leaf carving

{{short description|Art of trimming plant leaves to form silhouettes}}

Leaf carving is an artwork involving the delicate trimming of leaves to develop a picture or landscape.{{cite web|url=http://www.treehugger.com/culture/leaf-carving-an-incredible-new-art-form.html|title=Leaf Carving: An Incredible New Art Form|work=TreeHugger|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513212119/http://www.treehugger.com/culture/leaf-carving-an-incredible-new-art-form.html|archive-date=2016-05-13|url-status=usurped}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/7344891/Amazing-leaf-art-by-Leaf-Carving-Art-in-California.html|title=Amazing leaf art by Leaf Carving Art in California|work=Telegraph.co.uk|date=March 2010 }} The process of carving is performed by artists using tools to carefully cut the surface without cutting or removing the veins. The veins add detail into the subject matter of the carving. Leaf carving originated out of China and gained popularity in 1994 by artist Huag Tai Sheng after he got the Guinness Book of World Records to recognize his work.{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/incredible-artwork-hand-carved-from-leaves-2011-8|title=Incredible Artwork Hand-Carved From Leaves|author=Dina Spector|date=August 18, 2011|publisher=Business Insider|accessdate=May 30, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdasianews.com/2011/08/27/magnificence-nature-chinese-leaf-art/|title=Magnificence in Nature: Chinese Leaf Art|publisher=WeirdAsiaNews|author=M Dee Dubroff|date=August 27, 2011|accessdate=May 30, 2016}} The art may be related to Chinese paper cutting.{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/16/leaf-carving-artists-branching-out_n_925700.html|title=Leaf Carving Artists In China Branching Out Into Pop Culture|publisher=Huffington Post|author=David Moye|date=August 16, 2011|accessdate=May 30, 2016}} The material or most common leaf used in leaf carving is that of the Chinar tree. The Chinar tree is native to India, Pakistan and China. Chinar leaves have a close resemblance to maple leaves.