Bay Area based artist Lena Wolff works in paper cut, pinpricks and collage on paper. She draws from folk-art traditions, anthropomorphic fables, organic abstractions and veneration for the natural world. Her work is absolutely stunning, romantic and sweet: it's time for handmade things!

Could you please tell us more about your background and career?

I grew up in Los Angeles, in a family who appreciates art and good music. I went to a small arts high school a few hours east of LA and eventually got an MFA from San Francisco State University in 2003. I don’t think it’s necessary to go to school to be an artist, but it always helps to have an artist community to work within.The arts community in San Francisco in the 90’s was really spectacular and inspiring. There was this resurgence of work based on craft and folk art and all of us however young in the 80’s and early 90’s who were made to feel weird in school for wanting to make beautiful illustrative work suddenly found a each other. There was a real mix of things going on, from music and performance to street art, etc. It was an exciting time and place to be emerging as an artist.