Sharyn Sowell’s sweet silhouettes add charm to almost any surface. Read on to see what inspires her, and maybe she’ll spark some magic in your scissors, too! Not convinced? Check out her hot new title, Silhouettes.

We can see from your romantic designs that nature and domestic life both inspire you. Are there any particular visual artists from other genres that influence your work?

I admire Tasha Tudor, Rembrandt, Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell, Sister Corita Kent, Tiffany, Gaudi, and the works of many unknown pop artists, the impressionist painters, and Art Deco architectural ornaments. Old European cathedrals hold great fascination for me, too.

And how about literature? Are there any stories—from fairy tales to classic works of literature—that stimulate your scissors?

I harbor a secret wish to illustrate classic fairy tales, but I read voraciously and have no favorite genre. Anything from Anna Karenina to Nigella Lawson’s cookbooks can send me down a creative rabbit trail.

There are so many great tips and tricks in Silhouettes that will help crafters happily bypass many of the bumps you’ve encountered along the way. Can you recall a time when you were most impressed that you worked your way out of a “mistake?”

One of the nicest things about cutting paper is the fact that most paper is downright cheap, making mistakes no big deal. I experiment without hesitation, and fling my failures into the recycle bin. That’s why I urge beginners to just dive in without worrying about mistakes.

I do try to examine my mistakes carefully because I always learn so much from them. I decide how I could improve on my efforts, reach for another slice of paper, and I do better the next time. Isn’t it refreshing not to have to worry about being perfect?

Are there any surfaces that accommodate silhouettes better than others?

Anything smooth is fair game. I love to experiment, and don’t mind failure at all. I work with anything from glass to fabric, or wood and metal, as long as the surface is smooth enough to achieve a good bond. But paper is always my favorite. I am absolutely addicted to paper.

Do you prefer any of the four methods—casting a shadow, using a digital camera, cutting or drawing a freehand design, or copying patterns—more than another?

True confession time: I only cut freehand! I’ve tried them all, but find the challenge and freedom of cutting freehand to be so satisfying I seldom do anything else these days.

Which season motivates you most?

Summertime’s lushness inspires me so much that I can often be found sketching or snipping in the garden at 5am, and returning from hiking the Cascades—pockets bulging with cut paper—at dusk.

Do you have a favorite travel destination that encourages your creativity? How about a dream destination?

I love to travel, and frequently serve as guest artist on cruise ships, teaching people to cut and scrapbook silhouettes, and I cut portraits for guests as well. I’ve sketched my way through Europe and North Africa, Mexico and Alaska. My husband and I hike in the Sierra Nevada Mountains each summer.

But my favorite destination is my own studio.

You started as a jewelry designer. Does your experience designing jewelry continue to influence your work in paper? Do you ever still create jewelry?

I do get the occasional opportunity to dabble a bit with jewelry, and I design everything from greeting cards to fabric to gift items.

I print on my vintage presses, draw, and do lots of calligraphy. Just for fun I do a bit of papier-mache, watercolor, hand engraving, beadwork, pressed flowers, and enameling.

Exercising your creativity seems to me as important as being fit. It leads to a happier, healthier life. And it’s just plain fun into the bargain!