As a paper cut artist, I’ve always believed that I don’t just create art with paper—I carve emotion with every blade stroke. Behind each custom portrait I make, there’s always a story, and sometimes, that story stays with me long after the final cut.
This one began with a simple message in my inbox. No long description, no emotional preface—just a single photo and a line:
“Can you turn this into a paper cut?”
The image showed a woman’s face pressed gently against a cat’s, both staring into the camera, their eyes aligned almost perfectly. It wasn’t just a portrait. There was an unspoken tenderness between them, something I could feel even through the screen. I asked if she’d like to share the story behind it.
She wrote back, after a pause that already hinted at something deeper.
Her name was Elena.
And the cat’s name was Milo.
Milo came into Elena’s life during one of her darkest winters. She had recently lost someone she deeply loved and was navigating the fog of grief, moving through days with no clarity and no color. One rainy night, she found a small cat sheltering under the eaves of her building. No collar, no sound—just two cautious eyes watching her.
“I took him in for the night,” she wrote. “But I think, in truth, he rescued me.”
Milo was unlike most cats. He rarely meowed. He didn’t demand affection. But he was always there. Silent, steady. He seemed to sense her moods, and when Elena found herself crying on the floor one evening, Milo simply walked over and lay beside her, his face close to hers—eye to eye, soul to soul.
It was that moment she’d captured in the photograph. And it was that moment she wanted preserved—not as a snapshot, but as a paper cut pet silhouette that could live on her wall as a tribute to their bond.
As I began designing the piece, I knew this wouldn’t be a typical pet portrait. I wanted the paper cut to say everything words couldn’t. I focused entirely on their eyes—Elena’s soft but steady gaze, and Milo’s sharp yet calming presence. Half her face, half his. Two lives, fused into one composition.
Using fine blades and specialty paper, I slowly brought their story to life. I carved Milo’s whiskers with gentle arcs, layered the fur around his eye with precision, then echoed that flow in Elena’s eyelashes. The symmetry wasn't just aesthetic—it symbolized their mirrored strength. Where she had once been broken, Milo had been whole for her.
Creating this custom paper cut portrait reminded me why I love what I do. It’s not just about making art—it’s about translating quiet stories into something tangible. It’s about honoring those quiet companions—cat or dog—who hold space for us in the hardest of times.
When I finally sent Elena a photo of the finished work, framed in a soft green (the same shade as her sunroom curtains where Milo loved to nap), her message came hours later:
“Thank you. I can see his eyes. And I can see myself. We are still here.”
I named the piece “Two Eyes”, though to me, it felt like one heartbeat.
Whether it’s a cat like Milo, a loyal dog, or even a beloved person, every story deserves to be preserved. Through my personalized paper cut portraits, I offer a way to honor that connection—be it joyful, healing, or bittersweet.
If you’d like to turn your favorite photo into a timeless paper cut, I’d love to hear your story. Each piece is hand-cut, fully custom, and made with care. I also offer pet silhouettes and personalized paper cut dog portraits for those who want to keep their furry friends close—forever.
📩 Send me a message to get started on your own custom design.
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