Meet Star Shen | Illustrator & Paper Engineer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Star Shen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Star, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

I’m so thrilled to be starting my own paper art studio now. It all started with my deep love and passion for the craft. I knew I wanted to do more and take my art to the next level, but I realized that I couldn’t do it alone. I wanted to find a team of like-minded individuals who share my vision and passion.

Luckily, I was blessed to find amazing partners who are just as passionate and enthusiastic about art as I am. Together, with my natural leadership qualities and combined talents, I know we can create something truly special.

Looking ahead, my ultimate goal for the studio is to take on professional projects, such as advertising, product packaging, and promotional design work. I’m so excited to explore the possibilities and to see where this journey takes us. It’s such a wonderful feeling to be pursuing my passion and dreams, and I’m grateful to have an amazing team of talented and creative people by my side.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

Growing up, I never imagined that I would become a professional artist, let alone a designer of pop-up books. However, everything changed when I discovered the magic of three-dimensional storytelling.

I was born on a tropical island in the southernmost part of China and was the only child in my family. My parents were busy with work when I was young, so I often found myself alone at home. Drawing and doing crafts meant everything to me and I believed that I was good at them. The first pop-up book I ever saw was “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” by American pop-up book designer Robert Sabuda, which my friend sent me as a birthday gift in 2019. As I flipped through the pages of the book, it felt like I had opened a door to a whole new world. The jumping characters, the blooming flowers, and the slowly rising trees and buildings… these incredible scenes gradually came to life in my hands as I turned the pages. As a child, I was fascinated by pop-up books and how they could transform the pages of a book into a world of wonder. I was captivated by this unique craft and all I could think was: I want to make my own pop-up book.

So I attempted to create my first pop-up book, “The City of Mountains”. This book showcased six different pop-up structures that displayed the history, architecture, and traditional customs of my favorite city, Chongqing. Making pop-up books excited me, and I completely fell in love with it.

What I didn’t expect was that the book would receive a lot of love and attention on the internet and that it would even have the opportunity to be published in 2022. Through these experiences, I gained an internship as a pop-up book designer at a creative company and was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship to study abroad in the United States.
It was then that I began to wonder if I could become a professional pop-up book designer. As much as I love this unique art form, I know that it is a niche profession. Can I really make a living from it? This question still lingers in my mind today. However, I am grateful for my father’s unwavering support. He used to dismiss my artistic aspirations, but after seeing my pop-up book designs, he became my biggest cheerleader. He encouraged me to pursue further studies in the United States, and together, we believe that book art has infinite possibilities and is worth dedicating one’s life to.

Since arriving in the US, I have continued to pursue my passion for pop-up book design. I have created numerous new designs, including my biggest project to date, my graduate thesis project, a pop-up book about Mars travel titled “Everything You Need to Know About Mars.” It took months of research on the history, geography, climate, and possible human exploration plans of Mars, as well as designing and constructing different paper structures to showcase the scientific knowledge behind Mars travel.

My book takes the form of a long scroll, allowing readers to fully experience the journey from Earth to Mars and participate in various sightseeing activities on the planet. As a sci-fi enthusiast, I drew inspiration from literary and cinematic works, such as Star Wars, to design the scenes and plot. The characters in my book were inspired by my cat, Luke.

The project was a huge challenge for me as I had to balance the intricacy of paper structure and visual style with scientific accuracy. I had to be well-versed in the science behind Mars travel to turn my ideas into a reality. Through the process, I learned how to conduct efficient research, problem-solve, and bring my ideas to fruition. These experiences not only helped me complete my graduate thesis but also laid the foundation for my future career development.

Since graduating last year and moving to New York, I have developed into a full-time illustrator and paper craft designer and have established my independent studio, StarryHouseStudio. I have had the opportunity to work with numerous clients and participate in several exciting art exhibitions, such as the  MoCCA Fest 2022 &2023, the 2023 Capital Art Book Fair, and the Wizard Fest 2022, among others. My work has received coverage from various media outlets, including CCTV, The Movable Book Society, and Hunan Television. I am also grateful for the chance to have been featured in Shoutout LA, which was my first interview with an American media outlet. New York is a magical city full of opportunities and challenges, and coming here from across the ocean required a great deal of courage. Although I have moments of confusion and anxiety, I’m loving my work, my career, and my new life in this new city.
Pop-up book design may not be the most popular profession, but it has provided me with an opportunity to create worlds that come to life and captivate the imagination of readers. I am excited to continue exploring the endless possibilities of pop-up book design and seeing where it takes me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

If my best friend were visiting the area, I’d want to make sure they had an unforgettable time! We’d start off by exploring some of the local attractions, like the aquarium and museums, to get a taste of the city’s culture and history. Then, we’d head to some of my favorite restaurants and bars, like the trendy gastropub downtown or the cozy wine bar on Main Street.

Since I love trying new things, we might also check out some offbeat activities, like a guided ghost tour or a cooking class at a local culinary school. And of course, we couldn’t miss some of the big events going on that week, like the annual music festival or the neighborhood street fair.

But ultimately, what really makes any experience special is the people you’re with. So I’d want to make sure we spent plenty of time hanging out with my favorite local friends and family, maybe having a picnic in the park or catching a game at the ballpark. Because to me, the best way to show someone the best time ever is to share it with the people who make your life truly special.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Absolutely! I want to give a huge shoutout to my dear father, who has been my rock and biggest supporter on my journey to becoming a professional illustrator and pop-up book designer. Before I graduated from college, he had doubts about my passion for art and was worried that I wouldn’t be able to make a living from it. However, since he saw the pop-up books I created, his attitude has completely changed, and he has been supporting me in every possible way. He even helped me cover a significant part of my graduate school tuition, and we now have an incredibly close relationship. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, he’s the first person I turn to for advice and encouragement. He truly believes in me and my talent, and we both see pop-up books as a promising career path for me.

But that’s not all! I also want to give credit to my grandmother, my professors, my friends, my loving boyfriend, and even kind strangers who have left me encouraging comments online. They’ve all played a significant role in helping me get to where I am today, and I am overflowing with gratitude for each and every one of them. Thank you all so much!

Website: starshen.net

Instagram: @ paperstarfish_

Image Credits
Star Shen