PAPEL PICADO: THE ART OF MEXICAN CUT PAPER
 
Papel Picado
In Mexico, papel picado (perforated paper), refers to the traditional art of decorative cut paper banners. Papel picado are usually cut with sharp fierritos (small chisels) from as many as fifty layers of colored tissue paper at a time. Designs may incorporate lattice-work, images of human and animal figures, flowers, and lettering.
 
Many papel picado are made especially for the Mexican festival of the Days of the Dead and include skeletal figures engaged in the everyday activities of the living. Other popular designs include the Virgin of Guadalupe and Christmas nativity scenes. Individual papel picado banners are strung together to create festive, colorful decorations for celebrations.
 
To make papel picado, a paper patron (pattern) is first drawn as a guide. The pattern is laid on top of fifty layers of tissue paper that are placed on top of a lead sheet. The pattern is cut out using a hammer and different sizes of chisels. Though tissue paper is still preferred by the villagers, artisans also use metallic papers and plastic for other markets.
 
Papel Picado in the Village of San Salvador Huixcolotla, Puebla, Mexico
San Salvador Huixcolotla, Puebla, is the village most noted in Mexico for the art of paper- cutting both for local festivals and marketing in Mexico City and abroad. Paper cutting is a family tradition and spirits of rivalry between two families of artisans (the Vivancos and the Rojas) in the area maintain competition and pride in the folk craft.
 
Making Simple Papel Picado
 
Fold a rectangular piece of paper in half. In pencil, sketch one half of a design on one of the folded halves. Rulers may be used to divide the paper into grids or sections. Objects or designs must touch and connect to other areas of the paper as they form the positive shapes on the paper. Negative areas to be cut away may be shaded in pencil to aid in cutting.
 
 
Use scissors or a craft knife to carefully cut away negative areas of the design (cut over cardboard if using craft knives). Open slowly, flatten, and glue to a background paper. To create more complex designs, fold the paper more than once. Try using different kinds of paper: butcher paper, fadeless colored paper, origami paper, and colored tissue paper.
 
 
Special thanks to the North Texas Institute for Educators on the Visual Arts
Fall 1996 Vol.7,No.3