I always find it refreshing to spotlight an artist who truly works by hand, and that is precisely what today's featured maker does. From the moment I first saw Marina Esterlein's lighthearted papercut figures, I knew you would be enchanted by her work. She is a true visual storyteller whose joyful Instagram reels are where the magic comes alive.
Marina was kind enough to answer my questions about her creative background and hands-on process. I'm delighted to let her share her journey in her own words:
From Engineering to Paper Play
"Surprisingly, my background is quite technical. I grew up in Russia, in a family where practical professions were highly valued, so I studied engineering and later worked in IT. About fourteen years ago, I moved to Germany, where I’ve been living ever since."
"Creativity, however, has always been part of my life. For a long time, I simply never thought of it as something I could take seriously. I started experimenting with paper about four years ago, but actually stopped for a while because I didn’t see where it could lead."
"It took some time to allow myself to treat creativity as more than a hobby. Today, paper art is my main focus, and I have more ideas and plans for it than I could possibly fit into a day."
Building Tiny Worlds in Motion
"I create small, layered paper installations. I build them on my table, photograph and film them, and often move little elements by hand - clouds, birds, cable cars or whatever happens to live in that particular world."
"I especially enjoy bringing these scenes to life through short videos, where movement becomes part of the storytelling."
"Over time, all these little scenes have grown into my own paper stories featuring forests, seas, mountains, and cities. Most of my ideas come from the real world around me. Some of my installations also end up framed as finished pieces."
"I take lots of photos and videos of things that catch my attention and later turn them into paper installations. From there, I let my imagination and inner child take over, playing with what I see and turning it into my own little world."
The Beauty of Simple Tools
"I cut everything by hand, and that is a big part of the pleasure for me. I’ve always loved making things with my hands. My grandmother taught me to sew, knit, crochet, and embroider when I was a child, so working with my hands has been part of my life for a very long time."
"My tools are very simple. I use ordinary scissors that we already had at home, and so far I haven’t had any problems with my hands despite all the cutting."
"For paper, I mostly use textured cardstock from the Dutch brand Vaessen Creative, and I’m very happy with it. I love the texture and range of colours. I prefer using double-sided tape rather than glue. It’s clean, precise, and ensures the paper stays completely flat."
Looking Forward: Stories & Future Dreams
"Being longlisted for the World Illustration Awards this year was a wonderful encouragement and a very special milestone for me."
"I have plenty of exciting plans for what comes next: more animated paper stories, new DIY kits, an online workshop and, hopefully, one day a book! I’d also love to collaborate with brands and see where these paper worlds can take me. There is still so much I want to try, and that’s probably what excites me most."
"Thank you for everything you do with All Things Paper and for giving paper artists a place to be seen and discovered. It really means a lot!"
Thank you, Marina, for sharing your playful work and reminding us to celebrate childlike wonder in the everyday world.
To explore more of her charming animations, visit the Marina Esterlein website and follow along with her latest reels on Instagram and Facebook.
