When many people look at a finished piece, they usually only see how it looks when it is completed. But very few people know that before it was born, how many attempts, adjustments, and even complete restarts we actually went through.

Looking back at the journey of Kamicarv, from our earliest paper carving creations, to gradually integrating gold leaf into our works, and now, to a recent improvement in both gold leaf and burnishing foil techniques. This path has never been about suddenly becoming better. Instead, it has been the result of repeated attempts, slowly accumulating experience and outcomes over time.

At the very beginning, we were simply doing paper carving. A single sheet of paper may look simple, but through layers of carving and stacking, the image slowly develops a sense of depth and space. When light falls onto it, that layering is the most captivating part of paper carving.

In those early days, what we did every day was very simple: carving, stacking, and adjusting the structure. But it was also during that stage that we began to think— if paper carving can already create dimensional layers, is it possible to bring in just a little more variation?

Later, we began trying to incorporate gold leaf into our works.

At first, it was only for small accents— adding a touch of gold in certain details. When light shines on it, that subtle sheen brings a little more warmth to each piece. Gradually, we realized that paper carving brings structure, while gold leaf brings light. But when the two come together, challenges naturally follow. Gold leaf may look simple, but in reality, it is very difficult to control.

If it is too thin, it cannot support a sense of dimension. If the pressure is not right, it wrinkles or becomes uneven. And with changes in lighting, the effect looks completely different from different angles. If not handled well, it becomes just a layer of decoration, rather than a true part of the work.

We tried many times. There are no shortcuts to these problems. We could only try again and again, and adjust again and again. Slowly, we found a kind of balance that allows the gold leaf to truly “grow” within the structure of the paper carving.

And this time, it is not only gold leaf that we have improved.

We made new attempts and breakthroughs in the burnishing foil technique. The most fascinating part of burnishing foil is that it cannot be exactly replicated. Under the control of temperature and time, the metal naturally produces different changes.

Sometimes it forms flowing textures like flames.
Sometimes it shows a soft gradient of light.
Sometimes it carries a subtle yet deep texture.

These effects are not drawn, but are “grown” during the process of burning. And because of this, each presentation will always carry slight differences.

This time, we tried to bring this flame-like effect of burnishing foil more boldly into the work. It is no longer just a single tone of gold but allows the piece to show more layers of variation— with depth and lightness, with movement, and with warmth.

When the dimensional structure of gold leaf combines with the natural radiance formed through burnishing foil, the overall presence of the piece becomes richer and more alive. It was at that moment that we truly felt that all the repeated attempts in the past had been preparing us for this state of “just right.”

After working in creation for a long time, we have come to believe more and more in one thing: no improvement happens suddenly. Very often, it is simply the unseen details being adjusted and refined little by little.

Sometimes it is the proportion of a structure.
Sometimes it is the choice of materials.
Sometimes it is just the control of a single temperature.

These things may seem small, but they slowly accumulate into what you see today. Now that we have come this far, we are very clear that this is not the end. From paper carving, to gold leaf, and now to the effects of burnishing foil every step has been an exploration. And this is a path we will continue to walk.

Finally, we still want to say thank you.

Thank you to every one of you who is willing to trust Kamicarv. Because someone is willing to place their feelings into our hands, we have the opportunity to keep trying and keep improving.

Perhaps to you, this is a piece of artwork. But to us, it is a period of time, a process, and also a step we have walked through with sincerity.

( Translated from the original Chinese text )