Paul Schoettinger

All you need to know is that pound for pound, inch for inch, gram for gram and millimeter for millimeter, these are the most expensive pieces on this site. No collection is complete without one. ***


I work in a variety of media and motifs, just one of which is shown here, namely, German Origami. ***


Traditional Japanese origami was created by Buddhist monks in the 6th century. After 1500 years I figured it was time for an update. So I invented German Origami, which is similar to Japanese origami because it involves paper and small animals. ***


But I roughly scrunch the paper instead of meticulously folding it. This gives a more lifelike or at least a more three-dimensional feel. I call it German Origami because I invented it and I can call it anything I want. Plus I’m of German ancestry. ***


I start with a piece of rectangular paper I've either painted, taken from a magazine or acquired from some other source. I carefully crumple it into the desired shape. Like thumbprints and snowflakes, no two pieces of German Origami are alike. They are uniquely different in shape, color and pattern.

I'm largely self-taught as an artist except for a few high school and undergrad classes. No one taught me how to do German Origami. I invented it myself. And how many people can say they invented an art form?