She's Cut Paper with Tiny Blades Every Day for Two Years

Annyen Lam's Tiny Blades Project showed her process is more important than the product.
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Annyen Lam is a multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto, Ontario whose work includes - among many other things - papercutting.
In 2015, Lam took that practice to a new level with the Tiny Blades Project.
"I basically said at first that I would cut something out of paper every day for 365 days, and post it on the internet so I would be accountable for it," Lam says in the above video, produced for CBC Arts by Emily Diana Ruth. And not only did Lam succeed in her quest, she kept going: at the time this video was made, she had completed 650 straight days of the project (and according to her Instagram, it's now 719).
"A huge reason why I began this project was to sort of make myself do something every day, and how much the process of making work can be more important than the idea of a product," she says.
The project has also helped Lam come to terms with some of her insecurities as an artist.
"I think I got through a lot of it by kind of just realizing that I should get to work rather than completely figure out who I was before getting started," she says. "I think that happens as a result of becoming an artist, not the other way around."
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She's Cut Tiny Paper Blades Every Day for Two Years
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[@Roanoak]

You have no idea how much this just helped me as an artist in a rut. I am thankful for this video.

[@keloid123]

Aadin Heals u look cute

[@dumbcat]

what do you have against ruts? my uncle is a rut!

[@emjae911]

1000th like (:

[@ceeerl8698]

you have an instagram?

[@asswalker2446]

wow, these replies are cancer.

[@mal.j]

Those are some cool ass glasses

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Carolyn Abram I think

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Cheese Cake *gerbils

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I think they're from Warby Parker

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Cheese Cake FACTS

[@hxnna9430]

I love your yt bio lolol

[@kaitlynwellspring4034]

Her art is genius and magnificent I love her art it’s beautiful

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[@onemillionpercent]

Kaitlyn Wellspring agreed!!💞

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Kaitlyn Wellspring I

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Kaitlyn Wellspring please, read this message from the top to the bottom. Even people that have sold their soul to the devil (a lot of people do, especially for fame and success), can get the contract broken by JESUS. Even if you didn't do that, JESUS loves you and HE wants you to become a Born-Again Christian for it is the only way to Heaven JOHN Ch. 3:3. In order to become a Born-Again Christian, you pray to JESUS, apologize for being a sinner, ask him to forgive you, and also follow HIS teachings of the New Testament, and also the Ten Commandments. Also, if you have gotten microchiped, then get it, or them removed as soon as possible. The RFID microchip happens to be the mark of the beast, and it is also the size of a grain of rice

[@LondonBridge99]

I just did an art project in design class that required cutting paper into tiny shapes and gluing them together and it was the w o r s t thing I have ever done. It took me about 6 hours straight just to cut and glue them. I can't even imagine the dedication she must have to be able to do this! I would go insane within the first day. Props to her

[@mikaylalogann]

Wow... that sounds kind of fun when I read it! I want to try it, but I will probably run out of patience. I’ll stick to stop motion!

[@fana406]

Mangina?

[@silvervixen007]

Same I did an art project in quilling about A3 Format and it took me about 3 months to finish it

[@lilyunderscore9568]

I think you just may be bad at art.

[@felixywixy]

luegamer damn you just destroyed them.

[@MissMinaOh]

Cutting these thin lines require much focus and patience. I wonder if Annyen turns off all her phone notifications while creating. I imagine they can be a huge distraction!

[@cake6484]

oH mY gAWd iTS mInA-

[@wya3ni849]

I did not expect to see you here

[@sokisoko_]

this stuff is super aesthetic

[@kingberserk1329]

She is inspired by cutting??? All jokes aside this is really inspirational

[@ynaradaza238]

Xavier Carrion insee what you did there...hehehehe

[@sh3lt3r47]

Xavier Carrion hmmmmm😶

[@jul2447]

Hmmmmmm

[@bpitzbaeblinkeuu807]

Xavier Carrion That title tho.. It made me confused😂

[@wasp2606]

Xavier Carrion carful your on the internet

[@loladraws6228]

Anything can be art if you so desire, but I think ill stick with paper and pencil. I don't think its a good idea for me to have a small sharp knife, most likely my fingers will need stitches.

[@peridotchild457]

That goes for me too. 😂

[@CornBeanSoup]

I think it’s worth the excessive bleeding from your fingers if you really think about it.

