NORWAY — For Richard Varney, a paint brush has a razor sharp blade and his paint is actually paper. The paper tole artisan will hold classes through the Western Maine Art Group Tuesday, Sept. 1, though Oct. 15, in the traditional technique of creating three-dimensional art using any open-copyright or original image printed on paper.

Paper tole is the process of taking identical prints, cutting out component parts, sizing, shaping and contouring the papers, then layering the components on the base print to give the finished piece an outstanding three-dimensional effect.

“Paper tole is something you can do at your leisure, any time of the day or night, and I have done both. I am inspired to take a flat picture and bring out the depth of three-dimension,” said Varney, who has been a paper toler for seven years after taking a class while in wintering Florida.

Classes will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and 9 to 11 a.m. Thursdays at the Lajos Matolcsy Arts Center, 480 Main St. Space is limited to 12 people and the cost is $10 a session.

For the first class, students will work on the image that will be provided. Students will be able to work on prints of their choice after the first class. The following tools will be required for the first class: a pair of curved scissors, an Exacto knife, a cutting board, a pair of craft tweezers, a shaping tool with a curved edge (a teaspoon for the first class) and clear silicone glue. Glaze and permanent colored markers are optional. All tools and materials will be discussed in detail at the first class.

For more information and to register, contact www.TheWMAG.org, 739-6161 or westernmaineartgroup@gmail.com.