30 Colorful Layered Paper Illustrations By Sarah Capon

Sarah Capon is an illustrator from Australia who creates detailed artwork using layered paper. She carefully cuts each piece of paper into the perfect shape and layers them together to bring her illustrations to life. Her work is full of personality and charm, capturing the beauty of everyday moments in a unique way.Sarah’s art is all about spreading joy. She creates bright and cheerful scenes, often featuring landscapes, people, or animals. Keep scrolling to see her work for yourself!More info:Instagram|sarahcapon.com.au|sarah-capon.myshopify.com|Facebook|tiktok.com|youtube.comThis post may includeaffiliate links.Bored Pandareached out to Sarah Capon to learn more about her. We wanted to find out how she started as an artist and what made her choose layered paper as her medium.“I’ve been drawing ever since I was a kid, experimenting with different mediums and techniques as I grew. During the 2020 lockdown, I was working as a freelance visual development artist and animator, primarily creating digital art. When the world came to a standstill, I lost a project opportunity and suddenly had a lot of free time. On a whim, I decided to try paper art. Honestly, I can’t recall exactly what inspired me to start—it just happened! I shared my first attempts online, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. The encouragement from my online community kept me motivated to explore, learn, and refine this new medium. It’s been a rewarding journey that has brought me to where I am today.“RELATED:Sarah kindly took the time to walk us through her creative process: “My process begins with thumbnail sketches to explore ideas and compositions. Sometimes I sketch in a sketchbook; other times, I use Procreate on my iPad. I usually create several thumbnails before settling on the one that feels just right.““Once I’ve chosen a thumbnail, I refine it in Procreate, focusing on clean linework and adding colors to visualize how the final piece will look. At this stage, my digital illustration closely resembles how I envision the paper version, down to the pencil details.““Next, I prepare the design for the paper. This involves carefully analyzing the shapes, layers, and how they’ll fit together. Once I’ve mapped everything out, I start cutting and assembling the piece.“The artist explained that the time required varies depending on the complexity of the project. “Some pieces take just a day or two, while others—especially those with intricate details—can take much longer.“Creative work comes with its own set of challenges. Sarah told us that paper can be forgiving—until it’s glued. “The biggest challenge comes when I make a mistake or decide I don’t like an element after it’s been adhered to. At that point, my options are limited: I either accept the imperfection or remake the entire piece to fix it. It’s a lesson in both precision and patience.““I create art with the goal of spreading joy. I hope people feel uplifted when they see my work, whether it’s the vibrant colors, the thoughtful design, or the tactile depth and texture of the piece. Even if they’re looking at a print of the original, I want them to sense the care and positivity that went into creating it.“See Also on Bored PandaSee Also on Bored PandaModal closeAdd New ImageModal closeAdd Your Photo To This ListPlease use high-res photos without watermarksOoops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.Not your original work?Add sourcePublish

Sarah’s art is all about spreading joy. She creates bright and cheerful scenes, often featuring landscapes, people, or animals. Keep scrolling to see her work for yourself!

This post may includeaffiliate links.

Bored Pandareached out to Sarah Capon to learn more about her. We wanted to find out how she started as an artist and what made her choose layered paper as her medium.“I’ve been drawing ever since I was a kid, experimenting with different mediums and techniques as I grew. During the 2020 lockdown, I was working as a freelance visual development artist and animator, primarily creating digital art. When the world came to a standstill, I lost a project opportunity and suddenly had a lot of free time. On a whim, I decided to try paper art. Honestly, I can’t recall exactly what inspired me to start—it just happened! I shared my first attempts online, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. The encouragement from my online community kept me motivated to explore, learn, and refine this new medium. It’s been a rewarding journey that has brought me to where I am today.“RELATED:Sarah kindly took the time to walk us through her creative process: “My process begins with thumbnail sketches to explore ideas and compositions. Sometimes I sketch in a sketchbook; other times, I use Procreate on my iPad. I usually create several thumbnails before settling on the one that feels just right.““Once I’ve chosen a thumbnail, I refine it in Procreate, focusing on clean linework and adding colors to visualize how the final piece will look. At this stage, my digital illustration closely resembles how I envision the paper version, down to the pencil details.““Next, I prepare the design for the paper. This involves carefully analyzing the shapes, layers, and how they’ll fit together. Once I’ve mapped everything out, I start cutting and assembling the piece.“The artist explained that the time required varies depending on the complexity of the project. “Some pieces take just a day or two, while others—especially those with intricate details—can take much longer.“Creative work comes with its own set of challenges. Sarah told us that paper can be forgiving—until it’s glued. “The biggest challenge comes when I make a mistake or decide I don’t like an element after it’s been adhered to. At that point, my options are limited: I either accept the imperfection or remake the entire piece to fix it. It’s a lesson in both precision and patience.““I create art with the goal of spreading joy. I hope people feel uplifted when they see my work, whether it’s the vibrant colors, the thoughtful design, or the tactile depth and texture of the piece. Even if they’re looking at a print of the original, I want them to sense the care and positivity that went into creating it.“See Also on Bored PandaSee Also on Bored Panda

Layered paper illustration of a cute orange fox surrounded by blue flowers and bees.

