Hello everybody!
Today »Antyyy's Papercrafts« is celebrating 4 successful years of papercraft business! - Well, kind of I guess, since I do not have an “official date” when I started selling/posting them, and am not even sure what date to use as the beginning of my papercraft business journey, but you got to decide on something, right? XD
So, I was forging around my folders and work about 2 weeks ago, when I came across my 1. post of my first ever layout of my »Antyyy's Papercrafts« business logo, which was square at that time. Damn the memories XD so I looked at the date when this was posted, and it was really 4 years ago and around the same date as today. So, again I was thinking that after such time of still being in the business and not giving up on my dreams and work that I love to do, I should say at least a few words about it. Or a few more XD
It has been a long journey really. Starting from existing papercraft files I found online, I probably made and built them even earlier, so at least 8 years ago. And I instantly fell in love with them. I loved the idea that I could finally have anime figurines and things that I could not afford to buy online anywhere, and I was even more amazed how these things worked, how paper can be folded and bent, and how it looked amazing. I remember being really proud when I first assembled a huge Renamon papercraft, that I had to redo about 3 times, because it was so difficult at the beginning. And I just looked at it at the end and I was sooo amazed and sooo unmeasurably proud for marking it. Not to mention how awesome it looked in my room ;)
But my very first papercrafts were probably of Pikachu. I happened to stumble upon papercrafts when I was searching for Pikachu pictures, and I though, what the hell is this and how can it look so awesome being made out of printed paper. And I probably made at least 5 different Pikachu papercrafts, that were available at that time on the internet and I was hooked for life XD That is, btw, why »Antyyy's Papercrafts« is using a Pikachu plush in the middle of the business logo, because it is the first thing that got me obsessed over this work (and I am a huge Pikachu fan anways).
After about 2 years of this, I actually ran out of papercrafts to make. New ones were slowly made, Pepakura was just at the beginning of being a huge known papercrafting program, and I really was depressed, because I wanted more. No matter if I every nook and cranny in my room was filled with papercrafts of all sizes and shapes, I wanted more! So, I was starting to think of making my own, I mean how hard can it be? (XD it was, and still is very hard, let me tell you, but the young me had no idea what awaited me…).
But my dream kept me going and I was determined to not let myself down on this. I could do this no matter what! So, I searched for every available 3D model online and started to unfold those into Pepakura and share them in my gallery, at which time I also made my Deviantart account active. And the first steps of »Antyyy's Papercrafts« were made!
And for some time, I was really happy that I could do that. But after some time again, most of the 3D models I could use were running out again, and most things were either not posed, had textural issues or were T-posed (god I hated those things the most). So, I couldn’t just unfold a T-posed human just like that... And I was thinking and looking at the time at other artists that made papercrafts and how they could do it, and I found out that you can actually pre-edit the models, before unfolding them into Pepakura (duuhhh, you can’t just import every model you see into the program and hope for the best, most models are too high-poly and detailed to be made into a functional papercraft, not to mention the detached parts and overlaps…).
And that got me started. Really started. I searched everywhere on how to make what, and let me tell you it was really hard to understand these modeling programs for me, not to mention how to export anything to a functional format or how to pose things. And at that time I met Sabi996 XD and he really helped me out with my first steps of editing and posing models, so I am still eternally thankful for him showing me the way in all this, giving some inside tips and that we are still good online friends :) I also met some other amazing artists that had the same passion and continue going along their own artistic way, such as MorellAgrysis, and others who started probably at the same time as me, such as HellswordPapercraft, gardevoir7, and many, many more, who I was in contact with and had some really good advice along the road.
It was really important to me to have this backup and to see a thriving community of people who enjoyed making the same things I did. And I think for a business to really be successful you have to have some support along the way, and I am thankful for them still :)
And after these modeling and posing basics were set, I strived to make more, make better and better papercrafts, and I came to a point where I wanted to make my own, and only my own papercrafts, something that nobody has and sets me apart from the rest. So I really dug deep into how to make 3D models, how to texture, pose, draw, etc. etc., and it took some time, but I got to the point that I can now proudly sell my own designs that I make by my own 2 hands, that are made entirely by me from start to finish, and I am loving every part of it! I am proud to be standing here today at this point and I am proud to still continue with my journey, making my effort and my work shine brighter with every new papercraft that I make, and making them better and more awesome.
The road was not easy, let me tell you. As some point in my success I was so bullied and constantly shitposted all the time, I though I would just give up. All the harassment, people betraying my trust and posting my hard-made works of art online, posting it as their own, that really beat me down. But I learned from it, I said to hell with those people that don’t appreciate you, I am doing this for the few people that like what I do, I do it because I love my work, and no amount of negativity can hold me back from doing what I love to do! And it never will! As long as I have some of you out there that give me the courage to strive on, I will make more and more, and I will continue to get better for all of you people out there and for myself, to make the papercraft community bigger and better along the way!
So I say THANK YOU! Thank you a 100x times for all the people that supported me, that still support me, for all the followers, for all the viewers, people loving my work, and also for the people hating my work, because I would not be here as I am today, if it were not for you. I am thankful for each and every one of you!
I know I do make mistakes, I know that sometimes I talk to much shit when I am angry, I know that I get angry at times for a lot of stuff, but you guys keep me going and I promise you I never take that for granted, and I always have in mind people that are going to make my crafts and how to make them happy and content with what I do. So, if you can still support me the way you do I would be ever so gratefull for it, and I will continue to try to make everybody happy as much as I can with my own 2 hands! Thank you!
Here is to 4 years of “Antyyy’s Papercrafts” and to many, many more to come!
Happy crafting everybody
P.S. The picture is a compilation of some of my papercrafts that I built myself. It’s a small collection that I have in my apartment, and the shelf is only there for me to put my papercrafts on, and to highlight them in my home XD They are all my own design and work, and most of them I have already posted in my gallery, so you can take a look at those.
Those who I didn’t release yet (maybe you can find 1 or 2 new ones in the picture?), will definitely be revealed as time comes ;)
![Bunny Emoji-87 (Thanks) [V5]](https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/i/db95d15b-8c0c-4bb6-b743-1beb61737925/d874p2v-541aea65-ec36-4f7c-9db8-ec3c59327b54.gif)