FELICIA'S FABULOUS FOLKART

Award-winning Polish-American folk artist from Elmira, NY, specializing in Wycinanki Polish Paper Cutting and Pisanki Polish Egg Decorating.. Featured Folk Artist on WSKG-TV, selected for "Out of the Ordinary: ..a traveling 3-year show, several one-woman-shows, won Best in Show 4 times, taught hundreds of people folk arts for 35 years, appeared on local television shows, TV newscasts, and newspaper. NYS presidential Easter egg representative 2008. Also working in Fine Arts.

Saturday, August 4, 2018

WYCINANKA WEDDING SCENE fragment by Felicia

I created this paper cut for a lady in Kuala Lumpur, Malasia. She wanted it for her brother's wedding, as he was marrying a Polish girl. It was part of a paper cut that featured the entire wedding scene.

Modern WYCINANKA by Felicia

Paper Cutting... "TRACTOR IN A CORNFIELD"

WYCINANKA by Felicia

Polish Paper Cut..."FLOWERS IN A BLUE VASE"

Paper Cut made for WSKG Public Television. "FOLK ARTISTS OF THE SOUTHERN TIER"

This whole crew of people came from WSKG TV and filmed me as I made a paper cutting. My work was in a 3 year show which traveled around New York State major museums. I was one of six artists whose art was shown. We even went to Albany, NY for a show; all of us doing demonstrations and talking about our art.

WYCINANKA YARN ON BURLAP by Felicia

Hooked Rug Wycinanka Wall Hanging

WYCINANKA....."KOGUTY"

I bought the frame first and then chose my colors

for the paper cutting to go with the frame.

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

Wycinanka..."FELICIA'S GARDEN"

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: "RED ROOSTER" Polish Paper Cut by Felicia

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

WYCINANKA ROOSTERS by Felicia

Wycinanka: "EIGHT ROOSTERS IN A TREE"

Wycinanka: GODDESS IN A TREE


This is a very simple wycinanka that can be done with children in a classroom.

Wycinanka: "Tree of Life"

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 Polish Paper Cutting and Scherenschnitte German Paper Cutting

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.

AVIARY TREE WYCINANKA

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: "THISTLES AND DUCKS"

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: "BLUE ROOSTERS IN A CIRCLE"

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: "BIG FLOWERS IN A TINY VASE"

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: "GODDESS WITH BIRDS"

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: "RADICAL ROOSTERS"

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: "SIX ROOSTERS IN A TREE"

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: Birds, Horses, and Tree of Life

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: "Lowicz Dancer"

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: Partridges, Deer, and Sheep in Tree of Life

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: Little Girl in Tree of Life

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.

POLISH PAPER CUTTING named after my Mom

WYCINANKA: Aniela's Garden #2

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 named after my Mom

WYCINANKA: Aniela's Garden #1

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 OF ROOSTERS by Felicia

WYCINANKA: "Gorgeous Roosters Conversing Under a Flower"

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.

POLISH PAPER CUTTING by Felicia

WYCINANKA: Roosters, Flowers, & Feathers

WYCINANKA by Felicia

POLISH PAPER CUT: "GNIEZNO" (NEST) WITH EAGLE

Modern Paper Cutting

WYCINANKA: Modern "Tree in Art"

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 IN PROGRESS by Felicia

Wycinanka Polish Paper Cut

I am starting a new Wycinanka and hope that you will like it as much as I do. I have been having trouble with my hand and haven't been able to finish this paper cut. I will try to get to it as soon as I can and then post it here.

WYCINANKA by Felicia

WYCINANKA: "BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS"

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.

WYCINANKI by Felicia

Polish, Chinese, German Papercuttings, and Reverse Glass Painting

I created these pieces to donate to a benefit for my brother Joe's medical bills. He had tongue cancer and died on his birthday, February 16, 2018.

WYCINANKA by Felicia

New Wycinanka Polish Paper Cut

WYCINANKI by Felicia

POLISH PAPER CUT..."CIRCLE OF ANGELS"

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.