Jen Hudson on Turning Chronic Illness into Cut-Paper Art
Artist Jen Hudson, who suffers from POTS syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, turned to paper cutting after burnout from painting. She uses up to 20 layers of Canson Mi-Tentes paper to create intricate animal portraits with decorative freehand borders. Her most complex piece, a jousting horse, is on view at the Maryland Federation of Arts Circle Gallery in Annapolis. Hudson began paper cutting in 2016, inspired by Henri Matisse's 'drawing with scissors.' She emphasizes adapting to mistakes rather than starting over, a lesson learned from a 2018 dragon piece that led to her color inlay technique. Hudson advises disabled artists to start simple and value any time spent creating.
Key facts
- Jen Hudson creates cut-paper art with up to 20 layers of Canson Mi-Tentes paper.
- She has POTS syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which led her to paper cutting in 2016.
- Her most intricate piece, a jousting horse, is at the Maryland Federation of Arts Circle Gallery in Annapolis.
- Hudson attended Baltimore School for the Arts, focusing on painting before switching to paper cutting.
- She develops freehand border patterns from muscle memory.
- A 2018 dragon piece mistake led to her color inlay technique.
- Hudson's subject matter is native to Maryland, with seasonal accuracy.
- She advises disabled artists to start simple and value any time spent creating.
Entities
Artists
- Jen Hudson
- Henri Matisse
Institutions
- Baltimore School for the Arts
- Maryland Federation of Arts Circle Gallery
- My Modern Met
Locations
- Annapolis
- Maryland
- United States