Bored Panda reached out to Sarah Capon to learn more about her. We wanted to find out how she started as an artist and what made her choose layered paper as her medium.
"I’ve been drawing ever since I was a kid, experimenting with different mediums and techniques as I grew. During the 2020 lockdown, I was working as a freelance visual development artist and animator, primarily creating digital art. When the world came to a standstill, I lost a project opportunity and suddenly had a lot of free time. On a whim, I decided to try paper art. Honestly, I can’t recall exactly what inspired me to start—it just happened! I shared my first attempts online, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. The encouragement from my online community kept me motivated to explore, learn, and refine this new medium. It’s been a rewarding journey that has brought me to where I am today."
Sarah kindly took the time to walk us through her creative process: "My process begins with thumbnail sketches to explore ideas and compositions. Sometimes I sketch in a sketchbook; other times, I use Procreate on my iPad. I usually create several thumbnails before settling on the one that feels just right."
"Once I’ve chosen a thumbnail, I refine it in Procreate, focusing on clean linework and adding colors to visualize how the final piece will look. At this stage, my digital illustration closely resembles how I envision the paper version, down to the pencil details."
"Next, I prepare the design for the paper. This involves carefully analyzing the shapes, layers, and how they’ll fit together. Once I’ve mapped everything out, I start cutting and assembling the piece."
The artist explained that the time required varies depending on the complexity of the project. "Some pieces take just a day or two, while others—especially those with intricate details—can take much longer."
Creative work comes with its own set of challenges. Sarah told us that paper can be forgiving—until it’s glued. "The biggest challenge comes when I make a mistake or decide I don’t like an element after it’s been adhered to. At that point, my options are limited: I either accept the imperfection or remake the entire piece to fix it. It’s a lesson in both precision and patience."
"I create art with the goal of spreading joy. I hope people feel uplifted when they see my work, whether it’s the vibrant colors, the thoughtful design, or the tactile depth and texture of the piece. Even if they’re looking at a print of the original, I want them to sense the care and positivity that went into creating it."
