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Paper Cut Art, Silhouettes & Illustrations

Janelle Washington is an accomplished paper-cut artist and award-winning picture book illustrator.

Her brand, WashingtonCuts,

strives to provide unique, high-quality paper cuts, prints, silhouettes, and illustrations celebrating Black history and culture.

Picture Books

Portfolio

Shop

News and Events

Fine Art inspired by Black Culture

SHOP CUT PAPER ART

The Artist
JANELLE
WASHINGTON

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Follow Along With Me On Instagram

Had a grand time, Sat, April 4, 2026!
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Thank you to @oakwoodarts for hosting me in your beautiful space in Churchill, @thelazygrazerva for the wonderful food, and @karasconfectionsllc for the absolutely delicious cookies.
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Thank you to all who were able to come out and support 🙌 🙏🏾 ✨️. I appreciate you.
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I felt seen, loved ❤️, and happy 😊 .
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Thank you to my husband for the slushie machine, my momma for the introduction, my dad for keeping an eye on everyone and my friend Stacy @stacy.and.logan for taking photos!
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Go out and get your copy of The Heart of Our Home now!
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@jenrofe @macmillanusa

Had a grand time, Sat, April 4, 2026!
.
Thank you to @oakwoodarts for hosting me in your beautiful space in Churchill, @thelazygrazerva for the wonderful food, and @karasconfectionsllc for the absolutely delicious cookies.
.
Thank you to all who were able to come out and support 🙌 🙏🏾 ✨️. I appreciate you.
.
I felt seen, loved ❤️, and happy 😊 .
.
Thank you to my husband for the slushie machine, my momma for the introduction, my dad for keeping an eye on everyone and my friend Stacy @stacy.and.logan for taking photos!
.
Go out and get your copy of The Heart of Our Home now!
.
@jenrofe @macmillanusa

Thank you @BBGB for hosting my book Launch! I appreciate the beautiful and creative space you have in the heart of Carytown.
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Thank you to JayBeeRva ( fellow elementary/high school classmate) for the wonderful photos.
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#blackwriters #picturebook @jenrofe @mackidsbooks

Thank you @BBGB for hosting my book Launch! I appreciate the beautiful and creative space you have in the heart of Carytown.
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Thank you to JayBeeRva ( fellow elementary/high school classmate) for the wonderful photos.
.
#blackwriters #picturebook @jenrofe @mackidsbooks

Love a good swag! Got stickers? Check! Got bookmarks? Check! Got my new book?? 🤔🙋🏾‍♀️

Thanks @thestickybrand for awesome stickers!

Love a good swag! Got stickers? Check! Got bookmarks? Check! Got my new book?? 🤔🙋🏾‍♀️

Thanks @thestickybrand for awesome stickers!

One more day to go till you can find my newest book, The Heart of Our Home, in stores! Right now, you can still PRE-ORDER! Please buy now and bring it with you on March 28 or April 4 to get it signed by me. Hope to see you soon! Happy reading.

One more day to go till you can find my newest book, The Heart of Our Home, in stores! Right now, you can still PRE-ORDER! Please buy now and bring it with you on March 28 or April 4 to get it signed by me. Hope to see you soon! Happy reading.

Come out on April 4, 2026, and celebrate with my family and me. New book who dis? Please RSVP in the links

Come out on April 4, 2026, and celebrate with my family and me. New book who dis? Please RSVP in the links

Hello! It's that time! Time for you to pat your feet and join me at BBGB on Saturday, March 28 @ 1pm for my official authorial debut of The Heart of our Home.
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RSVP required @ www.bbgbbooks.com.
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If you can't make this, don't fret... Another event is scheduled for April 4th in Richmond.
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Save the date!

Hello! It's that time! Time for you to pat your feet and join me at BBGB on Saturday, March 28 @ 1pm for my official authorial debut of The Heart of our Home.
.
RSVP required @ www.bbgbbooks.com.
.
If you can't make this, don't fret... Another event is scheduled for April 4th in Richmond.
.
Save the date!

Received my copies of The Heart of Our Home.... two weeks ago! But I finally showed my momma, then found some time make this book reveal reel. Yay!
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Please enjoy!

March 24, 2026 is coming up soon - get ready to get your pre- ordered book in the mail. Or purchase where all book are sold!
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Thank you for your support.
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My momma still can't believe that our family photos are in a book.. 😆

Received my copies of The Heart of Our Home.... two weeks ago! But I finally showed my momma, then found some time make this book reveal reel. Yay!
.
Please enjoy!

March 24, 2026 is coming up soon - get ready to get your pre- ordered book in the mail. Or purchase where all book are sold!
.
Thank you for your support.
.
My momma still can't believe that our family photos are in a book.. 😆

Lord Hear my Cry....

