Sena Runa: From Paper Quilling to 3 Published Books

Sena Runa’s portrait beside her paper bird and Istanbul artworks, with a headline about three published quilling books.

Sena Runa turned paper quilling into a creative career spanning three published books, original artwork, and online teaching. Her journey began with a craft she discovered while working in human resources, before she became a full-time artist.

Based in Istanbul, she is known for bright colors and carefully shaped paper. Her business offers several ways to engage with that style: collecting a finished piece, commissioning something personal, or learning to make paper art yourself.

Connect with Sena Runa

Website: Sena Runa Paper Art
About Sena: About — Sena Runa
Instagram: @senaruna
Etsy Shop: SenaRuna

A Creative Outlet After Seven Years in HR

Sena’s official biography describes a degree in Business Administration and seven years working in human resources. She discovered paper quilling in 2013, and the creative outlet became something she wanted to pursue professionally.

In 2015, she moved into a full-time artistic career. That sequence gives the change useful context: discovering the material and making it her profession were separate stages.

For readers curious about the technique itself, our beginner quilling guide introduces the tools and basic shapes behind decorative paper designs.

Small Paper Pieces With a Distinctive Character

Her Among the Leaves artwork places a bird among layered autumn foliage inside a small white frame. Raised paper shapes create depth, while a warm yellow background holds the composition together.

The appeal is in the relationship between subject, color, and material. The bird feels detailed without hiding the folded and shaped paper that gives it character.

It also shows how a recognizable style can work at an intimate scale. A collector can display a finished object without needing the tools or time to make it.

Framed paper bird surrounded by layered yellow autumn leaves, created by Sena Runa.
Artwork and photo: Sena Runa. Original artwork listing.

Turning Places Into Paper Keepsakes

Sena’s Istanbul miniature takes a different direction. A tower, boat, curling sky, and bright sun fit inside a narrow composition that can be held in one hand.

The compact format makes the details especially noticeable. Curved strips guide the eye around the scene, while the blue background and yellow sun create a clear contrast.

Her shop includes other subjects and city-inspired pieces, demonstrating how paper can carry both decorative appeal and a connection to a place.

Sena Runa's miniature Istanbul paper artwork featuring a tower, boat, curling sky, and yellow sun.
Artwork and photo: Sena Runa. Original Istanbul listing.

Taking the Technique Into Three Books

Quilling Art, published in 2017, presents 20 projects with illustrated instructions and templates. The designs range from a butterfly and sailboat to a heart and mermaid.

Her 2020 book, Quilling: 20 Beautiful Designs, adds another collection, including a rainbow, llama, and hot-air balloon.

In 2023, Quilling Flowers brought the focus to floral designs. These three distinct titles are the publishing milestone behind this story.

A book makes the learning portable: readers can keep diagrams beside their materials and return to individual designs. Moving from finished artwork to illustrated instruction also gives beginners a clearer starting point than a photograph alone.

For another approach to handmade blooms, explore our paper flower ideas.

A Business Built Around Making and Teaching

Sena’s commercial portfolio includes work associated with Royal Caribbean, Essie, and other brands. Her website also invites commissions for private collectors, companies, and special events.

Teaching offers a separate route. Her course page describes prerecorded lessons and one year of access; enrollment was closed when checked in October 2026, with a waiting list available.

Original artwork, commissions, books, and courses serve different needs around the same creative skill. Sena’s journey shows how one distinctive material practice can develop into several offerings while keeping the artwork central.

Meet More Creators, Discover New Possibilities

Paper quilling is one way to build a recognizable body of work. These makers offer other perspectives on connecting a distinctive craft with products, lessons and a wider creative practice.

Which part of Sena’s paper work would you like to explore: color, composition or sharing your designs? Tell us what you would like to make or learn next.