Paperwork finished without tears (7)
I believe the answer is:
origami
'paperwork' is the definition.
(artworks made from paper)
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
(Other definitions for origami that I've seen before include "Oriental art of paper folding" , "Art of crafting objects from paper" , "Japanese art form -- I'm a giro (rev)" , "Paperwork, as it were" , "Japanese art of folding or tearing paper" .)