Lord Hear my Cry....

The reel is a little choppy! But so what! Lol

Got my copies of Melodies of the Weary Blues, compiled by @shamarknightjustice, delivered today!!
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The entire book is so gorgeous! Every turn and every page are filled with vibrant color and important details.

I hope you have pre-ordered yours! If not, it's on sale now, so you can get this book on your shelf.
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I am honored to be grouped with the 23 remarkable artists asked to illustrate a poem by the talented Langston Hughes.

The reel is a little choppy! But so what! Lol

Got my copies of Melodies of the Weary Blues, compiled by @shamarknightjustice, delivered today!!
.
The entire book is so gorgeous! Every turn and every page are filled with vibrant color and important details.

I hope you have pre-ordered yours! If not, it's on sale now, so you can get this book on your shelf.
.
I am honored to be grouped with the 23 remarkable artists asked to illustrate a poem by the talented Langston Hughes.

It's lovely when you receive your proofs and see and feel all the emotions you tried to convey in the illustration shine through!
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Get your pre ordered copy now! On sale in March

It's lovely when you receive your proofs and see and feel all the emotions you tried to convey in the illustration shine through!
.
Get your pre ordered copy now! On sale in March

Sometimes, paper cutting is just stabbing the paper multiple times until the design falls out... 🙃 and not a smooth swift cut.
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Especially for text.
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Don't mind the TV in the background.. hubby watching, Eyes of Wakanda on Disney.
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Good sound effects though

Sometimes, paper cutting is just stabbing the paper multiple times until the design falls out... 🙃 and not a smooth swift cut.
.
Especially for text.
.
Don't mind the TV in the background.. hubby watching, Eyes of Wakanda on Disney.
.
Good sound effects though

Well, I have to add color right? This is how I do it...
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Family business.. See that's my cousin on TV!
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Heart of Our Home, written and illustrated by yours truly.
Pre-order now!! Get your copy! Please and thank you.
.

Well, I have to add color right? This is how I do it...
.
Family business.. See that's my cousin on TV!
.
Heart of Our Home, written and illustrated by yours truly.
Pre-order now!! Get your copy! Please and thank you.
.

I didn't know this for the first book but I know for the second that pre-orders are VERY important for authors and illustrators. They tell the bookstore that the world is interested in this particular book and they will stock the book.
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Fyi: I found out that even though Choosing Brave won MANY awards our book was not in every bookstore. Large ones and small local bookstores. This broke my heart.
.
So I am asking my followers to please pre-order my second book, The Heart of Our Home! Click the link in my bio!
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This is a sweet book about family and where we congregate to spend time with each other, which in my home was our kitchen table. It is for ages 3 -6 and it is beautifully illustrated using cut paper.
.
Thanks!

I didn't know this for the first book but I know for the second that pre-orders are VERY important for authors and illustrators. They tell the bookstore that the world is interested in this particular book and they will stock the book.
.
Fyi: I found out that even though Choosing Brave won MANY awards our book was not in every bookstore. Large ones and small local bookstores. This broke my heart.
.
So I am asking my followers to please pre-order my second book, The Heart of Our Home! Click the link in my bio!
.
This is a sweet book about family and where we congregate to spend time with each other, which in my home was our kitchen table. It is for ages 3 -6 and it is beautifully illustrated using cut paper.
.
Thanks!

Watch me.. FLY.. through cutting a portion of my cover for my new book, The Heart of Our Home.
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All of the art in my second book is hand-cut using great skill, #11 blades, a craft knife, band aids, lots of breaks, loud music, many yummy snacks, water, deep stretches, bright lights, problem-solving skills, and most importantly patience!
.
Enjoy!
.
Pre-order info coming soon!!!
.

Watch me.. FLY.. through cutting a portion of my cover for my new book, The Heart of Our Home.
.
All of the art in my second book is hand-cut using great skill, #11 blades, a craft knife, band aids, lots of breaks, loud music, many yummy snacks, water, deep stretches, bright lights, problem-solving skills, and most importantly patience!
.
Enjoy!
.
Pre-order info coming soon!!!
.

