From Paper Folding To Dream Unfolding

Similar to a paper, Donard Sape folds, but never breaks. 

Words Piolo Cudal
Photo courtesy of Donard Sape
November 14, 2025

Determined, patient, and visionary. These were the outlook of Donard Sape that brought him to success. He currently works as a freelance Quilling artist, with papers as his medium in each piece. 

As an artist, Sape is deeply grounded from his origin, with his vision and purpose as the central driving force into his job. For someone with crystal clear dreams, he never stops to cultivate his skills to reach his full potential, translating them into meaningful accomplishments. 

Sape has been doing paper art for more than two decades. Like his far-reaching vision, the path to getting here sweeps almost his entire being. And similar to a paper, it took him comparable folds, if not more. 

Cliche “no money in art” 

Born and raised in Camarines Sur, Sape experienced a life with its fair share of struggles. Growing up without a mother figure and with a person with a drinking habit, he knew that he would not experience a life he dreamt about if he did not persevere.

At a young age, he learned the difference between practicality and passion the hard way. As in a typical Filipino family setup, his father was also not in favor of the idea of him pursuing careers in the art industry because it won’t provide food on the table. 

This rejection fueled his motivation to pursue this childhood dream. His journey began in his province where he trained animation. With his hard work, he was chosen to work in an animation studio in Manila, honing his drawing skills in sketching and illustration. 

As animation projects were not always consistent, Sape transitioned to web design, further developing his creativity especially in terms of color combinations and visual themes. 

“Sobrang hirap ng journey talaga. As an artist na walang connection parang wala kang way na maka-penetrate sa art industry ng Philippines. Parang mag start ka sa zero tapos idagdag mo pa doon ‘yong pinagdaanan [rejection] ko sa family,” he shared. 

Allure of paper

His road to finding his place in the Philippine art scene was anything but easy. Everything started to change when a colleague introduced him to a UK-based artist named Yulia. Seeing that artist’s works left a lasting impression on Sape. 

“Simple na drawing pa nga lang mahirap na gawin eh, what more na gawin mo siya sa papel.  Pero ‘pag natapos mo siya, parang siyang painting talaga. Kung hindi mo siya lalapitan, parang hindi ka maniniwala na paper lang yun,” Sape narrated. 

As someone with a strong foundation of art, he tried to experiment with paper, testing if he had a knack for it. Like many self-taught artists, he began small, literally. 

“I first tried it on a journal cover, a small notebook. I gave one to a friend, and they thought I bought it from a bookstore. When I told them I made it, they were amazed,” Sape said in vernacular.

Uniqueness and accessibility were the things that drew Sape into paper art. When he started in 2012, there were origami, collages, and cutouts. However, he noticed that using strips of paper that stand upright was not something people were familiar with. 

Sape’s first sold artwork in 2013. 

“Paper is so ordinary. But once you cut it, shape it, and glue it into a layout, it becomes three-dimensional. It is extraordinary,” he described. “Paper is also everywhere. You can buy it anywhere and that’s a part of what makes it special,” Sape added. 

Eventually, his network widened and clients have been pleasant with his work. Fish has also become Sape’s trademark. Although the process is meticulous, Sape believes that it makes the piece come alive. 

Beyond the visual appeal, Sape’s work serves both a medium and message. His layered compositions mimic his journey, where every detail contributes to a greater whole. Just last year, he exhibited some of his artworks at the 16th Manila Art Fair in SMX Convention Center at Taguig City. 

Quilling process of Donard Sape. 

Vision with purpose

Each step shaped Sape’s creative foundation. Later, he joined a church group that helped him align his talent with purpose. 

A mentor once told him: “Connect your talent with purpose so it has meaning. When you are tired, you go back to that purpose.” 

Now, he sees his art as a way to give back and help people like him who started with nothing. Sape also believes that you create your own opportunities, with consistency as your motivation to improve. 

Contrary to a popular belief, he advised artists to learn the basics as “art can be taught.” But you need to do it by heart. “Art also takes time and patience. Rejections will come but instead of quitting, work harder. Eventually people will see its quality. You don’t need validation, just consistency,” he admitted. 

His final advice was to create with joy and everything will flow naturally. For him, art, like paper, is fragile enough to fold, but strong enough to hold purpose.