Impact

GIANT GORGEOUS PAPER FLOWERS ARE SO SURREAL

by Sarah Deragon. “Heads,” by Tiffanie Turner. Courtesy of PapelSF.

TIFFANIE TURNER -- GIANT PAPER FLOWERS

Lifelike for giants, perhaps -- but for us, these enormous paper flowers, by artist Tiffanie Turner, are surreal.

Close up detail of paper strawflower by Tiffanie Turner.

The San Francisco artist creates massive flowers using fine European crepe paper, which mimics the texture of real petals and leaves.

Giant paper strawflower by Tiffanie Turner.

Turner, who is also a licensed architect, gets the realistic detail right by studying the structure of each flower species, examining how each petal and leaf, stamen and pistil, fits together to form the full blossom.

Giant pink paper chrysanthemum flower by Tiffanie Turner.

“My work in paper stems from my background as an architect,” Turner explains, “particularly my interest in how things are made and the use of repetitive elements.” She has also had a lifelong obsession with flowers and botanical drawings.

Giant pale apricot paper peony flower by Tiffanie Turner.

Turner individually cuts thousands of pieces of paper for each of her large scale flowers. Each typically spans 5 feet in diameter. A single handmade work can take up to 400 hours to complete.

Enormous dark pink paper dahlia flower by Tiffanie Turner.

The works are inspired by artists such as Tom Friedman and Lee Bontecou, as well as 16th and 17th century Dutch Master painters.

Detail of giant white paper flower by Tiffanie Turner.

Despite their huge size, Turner’s paper flowers are delicate. Despite their paper ingredients, many look look perfectly fresh, while some are intentionally meant to look somewhat wilted and faded. ·

Massive pink paper flower looks surreal in front of a woman’s head. Flower sculpture by Tiffanie Turner.

Turner collaborated with photographer Sarah Deragon to create a series of images entitled “Heads,” in which models hold the big paper blossoms up in front of their heads, creating the surreal illusion of flower heads. See more here.

Artist Tiffanie Turner making a pink Paper Flower

Check out Turner’s book, The Fine Art of Paper Flower: A Guide to Making Beautiful and Lifelike Botanicals. It offers inspiration and guidance on how to create artful paper flowers for arrangements, art, décor, wearables, and more.

Making Paper Flowers on TIffanie Turner’s worktable.

You can follow step-by-step instructions for over 30 of Turner’s paper masterpieces, from bougainvillea to English roses to zinnias.

Courtesy of PapelSF. Giant Pink Paper Flowers, by Tiffanie Turner.

Turner’s paper flowers have been exhibited at galleries and museums around the world. They have been featured in Vogue, American Craft, and O Magazine.

Want even more personal instruction? Check out Turner’s excellent paper flower workshops.

Giant blue paper hydrangea worn as a hat by Tiffanie Turner.

Read more about Beautiful Paper in Beautiful Lace in Papercut Artworks.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Mind/Body, Soul/Impact, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Arts/Design, and Place/Time, Daily Fix posts.

Gorgeous paper flowers in vase by Tiffanie Turner.

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Huge white paper flower by Tiffanie Turner.