Welcome to Arwen Designs!
Everything here is created by me, Paula Arwen Owen. I am an illustrator, graphic designer, and author originally from Brooklyn, NY, now living at the edge of an enchanted forest in the Catskill mountains. I work in hand cut paper silhouettes and collage, combining simple, elegant lines against tapestries of texture and color. I’m fascinated with the opposition of darkness and light, and inspired by my surroundings, as well as stories, dreams, myths, and legends.
I have always been interested in mythology, nature, and spiritual symbols of all different religions, and love to bring these themes into my work. My love of nature inspires me to show all aspects of her beauty, both wild and serene. My Scandinavian and Eastern European heritage draws me to the Norse Pantheon as well as to mystical Hebrew tradition. My interest in symbols led to creating a line of cards and vinyl decals that let people express their individuality and beliefs in bold and unique ways.

In my store you can find cut paper greeting cards and invitations, prints of my illustrations, and vinyl decals. Many of my cards were originally designed for family and friends, and many of my decals were created from customer requests and suggestions. So feel free to ask about custom orders, and I’ll try to create what you need!

All of my designs were originally cut by hand in paper with an x-acto knife. First I draw the design, then cut it in paper, then it gets scanned into the computer. For my illustration work, I add the color with digital collage. For my greeting cards, my cut paper design is digitized keeping the integrity of the hand cut paper, and cut out in high quality acid free card stock with the assistance of a Silhouette Cameo machine. The cutout is then finished, embellished and assembled by hand. Secondary colors are generally cut by hand.
My larger detailed cut outs (like my wedding/anniversary gifts) are still cut completely by hand.
My vinyl decals start the same way, and usually text (or circles and really straight lines-those are really hard to cut by hand!) are added on the computer. I use high quality vinyl, both for outdoor and indoor use. They are all die cut in one color, not like a regular sticker. When installed on a wall or a car, they look just like they are painted on there!

My illustration work has appeared in magazines such as Mythic Delirium and Strange Horizons, and on book covers by authors including Cherie Priest and Catherynne Valente. My greeting cards have been featured on several blogs and in a book from Lark Crafts “Creative Cut Cards: 35 Greeting Cards for Every Occasion”.

As an author, I have recently published "Blood of Angels: Revelation", a young adult paranormal romance set in NYC.

Thanks for stopping by, take a look around and feel free to ask me any questions! You can favorite my shop to see my latest updates, or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest:

www.facebook.com/arwendesigns
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www.pinterest.com/ArwenDesigns
www.twitter.com/morbidsanctuary
www.arwendesigns.net