Yulia Brodskaya Draws And Paints With ‘Paper’

There are more ways than one to create 3D paper artworks and one of them is quilling. It involves the use of carefully cut and bent colored strips of paper, placed in the correct order, to create lush and vibrant 3D paper artworks. Who better than Yulia Brodskaya to know this, since she’s been making waves with her unique quilling creations!

This artist, born in Moscow, Russia, developed her own technique of quilling, which is different from traditional quilling. In traditional quilling, the paper strips fill the entire surface, whereas in her works she intersperses quilling texture with flat colored surfaces. The resulting play of dramatic shapes and shadows is what gives her 3D creations a unique touch. She has aptly named her technique ‘painting with paper’.

Yulia was always passionate about art. When she moved from Moscow to the UK, she continued her education in art at the University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK, where she graduated with a Masters in Graphics Communication. After a freelancing stint, she landed a full-time job as a graphic designer and illustrator.

However, her heart was always in paper art. So, besides her job, she devoted time to it. It was during this time that she discovered an innovative method of using paper strips to create unique illustrations. She discloses her fascination for a paper on her website, thus, “Paper always held a special fascination for me. I tried many different methods and techniques of working with it until I found the way that was turned out to be ‘the one’ for me. Now, I draw with paper instead of on it.” She quit her job and turned her whole focus in pursuing her passion.

Yulia’s beautiful and unique creations were well received by the viewers and critics alike. She not only gained an international reputation for her innovative paper illustrations but was also hailed as the ‘breakthrough star’ by ‘Creative Review’. She was invited to design an official poster for the Wimbledon Championships in 2015 and created a Forever stamp design for the US Postal Service in 2016.

Today, she has an impressive list of clients that include big brands, such as Starbucks, Cadbury, Bentley, Hennessy, and many more. Some leading magazines and publications, such as The Guardian, The New York Times Magazine, Washington Post, and many others are also among her clients.

Yulia has also written several books on papercraft, lettering, and quilling. She figures on many websites and talk shows and has a following of over 66,000 fans on Instagram.