Embedded Files
The word Notan is a Japanese term for the balance and relationship between light and dark. You can accomplish a finished piece with minimal materials! Cutting and flipping the paper while addressing positive and negative space, contrast, and symmetry!
You can make these using organic and geometric shapes, or they can have a theme such as wildlife, cultural imagery, and literary concepts. Find YOUR comfort level and infuse your style into your composition.
What style fits YOU?
What style fits YOU?
Geometric Design
Geometric Design
Crisp, clean, simple shapes
Organic Design
Organic Design
Curving, fluid lines and shapes
Abstract Objective
Abstract Objective
Use the inspiration of actual objects but don't concern yourself with the details of the exact object.
Realistic Representational
Realistic Representational
Real objects, identifiable silhouettes
These are the materials you will need:
These are the materials you will need:
Paper
Paper
You will need at least one piece of paper to sketch ideas on.
And, at least 2 square pieces of paper for the project - one paper you will be cutting (smaller square) and one paper you will be the background you are gluing your cut paper design onto. The most obvious choice based on the inspiration samples above might lead you to use Black paper on White paper. Feel free to think outside of the box here. As long as there is CONTRAST (the background and the cut paper look different from each other) you can work with what you have available.
Keep in mind: The paper you use as the background might want to be a little thicker than your average printer paper - this will give the composition a strong base to accept the glued on shapes.
Junk Mail/Magazine Page
on White Background
Black Paper
on Tissue Paper Collaged onto solid colored paper
Black Paper
on Watercolor Wash
What else could you use?
What else could you use?
White printer paper on brown paper bag?
Black paper on scrapbooking paper?
Colored paper on Black or White construction paper?
Newspaper on Black paper?
Lined notebook paper on Black paper?
Scissors &/Or X-acto
Scissors &/Or X-acto
Just a regular pair of scissors should be just fine if that's all you have access to. Your design and your tool availability should align... if all you have is scissors, then your design should not have inside "holes" you need to remove, the entire cutting should be accessible from the outside edge of the paper.
HINT: If you are allowed to use an X-acto please make sure you have a cut safe surface, like an old piece of cardboard or scrap of wood.
Glue
Glue
For me, glue sticks are best! If one of the papers you are using is a little thin, standard white school glue can pose some problems by wrinkling thin paper when applied, this is one reason I personally like glue sticks better. If white glue is all you have, no problem - just apply a thin layer.
Look for a permanent not removable type glue.
HINT: Apply glue to the OBJECT being glued down NOT the surface it's being glued to! This will keep your composition neat.
Pencil
Pencil
Use a pencil for sketching potential ideas and practicing.
You will need a pencil that will show up on the paper you are choosing to cut. White colored pencils work great on black paper.
Lets Get Started:
Lets Get Started:
Draw a design
Draw a design
On each of the 4 sides of the square you will be cutting on - draw a line that starts on one edge, moves around and then ends on the same edge you started on. You can have as many shapes as you would like as long as it's reasonable to cut. You can also cut shapes out of the shapes you make (see video below for a visual of this)
You can practice your shapes by drawing on scratch paper first.
Elements of Design
Elements of Design
Challenge yourself and your design skills. You might consider a simple design at first, but what else can you do to elevate your design?
Even in the sample at the top of the page with hearts.... cutting another heart shape INSIDE the first heart half could have made the design even more interesting.
Every piece that is cut out is FLIPPED in the opposite direction from where it was cut. Shapes cut out of shapes flip BACK towards the original square!
Craftsmanship is key!
Craftsmanship is key!
We shouldn't see your pencil marks on the finished shapes
Smooth, continuous cutting is a must. NO SNIPPING!
Align your cut pieces accurately - mirrored from their negative space.
Don't let your glue show
Check out this example of infusing Zentangle into the Notan design!
What creative direction can you take this lesson?
Variations - Printable Lessons
Variations - Printable Lessons
notan handout 1.pdfNOTAN MASKS.docnatural-notan-natural-notan.pdfPage updated
Report abuse