[@jul2447]

Lol

[@mikaylalogann]

Oh dear! 😃🤭 NOT good not good!! 😅

[@saintpansy]

my wrists would need stitches

[@renagirl3525]

I thought she cut paper into sharp blades 😂

[@peridotchild457]

There probably is someone out there who can do that too. XDضوء القمر

[@icefeather1128]

Me, too! >

[@tuankiettahuynh288]

Same

[@azeenanj9185]

Peridot Child well yeah, prisoners do that

[@sojansetly6810]

Wow. She sounds so intelligent. In fact so intelligent that I don’t even get what she says😂 This is amazing, too complex for my lazyass brain, but truly inspiring.

[@acorgiwithacrown467]

Sojansetly intelligence isn't required for cutting straight lines. You learn this in kindergarten.

[@miketas7665]

Sojansetly then how the fuck did you use scissors in school

[@penelopepegg7834]

corgidog Practiced ability is a sign of intelligence, most people can't cut straight lines almost perfectly for shit. Which is why we have guillotines and steel rulers. But rather than how she cuts, she's especially intelligent with her designs.

[@Penguinchubb0]

The irony of the people replying who don't understand that the comment isn't about how to cut paper...

[@stickykitty]

MTCK erm safety scissors? Duh

[@shre9]

It's not about the product.. but the idea of doing something daily! I'm going implement this in life.

[@lettucetea]

I'm surprise how much time she spend on it! She really have passion to be patience and doing it right wooow

[@cloudzapphire7566]

SM STAN No i think the title meant she did new paper art every day and not the same one for 2 years

[@acorgiwithacrown467]

SM STAN it only took her like 20 minutes to make that house.

[@Opa773]

Thank you for explaining how mentally you grew , how you changed . This is what any artist needs to discover in order to grow.

[@zaynebmhemed6398]

This video is everything .. I connects with me on so many levels .. encouraging to let down ur insecurities .. try harder to figure out who u really out not only by feeling anxious about it but also by really doing sth that u feel u can ur self in .. it s so good

[@milk6808]

You have no idea how inspiring this is to me. For a while now I've been trying to figure out myself and my passion and generally but I've been guided here thanks to KZbin recommendations and I am truly thankful.

[@lindaragsdale6958]

Her speech is so eloquent, I would listen to her if she had an art channel. She should have one!!!

[@palemoonlight96]

And why please don't we make amazing people like her more famous and instead glorify the kardashians and literally every trash we see?

[@honestphrog]

Couldn't agree more

[@keloid123]

palemoonlight96 she never show up in a poem

[@keloid123]

palemoonlight96 porn

[@zorapoo2881]

I disagree. I believe people who actually help others like doctors and firefighters should be way for famous.

[@mechros4460]

Illuminati

[@Torgen33]

Her work is wonderful and so is she ! Very inspirational

[@kohaku3831]

Doing something for self assurance every single is a beautiful and necessary work. I just realize this thanks to this video.

[@donnaokoniewski3761]

Wow! Thank you so much for sharing.

[@katywuste9054]

The love and patience is inspiring. The result are amazing

[@user-rd9tc7gd1b]

Her attention to details. Omg. I love this. ❤️

[@NatalieChickee]

You're work is really awesome! Creating everyday. This is beautifully inspiring.

[@mashannanova6862]

so so inspiring! I love what she had to say

[@kuimiko]

How creative she is!!

[@torababdullah7952]

so what i understand is in life to get noticed and even get success by being persistent and consistent. it's more important than the quality of your work.

[@narimaneme2144]

Its wonderful for self-discipline and self-confidence building! Great job!

[@mistkuh94]

Amazing!!

[@mendelevium7408]

This has honestly inspired me so much Thank you so much for this video

[@sketxh8742]

This is truly beautiful.

[@megharoni]

Wish I had seen this video when I had to do a paper cutting project back in college. I had the hardest time with it but she made it look so easy with her method (which was much different than mine). Very cool look, will remember it for future projects!

[@firehawkstudios568]

Excellent. This is not an easy skill to acquire at this level. Bravo.

[@mep1324]

I think this is so cool because it makes you look at the world through a different pair of “glasses” I guess you could say. She sees art all around her and it changes her life in more than just being something she does once every day

[@C.h.a.y.a]

No words can really justify the awesomeness of this work. I just choose to say.. Keep up the great work. A simple paper can be turned into such great art.. Woooow. Most of us waste paper!!! Thanks for upload.

[@rippedjeans5855]

i did this with my mum ( thank you for inspiring me to have a go) and it turned out great!

[@NGEternal]

Thank you for the super zoom in shots of the person's face. This was necessary for my compression of this video and message as a whole. Without such close ups I would fail to have a meaningful connection in the individual as I am somebody that can only respect someone with good skin.

[@skylnstudio1439]

She is such an inspiration thanks for sharing this video 😊

[@mrbeansfan9036]

I clicked on this because the title looked funny but I'm genuinely impressed and this has become pretty eye opening

[@nataliem.2651]

She’s cool! I enjoyed listening to her and watching her work. Awesome talent

[@karlav7139]

This is strangely awesome 👏🏼

[@maryamz.1772]

Amazing!