Cover Reveal!!!!!
I'm beyond excited to share the cover of my new book, The Heart of Our Home.
.
This second book was a labor of love, and I'm thrilled to see it come to life. This will be my debut as an author/illustrator!
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I'm grateful to the team at Roaring Brook Press @sharismardesign @missconnieh and @adrianadominguez1 for their guidance and support.
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The last slide features a special glimpse into my family's life, with photos around our beloved kitchen table that still has its place at my childhood home.
.
@jenrofe @andreabrownlit

Cover Reveal!!!!!
I'm beyond excited to share the cover of my new book, The Heart of Our Home.
.
This second book was a labor of love, and I'm thrilled to see it come to life. This will be my debut as an author/illustrator!
.
I'm grateful to the team at Roaring Brook Press @sharismardesign @missconnieh and @adrianadominguez1 for their guidance and support.
.
The last slide features a special glimpse into my family's life, with photos around our beloved kitchen table that still has its place at my childhood home.
.
@jenrofe @andreabrownlit

You lightly dust the frame, you blow the dust, you look for dust..only for the dust to appear after everything is in!

You lightly dust the frame, you blow the dust, you look for dust..only for the dust to appear after everything is in!

We made it to another list! Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the 21st century (So Far) .
Congrats to all those on the list!
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Mamie and Emmett would be so proud!
Please continue to buy copies! Buy them for your family, schools, and public library! We can not allow Mamie's brave story to be forgotten.
.
If you haven't gotten a copy, get one now! Please and thank you
.
#emmetttill #mamietillmobley #bestbooksofthe21stcentury #civilrights

We made it to another list! Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the 21st century (So Far) .
Congrats to all those on the list!
.
Mamie and Emmett would be so proud!
Please continue to buy copies! Buy them for your family, schools, and public library! We can not allow Mamie's brave story to be forgotten.
.
If you haven't gotten a copy, get one now! Please and thank you
.
#emmetttill #mamietillmobley #bestbooksofthe21stcentury #civilrights

Working on adding texture

Working on adding texture

Early sketches for The Stations of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Early sketches for The Stations of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Finally, got around to finish cutting this piece out. Will add color later.

Finally, got around to finish cutting this piece out. Will add color later.

Just a little tutorial on cutting repetitive small shapes.
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Thanks for watching!

Just a little tutorial on cutting repetitive small shapes.
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Thanks for watching!

Adding tissue paper to my design- quick tutorial.
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This is my method, and it is not set in stone. I do still make mistakes, but this way works enough for me.
.
Enjoy!
.
Do you have another way to add paper to the back? Please share!

Adding tissue paper to my design- quick tutorial.
.
This is my method, and it is not set in stone. I do still make mistakes, but this way works enough for me.
.
Enjoy!
.
Do you have another way to add paper to the back? Please share!

WIP, untitled, Cut paper with paint and gold leaf.
Will be adding colored tissue paper.

WIP, untitled, Cut paper with paint and gold leaf.
Will be adding colored tissue paper.

Another video using my cut silhouettes!
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From ShiftWorship.com.
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I love how they added the information to each silhouette. The silhouettes chosen are of historic Black Christian Leaders who worked tirelessly for justice, voting rights, and women's rights for African Americans in the US. They let Him (God the creator) use them to fight for you and me. They also knew injustices don't just affect black folks but so many other folks. We can't stand idly by as laws put in place to keep injustices from happening are destroyed.
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Look these good folks up and learn about their contribution to our society:
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Rosa Parks; Ralph Abernathy; Dorothy Cotton; Septima Clark; Fredrick Douglass Reese; Dorothy Height: John Lewis; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
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#cutpaper #paperart #blackhistorymonth #blackleaders #civilrightsactivist #papercut #vaartist #silhouetteartists #blm #americanhistory

Another video using my cut silhouettes!
.
From ShiftWorship.com.
.
I love how they added the information to each silhouette. The silhouettes chosen are of historic Black Christian Leaders who worked tirelessly for justice, voting rights, and women's rights for African Americans in the US. They let Him (God the creator) use them to fight for you and me. They also knew injustices don't just affect black folks but so many other folks. We can't stand idly by as laws put in place to keep injustices from happening are destroyed.
.
Look these good folks up and learn about their contribution to our society:
.
Rosa Parks; Ralph Abernathy; Dorothy Cotton; Septima Clark; Fredrick Douglass Reese; Dorothy Height: John Lewis; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
.
#cutpaper #paperart #blackhistorymonth #blackleaders #civilrightsactivist #papercut #vaartist #silhouetteartists #blm #americanhistory

Remember all those Martin Luther King Jr. silhouettes I cut? Well, I didn't create them just because he was a great man, and we needed to see him in all of his many power poses.
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I created them for Salem Media Group to use because MLK was a great man and had many power poses! I absolutely love how they incorporated the silhouettes into their videos. If your church needs videos for their services- check them out ShiftWorship.com.
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Copyrights to Salem Media Group.
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#cutpaper #Martinlutherkingjr #paperart #vaartist @lukecmiller #correttascottking @berniceaking #silhouettes #silhouetteartist #papercutart #blackhistorymonth #blacklivesmatter

