The Wonder of Paper Art Contemporary Artist’s Creations and Demo Draws Crowds by Elizabeth Weiss

Museums warn visitors to keep their distance from the pieces on display. “Do not touch” is the common mantra. Cyndi Mylynne prefers a more hands-on approach to her art.

People who have bought her one-of-a-kind, contemporary, paper art creations will come back to her booth months or years later and say, “Every time I walk by the piece in my house, I still touch it.” The ultimate compliment—to know your work is appreciated over and over again. As Mylynne says, “There are no glass barriers on my pieces. That’s a draw and it allows my customers to form a connection with the work.”

A self-taught artist, Mylynne began her art career in wood etchings. Somewhere along the way she decided to dabble in paper and started to create her own collages. It soon got to the point where the art store’s supplies weren’t enough to keep her satisfied. “I wanted to make paper in my own textures and colors,” says Mylynne. This desire led to what is now her successful art career and, she shares her craft with a crowd-dazzling papermaking demonstration.

It’s hard to miss the area where Mylynne demos her technique—it’ll be the large group of kids and adults with their mouths and eyes open wide. And nearby will be Mylynne’s booth, sometimes manned by her husband and collaborator Jeff, decorated with her creations. While her demonstration is certainly something to see, the booth showcasing her art is not to be missed either. “I try to make a well-rounded exhibit,” she says. For Mylynne, this means having a little bit of everything available.

Whether you’re appreciating her Abstract series, 3000 AD line, or Fossil series, there are unique elements that define each style of work. Some incorporate computer components, others have borders, still others are made from only one sheet of paper while some are comprised of multiple layers. “Someday,” says Mylynne, “researchers will find elements of our past, so what I’m creating are like future fossils.”

The work itself evolves from two parts—design theory and color theory. “Your eye has to flow with each art piece and if a piece is successful it keeps your eye coming back into it,” Mylynne explains. “As long as I have a good design it’ll always work.” Then it’s on to the next step—painting. “Color is hard,” the artist admits. “I have to place the proper colors next to each other for them to work and be alive.”

There is most certainly life in each of Mylynne’s creations. And one of her favorite things to do is listen to her admirers and customers guess what the elements are in each piece. “Some see views of cities, abstract dancers, animals, wings, and angels,” Mylynne says. “What each individual has in their life will influence what they see in my work.”