Bored Pandareached out to Sarah Capon to learn more about her. We wanted to find out how she started as an artist and what made her choose layered paper as her medium.

“I’ve been drawing ever since I was a kid, experimenting with different mediums and techniques as I grew. During the 2020 lockdown, I was working as a freelance visual development artist and animator, primarily creating digital art. When the world came to a standstill, I lost a project opportunity and suddenly had a lot of free time. On a whim, I decided to try paper art. Honestly, I can’t recall exactly what inspired me to start—it just happened! I shared my first attempts online, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. The encouragement from my online community kept me motivated to explore, learn, and refine this new medium. It’s been a rewarding journey that has brought me to where I am today.”

Layered paper art depicting a cute dog leaping through a vibrant field of colorful flowers under a blue sky.

Layered paper illustration of two blue birds on a branch with orange fruits and green leaves.

Sarah kindly took the time to walk us through her creative process: “My process begins with thumbnail sketches to explore ideas and compositions. Sometimes I sketch in a sketchbook; other times, I use Procreate on my iPad. I usually create several thumbnails before settling on the one that feels just right.““Once I’ve chosen a thumbnail, I refine it in Procreate, focusing on clean linework and adding colors to visualize how the final piece will look. At this stage, my digital illustration closely resembles how I envision the paper version, down to the pencil details.““Next, I prepare the design for the paper. This involves carefully analyzing the shapes, layers, and how they’ll fit together. Once I’ve mapped everything out, I start cutting and assembling the piece.“The artist explained that the time required varies depending on the complexity of the project. “Some pieces take just a day or two, while others—especially those with intricate details—can take much longer.”

“Once I’ve chosen a thumbnail, I refine it in Procreate, focusing on clean linework and adding colors to visualize how the final piece will look. At this stage, my digital illustration closely resembles how I envision the paper version, down to the pencil details.”

“Next, I prepare the design for the paper. This involves carefully analyzing the shapes, layers, and how they’ll fit together. Once I’ve mapped everything out, I start cutting and assembling the piece.”

The artist explained that the time required varies depending on the complexity of the project. “Some pieces take just a day or two, while others—especially those with intricate details—can take much longer.”

Layered paper illustration of a sunset seascape with rocks and reflections in warm orange hues.

Layered paper art illustration of cute crocodiles in party hats, with confetti, on a white background surrounded by green and purple paper.

Creative work comes with its own set of challenges. Sarah told us that paper can be forgiving—until it’s glued. “The biggest challenge comes when I make a mistake or decide I don’t like an element after it’s been adhered to. At that point, my options are limited: I either accept the imperfection or remake the entire piece to fix it. It’s a lesson in both precision and patience.”

Layered paper art of a cute fox lying on green grass with pink stars and dots, showcasing paper illustration techniques.

Layered paper art featuring a cute landscape with pink clouds and green hills.

“I create art with the goal of spreading joy. I hope people feel uplifted when they see my work, whether it’s the vibrant colors, the thoughtful design, or the tactile depth and texture of the piece. Even if they’re looking at a print of the original, I want them to sense the care and positivity that went into creating it.”

Layered paper illustration of a person walking six playful dogs on a sunny day.

Layered paper illustration of cute, colorful animals with stars and circles on a multicolored background.

Layered paper artwork of cute flower illustrations with a bee on green background.

Layered paper art depicting a scenic landscape with a winding river, trees, and houses in a colorful, cute illustration style.

Layered paper illustration of a cute bear driving a packed car with colorful background.

Layered paper illustration of a lantern surrounded by fireflies, showcasing a cute artistic design.

Layered paper owl illustration with colorful stars and leaves on a branch.

Layered paper art depicting a cute girl with glasses, colorful outfit, and a playful dog in the background.

Layered paper illustration of colorful hills and trees with an artist painting on a canvas.

Layered paper illustration depicting a vibrant landscape with trees and hills.

Layered paper illustration of a heart with pink flowers and green leaves on a crafting table.

Layered paper art of a girl with orange hair in a blue dress, holding a cup, with a fox resting on her head among stars.

Layered paper illustration of a woman reading on a green chair with a cat and stars.

Layered paper art of colorful flowers and bees on blue background, showcasing cute illustrations.