Remember all those Martin Luther King Jr. silhouettes I cut? Well, I didn't create them just because he was a great man, and we needed to see him in all of his many power poses.
.
I created them for Salem Media Group to use because MLK was a great man and had many power poses! I absolutely love how they incorporated the silhouettes into their videos. If your church needs videos for their services- check them out ShiftWorship.com.
.
Copyrights to Salem Media Group.
.
#cutpaper #Martinlutherkingjr #paperart #vaartist @lukecmiller #correttascottking @berniceaking #silhouettes #silhouetteartist #papercutart #blackhistorymonth #blacklivesmatter

I was so honored to be asked to be featured in the Artist Magazine for their 40th anniversary issue! This magazine is normally for fine art painting, but they have a section called "Off the Canvas" for other creatives, and I was asked to be featured for this section.
.
I enjoyed speaking with Stephanie Laufersweiler, freelance writer and editor, and thank you to Ann Hevener, editor in chief, for reaching out to me after seeing my paper cuts for Choosing Brave. @artistsnetwork
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#cutpaper #featuredartist #paperart #papercut #vaartist #artistmagazine

I was so honored to be asked to be featured in the Artist Magazine for their 40th anniversary issue! This magazine is normally for fine art painting, but they have a section called "Off the Canvas" for other creatives, and I was asked to be featured for this section.
.
I enjoyed speaking with Stephanie Laufersweiler, freelance writer and editor, and thank you to Ann Hevener, editor in chief, for reaching out to me after seeing my paper cuts for Choosing Brave. @artistsnetwork
.
#cutpaper #featuredartist #paperart #papercut #vaartist #artistmagazine

This year has had some of the highest heights for me! I am thankful and grateful for the many blessings of 2023. Even my lows couldn't overshadow what wonderful things my Creator gave to me. I am thankful for my ancestors watching over me and passing down creativity and determination.
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I hope for 2024, I can continue to walk in the Kwanzaa principle of Kuumba, creativity - by performing acts that leave my community more beautiful and beneficial than I inherited it and to support the creative endeavors of my fellow creatives.
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May our talents be used to bring hope, peace, and love to this broken world.
.

God bless,
Janelle Washington
WashingtonCuts
.
FYI, one of these photos actually happened in 2022 or 2021 (time is smashed together). Can you tell me which one and I will send you a free gift.

This year has had some of the highest heights for me! I am thankful and grateful for the many blessings of 2023. Even my lows couldn't overshadow what wonderful things my Creator gave to me. I am thankful for my ancestors watching over me and passing down creativity and determination.
.
I hope for 2024, I can continue to walk in the Kwanzaa principle of Kuumba, creativity - by performing acts that leave my community more beautiful and beneficial than I inherited it and to support the creative endeavors of my fellow creatives.
.
May our talents be used to bring hope, peace, and love to this broken world.
.

God bless,
Janelle Washington
WashingtonCuts
.
FYI, one of these photos actually happened in 2022 or 2021 (time is smashed together). Can you tell me which one and I will send you a free gift.

It was lovely being in Columbus, Ohio, for the 2023 National Council of Teachers of English Conference.
.
Thank you to the @janeaddamspeaceassociation for asking for me to attend and be a part of your roundtable discussion 😊. And to the @nerdybookclub
It was a pleasure seeing how your students reflected and discussed our book and Water Warriors 💧.
.
Thank you to @mackidsbooks /Roaring book press staff for getting me there and putting together my itinerary and escorting me to my destinations! Yall are the real mvp's
.
It was good seeing everyone! And receiving the Orbus Pictus Honor award at the luncheon.
.
Anytime I get to see @angelajoybooks and @missconnieh is a good time 🥰
.
I am glad we wrapped up before the week of Thanksgiving!
.
#cutpaper #paperartist #ncte #picturebook #blackillustrators #vaartist

It was lovely being in Columbus, Ohio, for the 2023 National Council of Teachers of English Conference.
.
Thank you to the @janeaddamspeaceassociation for asking for me to attend and be a part of your roundtable discussion 😊. And to the @nerdybookclub
It was a pleasure seeing how your students reflected and discussed our book and Water Warriors 💧.
.
Thank you to @mackidsbooks /Roaring book press staff for getting me there and putting together my itinerary and escorting me to my destinations! Yall are the real mvp's
.
It was good seeing everyone! And receiving the Orbus Pictus Honor award at the luncheon.
.
Anytime I get to see @angelajoybooks and @missconnieh is a good time 🥰
.
I am glad we wrapped up before the week of Thanksgiving!
.
#cutpaper #paperartist #ncte #picturebook #blackillustrators #vaartist

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