Megan Reed Design

Derived from the French word découper, which means ‘to cut up,’ Découpage is the art of decorating objects using paper cutouts, paint effects and layers of lacquer. Its roots can be traced back to 12th century China and then to Japan, becoming a popular art form in 17th century Venice and France, then in 19th century England. My love of Découpage combines both my fine arts and graphic design background with a decades-long appreciation for handmade papers. My designs are created by using pieces of cutout, deconstructed images, with decorative, handmade papers. The process of layering and collaging is like painting with paper. I particularly enjoy the challenges of working on three dimensional glass pieces, such as large bowls and vases. Working on glass requires that I layer the design in reverse and ensures the design on either side of the glass is unique within one piece. Upon completion of the design, up to 20 layers of varnish are applied and intermittently polished. All of my work is made to be functional art, meaning vases and bowls can hold water for flowers or candles. I've also expanded to included fashion accessories like clutches and jewelry because they are fun to make. Each piece is made by hand, by me with care in my Northfield, Illinois studio.