Paula Arwen Friedlander is a native of Brooklyn, NY, now living upstate. She is a graduate of Parsons School of Design, with years of experience in Freelance Illustration, Graphic and Textile Design.
Her unique illustration style is created with hand cut paper silhouettes, collage, ink, and digital art. Silhouette art has a long history in many cultures. From silhouette portraits popular in the 1700's to traditional cut paper art in China and Poland, it is a beautiful art form using the contrast of dark and light, shadows and illumination.
Paula is fascinated with the opposition of darkness and light. She is inspired by her surroundings, from the urban world of Brooklyn to the natural beauty of the Catskills. Her imagination is fed by dreams and tales of myth and legend. The subjects of her work range from serene fantasy to morbid horror.
As well as being an illustrator, she applies her talents to many other things. She creates Custom OOAK Fashion Dolls and My Little Ponies, transforming outcast and forgotten dolls into new life forms. Re-painted, re-haired and costumed, each doll is one of a kind. She is also a novice writer of poetry and short fiction.
Some of the artists and illustrators she admires include Aubrey Beardsley, MC Escher, Albrecht Durer, Frank Frazetta, Brom, Luis Royo, Lotte Reiniger, Susan Sedon Boulet, Paul Goble, David Wisniewski, and Leo and Diane Dillon.
See more of her work at www.arwendesigns.net. E-mail her at arwen@arwendesigns.net.
Tour Paula's work, piece by piece.
View thumbnails of Paula's work.