Believe it or not: these animals are made entirely out of paper

Calvin Nicholls takes cutting and pasting to a new level with sculptures made from hundreds of pieces of paper.

»Subscribe to CBC Arts to watch more videos: http://bit.ly/CBCArtsSubscribe

When you think of using paper as an art medium, you might think first of origami or kids' crafts. But when Calvin Nicholls uses paper, it turns into something else altogether.

Nicholls's pieces featuring animals are all made of tiny hand-cut pieces of paper, layered and glued in a painstaking and intricate act. The result? Incredibly accurate depictions of wildlife with a magical effect.

Nicholls has been a lover of nature ever since he can remember. And that love is evident in his artwork. He explains: "My inclination is to dig deeper and appreciate differences like: how are the primary features different on the vulture from the robin? That's what seems to add to the effect, or to the moment or the authenticity of these gorgeous creatures."

Paper is a tricky material to work with, which means Nicholls's larger pieces can take up to four months to create. But paper also offers a quality and depth that's distinct from painting, which is why he's chosen it as his medium. "When people look at my artwork, they love to be surprised. 'What is that material? Is that bone? Is that clay?' At a distance it's not clear." In this video, get inside Nicholls's appreciation for detail as you watch the process unfold.

Find us at: http://cbc.ca/arts
CBC Arts on Facebook:   / cbcarts  
CBC Arts on Twitter:   / cbcarts  
CBC Arts on Instagram:   / cbcarts  

About: Welcome to CBC Arts, your home for the most surprising, relevant and provocative stories featuring artists from diverse communities across Canada. Our job is to fill your feed with the disruptors and innovators changing how we see the country through movement, images and sound — and to inspire you to join in too.