One of the things I fondly remember about winter when I was small, especially in the run up to Christmas, was staying inside and doing lovely crafty things with coloured and textured paper. I loved making little objects and playing with them or cutting out pretty shapes and sticking them together as presents for family members. The more real I could make a little dolly rucksack look, the better.

I’m sure Swedish graphic designer and illustrator Fideli Sundqvist did the same when she was little but over the years has taken the ‘cutting and sticking’ to a new level and become a master in her art. She goes by the seriously cool and unique name of Agnes Cecilia Fideli Siri Charlotte Sundqvist and has recently published a book called ‘I Love Paper’ where she demonstrates her whimsical technique, starting with the basics and showing how her art can be integrated in other imagery. A great example of which is the cute series of shots for a children’s fashion brand where they play with her objects from pencils and paint to pistols – all made out of her favourite medium: paper.

You’ve probably gathered by now that I like to champion a bit of craftiness to counterbalance all the super smooth, sleek, photoshopped, glossy and totally unreal imagery that surrounds us and to me Fideli’s work is a breath of fresh air.

I love the fact that her unique style of photographed paper silhouettes and actual objects makes you stop in your tracks and question – even just for a split second – what’s real and what isn’t. I guess the kid in me is reminded of my own ‘cutting and sticking’ days.

Enjoy and I hope you’re inspired!

More information | Fideli Sundqvist
‘I Love Paper’ is available through Fideli’s website