WorkArt & Culture

Paper Birds: Delicate feathered friends crafted entirely from coloured paper

When it comes to paying ridiculous attention to detail, Columbian artist and designer Diana Beltran Herrera is a master. Working primarily with paper, she crafts the most intricate birds, with every single feather, beak and minor detail expertly included in her delicate 3D sculptures.

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Person in profile holding a delicate paper bird sculpture with layered feathers against a pale blue background

A graduate in Industrial Design from the Jorge Tadeo Lozano University in 2010, she has a particular fascination with nature and loves to explore the patterns, colours and complex systems that are so often found in the natural world.

To craft her exquisite paper birds, she builds up layers to form a base structure, and then adds and glues delicate paper feathers that are fashioned to mimic the real composition of our feathered friends. After she's added things like legs by using wire and floral tape, she paints each and every feather on her birds to make them as realistic and colourful as possible. Each sculpture can take up to two weeks to complete, depending on their size and complexity.

To discover more visit www.dianabeltranherrera.com.

Intricately crafted paper bird with grey and white plumage, bright blue and orange wing feathers, and thin wire legs against a neutral background
Hand holding a delicate paper hummingbird with purple head, green back and blue tail feathers against a pale blue background
Intricately crafted blue jay made entirely from layered and painted coloured paper, with detailed feathers and realistic colouring against a pale blue background
Diana Beltran Herrera's paper sculpture of a starling in flight, crafted from layered and painted coloured paper with detailed feathering and a red wire leg
Intricately layered paper hummingbird with green wings, magenta breast and black beak, crafted by Diana Beltran Herrera
Hand holding a detailed paper sculpture of a kingfisher with turquoise head markings, orange breast and grey-black wings in mid-flight
Blue and white checkered paper bird with outstretched wings, pointed beak and detailed feathers against a light blue background
A delicate paper bird sculpture with layered yellow and orange feathers, black beak and wire legs against a white background
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