Creative Integration of Watercolor and Papercutting for Visual Storytelling: Orbitaria

Abstract

This creative-based research explores the potential of integrating watercolor techniques and papercutting art for contemporary visual storytelling through the case study Orbitaria. The objective of the study is to investigate how the combination of these two techniques can generate visual depth, atmospheric qualities, and narrative expression in visual art. The research is conducted using a creative-based research methodology, comprising the study of material properties, experimental integration of techniques, the creation of an original artwork, and analysis through visual analysis, aesthetic evaluation, and visual narrative approaches. The findings reveal that watercolor possesses a strong capacity to convey subtle and unstable emotional states through its transparency, fluidity, and layered color application, while papercutting art provides structural elements of visual space, depth, and viewing rhythm through cutting, arrangement, and layered composition. When integrated, these two techniques enable materials to function as a material-based narrative, effectively communicating emotions, memories, and inner mental states. The artwork Orbitaria demonstrates that the layering of cut paper in combination with watercolor textures creates a viewing experience akin to looking through layers of thought and memory, while also opening space for viewers to actively and subjectively interpret the narrative.