I call my multilayer pieces "papercut panels" or just "panels." 

 

My favorite description of what I do is: "I cut holes in sheets of paper and then glue them together." 

 

I construct images by precisely assembling sheets of paper that each have a unique series of laser cut holes. The image emerges as each layer is added, all without the use of ink. Thicker paper produces a more 3-dimensional effect that casts subtle shadows and cannot be achieved with print media. For each panel, I gather reference images and then create my own drawing. I use the drawing to determine the level of complexity and how many layers the panel will have. Once the drawing is finished I send it to the laser cutter where each layer is cut one at a time. After all the sheets are cut I assemble them very carefully with permanent adhesive. 

 

Laser cut paper is a great fit for both my skill set and personal aesthetic preferences. I started using CAD programs in high school and still use them today as a landscape architect and urban planner/designer. Making the CAD drawing is the most time intensive step in creating each papercut panel, some panels take more than 40 hours to draw. The combined precision of CAD software and a laser cutter lets me create designs that are accurate down to 0.01mm. Precision is also part of my personal aesthetic. I enjoy the order and predictability that a precise drawing evokes. As a colorblind person, I appreciate simple color palettes and high contrast colors. My panels are designed to portray the physical form of my subjects without relying much on colors or materials. The resulting images are "simple" in the sense that they allow the viewer to appreciate the pure forms. I enjoy creating architectural pieces because of their symmetry and repetition. I frequently see something interesting and ask myself "how many layers would it take to make that?" So far, my thickest panel is made from 18 layers.