010-03-27T11:49:00.003-04:00

PISANKA EGG DECORATING ON DRYING RACK

2010-03-26T12:58:00.001-04:00

COLORED BEANS GLUED TO HOLLOW EGGS

2010-03-26T12:46:00.003-04:00

BLACK AND WHITE STUDY OF APPLES...Oil Painting

2010-03-03T19:05:00.001-05:00

"WOMAN WITH WORLD"...Sculpture using Hardware Cloth and Paris Craft

2010-01-27T19:10:00.001-05:00

"THE DANCER"... Sculpture using Hardware Cloth and Paris Craft

2010-01-27T18:53:00.001-05:00

ANNOUNCEMENT OF MY SHOW AT CITY HALL

2010-01-16T17:09:00.002-05:00

POLISH PAPER CUT...Fragment from "Polish Nativity Scene"

2010-01-02T13:12:00.002-05:00

POLISH PAPER CUT ...Fragment from "Polish Nativity Scene"

2009-12-29T15:18:00.002-05:00

POLISH PAPER CUT..."SNOWFLAKE WITH ROOSTERS, STAR, AND PINK SNOWBALLS"

2009-12-29T14:59:00.003-05:00

POLISH PAPER CUT..."CIRCLE OF ANGELS"

2009-12-26T14:02:00.002-05:00

I cut white paper into a circle. I then folded it in half, fourths, eighths, and sixteenths. The paper was quite thick at this point. (This is similar to folding snowflakes.) I drew with pencil on the triangular section and made half of an angel. Then I stapled it together, to keep it from sliding around. I cut out all the negative spaces in and around the angel. Carefully opening up the folded circle, I saw all my angels along with little birds and Christmas tree shapes, along with the Star of Bethlehem in the middle. I hadn't planned it that way but was surprised to see the details after it was unfolded. I glued it onto red shiny paper.

Acrylics: "PEACEFUL FINGERLAKES LANDSCAPE" by Felicia

2009-12-11T17:46:00.003-05:00

Batik..."DEER, SUN, AND MOON" in Pysanka Style by Felicia

2009-12-08T20:36:00.004-05:00

Batik..."YELLOW BIRDS" in Wycinanka Style by Felicia

2009-12-08T20:34:00.004-05:00