[@bunnietime]

thisssss is the kinda content i like to see on the internet :”) love this so much 💖💞💓💗💗💖💞💓💓💕💗 i feel inspired !!! ✨💫

[@alliedarasouk2812]

In my art class we are focusing on ‘the beauty of paper’ and this really inspired me :)

[@lunalilyco]

At my university, our introductory art class is a paper cutting class. At first I thought "Oh that'll be an easy class". Boy was I wrong. I admire her so much for accomplishing what she is in this art form. It's so hard to think about the negative space of a piece rather than the positive. And the tiny details are truly astonishing to get out well. One slip of your knife and all those tiny details are gone. I truly respect her so much for taking on that challenge and then keeping up with it for so long

[@violetbertolino1774]

WOW! love this!

[@AndorSalga]

I was VERY inspired by Annyen. It got me started learning procedural digital art using shaders. I'm currently on day 127! :)

[@needleworker]

Beautiful and so clever xx

[@lizagreen7023]

Super bien! Magnifique!

[@roseannehebert3682]

Wow, love your story and your art.

[@pemagreenberg7875]

So cool

[@Monica-zl5wl]

that's intricate work! amazing

[@applejuice6616]

Absolutely beautiful

[@Lexyvil]

Not only the skill, but the fact she has the dedication and patience do that is talent in itself.

[@helenarose580]

Love this

[@yes8051]

Omg how IS IT SO BEAUTIFUL

[@hutaowu2073]

ARMYS R EVERYWHERE

[@davidpuckdrag]

Really nicely made video and beautiful art!

[@sunflowergirl857]

BEAUTIFUL

[@1spookie168]

beautiful art!

[@hudsonhill8232]

Wow absolutely amazing

[@TotallyMH729TsMH]

this was amazing and inspirational ♥♥♥

[@strawberryme08]

amazeballs ;) creativity is a high form and state of energy. probably one of the highest!

[@BendtSten]

Wow. That's amazing 😍

[@mairifindlay4779]

amazing!

[@ruthmoore2246]

You are very inspirational. Great job.

[@userGGG702]

that's fun, love the video., thanks for the great inspiration.

[@jackjones3657]

Really creative, great content!

[@supersisters5986]

She inspired me so much loved it 👏👍👍

[@whynot8933]

Her art is beautiful! She's a cut above the rest!

[@abbyg3565]

Wow this is beautiful

[@saragulbe833]

wow! that work of your's is magic and awesomeness!

[@lightfast1]

Incredible

[@himakshidas6527]

Your work is amazing 😍😍😍

[@vaishnavi98sharma]

Her art is just amazing💕 And I love her glasses too😂😍

[@ss45247]

This is amazing 😍

[@fienlaenen2962]

I am in love with your art! You are So inspiring ❤️

[@Hana-ws2yw]

Amazing!fantastic skill

[@koko-xi8dz]

omg they’re so cute and beautiful!

[@doylay]

Very cool!

[@willm678]

Wow. Amazing job

[@farawrah7956]

this inspired me so much as an artist

[@lalthlamuanzualamamuana3841]

I loved your videos keep making them

[@LittleA]

Its so nice!

[@PatrishaG03]

beautiful.

[@kirbybrown6926]

This is so cool

[@fairygrammy]

WOW!! I just watched your video for the first time & I just had to subscribe to your channel!! I'm so amazed by your creativity & the artistry that goes into each piece. Beautiful art work!! 😊😊🎨🎨😊😊

[@-samy-]

amazing.

[@joyhernandez2370]

I am so inspired now.... Wow

[@cayenne6873]

this is so cool

[@CRMayerCo]

Very, very interesting!

[@jimin4life797]

I aspire to be as passionate and hardworking as she is in life

[@carlospiso]

A Very, very nice artistic endeavor. A nice glimpse of this artist's personality... Inspiring. A very nice crafted video too ! Keep on creating ! 😄

[@trishking4355]

That was beautiful and amazing hun

[@mariar.4893]

This puts a whole new spin on paper cuts

[@cherfancherfan6682]

she is a genius artist ❤

[@rionasmelodies1153]

Hats off to your PATIENCE!

[@scottsthoughtschannel9538]

Very AWESOME!!!!

[@jamdoughnuts6516]

I've been heavily inspired by this!

[@sfs95101]

so cute!

[@Bluebuthappy182]

That's amazing

[@dalienrivera6093]

Good on how you speak to your mind! Great will

[@Stui294]

Satisfying