Papercutting artist to appear at Lollipops Friday

His work is one of Oprah’s picks; he’s been featured in Martha Stewart Wedding, People Magazine, Parenting, USA Today and more. He was commissioned for Reese Witherspoon’s recent wedding, Tom Hanks’ son’s wedding, Jennifer Garner, Jennifer Lopez, Hilary Duff, and for the movie Black Swan. Karl Johnson is single-handedly revitalizing the quaint art of silhouette paper cutting. You know, the kind of portrait you made in second grade? And he’s coming to Bainbridge Island.

Winslow storeowner Karin Lehotsky is bringing Johnson to the island Friday to cut silhouettes at Lollipops Boutique.

Johnson cuts the silhouettes freehand, a technique he learned from his father as a young boy. An average silhouette takes roughly 90 seconds, Lehotsky said. Born with vision in only one eye, Johnson is able to judge the distance and shape of and object by examining its shadow.

Lehotsky, who has been trying to think out of the box to invigorate business during the Winslow construction, learned of Johnson’s availability from his wife. Piggybacking on a Seattle visit, Johnson will hop the ferry April 22 and cut at Lollipops from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“I haven’t told him how bad the street is yet,” Lehotsky said on the phone Monday.

Lehotsky has already signed up 100 takers for the $25 5×7 portraits, many of which will go for Mother’s Day and wedding gifts. Lehotski said some grandparents are bringing photos of their grandkids to get the Johnson treatment. There are a few slots still available, but residents are also invited to come to the store just to watch.

To watch the youtube.com video of Johnson in action, visit Lollipop’s website at www.lollipopsboutiqueonline.com.