Meet Erin Newman | Paper Quilling Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erin Newman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erin, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When I first started paper quilling, it wasn’t so much about a business, but a way to keep me busy post-career and into retirement. My initial approach was to learn a unique creative art that was also portable, as I wanted to take it with me. We had purchased an RV and ready to take on the US with lots of miles ahead of us. As the passenger, I knew I needed something to keep my hands busy throughout those miles. Paper Quilling was the creative art that jumped out at me, and took me by surprise. I hadn’t known much about this “old world art”, and I can’t recall exactly why, but I bought the tool, some strips of paper, glue and I started rolling. The rest is history. Again, it wasn’t about a business, it was just a way for me to be creative on the road.

What’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
When we moved to the community, we now live, I quickly joined the Fine Arts Club. By this time, I had sold a few pieces of my quilling art in New Mexico, where we lived before. A member of the Board, tried to make his point that he didn’t think paper quilling was a “fine art” and I shouldn’t be in the club unless I did the more typical fine arts such as oils, pastels, watercolor, drawing, etc. I was a bit taken back that the “fine arts” would be so uninviting to new forms of art. Others in the room, were quick to disagree with the member, explaining their reasons of why paper quilling should be considered a fine art. My work was accepted in to the Fine Arts club, and I am now the President of the club, where we welcome many forms of art.

What habits have helped you succeed? This one for me is simple. I’m addicted to paper. My little studio (my den in the house) pretty much dedicated to me and paper. I own thousands of paper strips in all sizes and colors. When I asked my husband, what he thought about this question, his answer was, “you have constantly got to be doing something. You don’t do “downtime” where your hands aren’t busy creating something. It’s in your blood and nature.”

What are you inspired by? While quilling is popular in smaller circles than other art forms, there are several paper artists out there that I give high praise to. These artists have inspired me, kept me dreaming of paper, challenged me to not give up and work hard to continue the creativity that I started. Those artists, in no certain order are Erin Perkins Curet (LittleCircles.co), Deb Booth (Different Light Studio), Yulia Brodskaya, Stallman, plus others. Higher praise goes out to the beginners who take my workshops and months later, show me what they’ve created while giving all credit to me for getting them started. It’s fun to see the happy smiles on their faces.

As a side note – paper quilling is an extremely intense and time consuming form of art. I typically say that an 8×10 takes generally 30+ hours to complete, and if the piece has dimension, then the hours go up considerably. I’ve made larger pieces (12×24 and 24×48) where the hours are into the several hundreds/thousands. I always enjoy finishing these large pieces because of the time I spent to make them. It’s nice when they are “done”…….only to start on a new project.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Paper Quilling is an old world art form. The origin can be traced back to Renaissance Europe when the nuns and monks would scroll and roll paper to decorate their religious items. Most of the paper used then was strips of paper from books, using their gilded edges.

I am not a trained artist. I never attended any art classes while in school, nor ventured into the art world during my 35+ years years as a federal employee. I had no desire to paint or draw, so for me finding a way to express myself creatively was a challenge. My first venture into the art world at retirement was to make very fanciful and creative sequined and beaded ornaments. These ornaments were very time consuming and the hazards of the art came to light very quickly. Straight pins, small beads, sequins, etc. found their way into the bottoms of feet and I knew I had to find another outlet. That’s where paper quilling started. I wanted to continue my venture into a “unique” form of art. I wanted to do something different, that no one else (or at least fewer) were doing. I did a lot of explaining (still do) to many who have never heard of the art. It’s part of the fun of having a unique creation, people ask a lot of questions and are consistently curious.

I’m most proud of the fact that my art form is unique, that not many have heard of it, and really want to hear me talk about it. I’m also proud that I have been able to share my love of this paper art by teaching it to others. My workshop classes are hugely successful here in the Tucson area, and I have several repeat students who are loving this form of art as much (well maybe not, I’m pretty much addicted) as I.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
While we don’t live in Tucson proper, we visit often. Some of the places we love to visit is Tohono Chul, Sonoran Desert Museum, Catalina and Oracle State Parks, AZ wineries, Boyce Thompson Arboretum.

We’re foodies of all kinds, Flemings, The Keg, Vivace, Bottega Michelangelo, and of course Culver’s.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Having moved to the Tucson area in 2019 and bringing my paper art with me, I was very quickly introduced to the Southern Arizona Arts Guild/Gallery (SAAG) at La Encantada. This gallery in the heart of the Catalina foothills, in a beautiful, outdoor mall was a Godsend for me and my art work. The gallery houses 97+ of the best artists in the southern AZ proximity. Each artist juried into the gallery is able to portray and sell their work to the best clientele who walk into our store. Without the gallery, I would still be doing weekend art shows, which to be honest, never quite worked for me and my art. (Too much sun and wind, does not fare well for paper….) I enjoy this gallery and guild so much, that I now serve as Vice-President of the SAAG Guild. While volunteer work always seems to get in the way of an artist being able to “create” art, being on the Executive Board is a valuable experience and a position I am proud to hold. So my pom poms are shaking for SAAG!

Instagram: erin_quills_paper

Facebook: Paper Quilling by Erin

Other: paperquillingbyerin@gmail.com

Image Credits
Photos of me: Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA)