Paper cutting (first attempt) in my creative space
So – My creative space yesterday was the kitchen table. I had Amelia home sick from school and when she wasn’t drawing or driving me crazy, she commandeered my computer to play mathletics so I was left twiddling my thumbs. This ended up being a very good thing because it forced me away from twitter and google reader et al and into the studio where I found the pair of tiny little scissors I bought a while back for the purpose of creating some papercuts. I have been wanting to have a go at this for a long time, inspired by the great papercut goddesses Amy Karol and Elsita Mora, and the papercut guru Rob Ryan. Watching the Miso + Ghost Patrol doco on the ABC just nailed it for me.
I have always had a huge passion for silhouette art works – probably because of some of Jan Pienkowski books full of fantastical scenes or those Dover books full of quaint vignettes.
Papercuts seem like the perfect way to get that contrast and the drama of shape and line. Obviously Pienkowski (above) could get a huge amount of detail using pen and ink but have you seen Elsita’s papercuts? (of course you have!) … I look at them and GASP at the detail.
I am definitely not so impressed with my first effort but I thought I would publish it anyway to show a “starting point”. I rushed my design and then added bits spontaneously. I had a ratty toddler jiggling constantly at my elbow and a mathlete across the table stressing as she competed online against a boy-genius from Qatar. I had a blunt knife, a wrecked cutting mat, a crappy pair of scissors and my two layers of paper seemed to be unforgiving so my first effort is pretty awful (a good craftswoman *always* blames her tools) but I have dashed out this morning, and bought a tonne of new blades and a better cutting mat and some fine black paper so we’re all systems go. While I found the process frustrating yesterday (I think it might have been easier to fold some of those complex origami planes!), I can completely understand how it could be quite addictive and even quite meditative.
(How come Rob Ryan’s fingers aren’t covered in bandaids?)
Responses
24th April 2009 at 12:27 pm
Oh Claire I can’t even begin to say how much I love this. So obviously big girl & little girl & the apple & the heart.
I’m looking forward to more of your papercuts.
24th April 2009 at 12:46 pm
The papercut is just beautiful – don’t be too hard on yourself – I bet the girls loved it!
24th April 2009 at 12:51 pm
Are you crazy? How can you NOT be impressed with your 1st effort? It is absolutely gorgeous!!! What a clever cookie you are!! If I did that on my 500th attempt I would be over the moon! 
24th April 2009 at 12:52 pm
Adorable! I love the type and so much more.
Can’t wait to see how a second attempt goes if this is only your first : )
24th April 2009 at 1:09 pm
I was looking at the top photo thinking “I’m sure that’s not the names of Amy Karol’s kids… she must have done this for a friend”. And then I realised this was your blog, not hers! So I reckon it’s a pretty good first attempt to fool me that it was a work of Amy’s!
24th April 2009 at 1:25 pm
one word….gorgeous!
My daughter’s name is Amelia….I love seeing it in your papercut.
24th April 2009 at 1:33 pm
Have you seen Bovey Lee’s work?
http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/03/weekly-wrap-up-bovey-le.html
http://boveylee.netfirms.com/Site/Home.html
I am scared of paper cutting. There just aren’t enough bandaids in the world… Your first attempt is pretty impressive.
24th April 2009 at 1:37 pm
I think your paper-cut is so inspiring – love the green and doubly love that you have incorporated your two girls Looking forward to seeing more!
24th April 2009 at 2:02 pm
WOW! Good on you – it looks beautiful! What is the scale? and are you sticking it on the wall? I love Rob Ryan’s work too – have you seen the wedding dress he made? Unbelievable…
24th April 2009 at 2:32 pm
Ah. My favourite. Jan Pienkowski. And Joan Aiken too. Sigh. I have one of Miso’s papercuts. It is beautiful. And Sarah McNeil does amazing papery things too. I love your Lily and Amelia. Shite you are clever. Yes. You are.
24th April 2009 at 3:03 pm
Absolutely brilliant! Love it, really. You did a fantastic job.
24th April 2009 at 4:27 pm
I’d pay money for that! And besides, what a fabulous excuse to buy more art supplies.
24th April 2009 at 5:13 pm
I think that looks gorgeous! Tres amazing considering the jiggling toddler and the older one enduring the stress of online maths comps…
24th April 2009 at 7:24 pm
Your papercut is so lovely and you can only get better I like the bright green too!
24th April 2009 at 8:53 pm
Wow – that’s incredible – especially considering the circumstances under which it was created! And thanks for the link to Elsita Mora’s work…so heartbreakingly beautiful, dark and wonderful.
24th April 2009 at 9:30 pm
Wow, I think you did a fantastic job for a first attempt! Look forward to more.
24th April 2009 at 9:43 pm
Oh – I know only too well the trials of creative work done with help from toddlers and crappy tools!! I think you did remarkable well – even if they were not the circumstances I’d still be impressed!
24th April 2009 at 10:02 pm
Wow, that’s amazing! How are your hands not permanently cramped? I’ve tried just cutting simple letters for scrapbooking with a craft knife and found it super frustrating! I don’t know if this would interest you or if you enjoy the manual process, but I just got a Silhouette digital cutter and it’s awesome – you can cut anything you design in Illustrator/Inkscape! Anyway, great work and looking forward to seeing more
24th April 2009 at 10:53 pm
I thought of Pienkowski when I looked at your first picture (although I didn’t remember his name, what I did remember, if you can believe this, was that exact same incredible illustration you’ve reproduced. Is it to go with Baba Yaga?)
As for the hand pains other people have mentioned, Dorian managed to pinch a nerve in his thumb cutting a deckled edge around the cat pictures on our wedding invitations. That was almost three months ago and he still whines about it from time to time.
24th April 2009 at 11:01 pm
It is all so beautiful, isn’t it?
Here is another blog you might like to look at. She has some nice tutorials. Be certain to check out the piece she made as an album cover.
25th April 2009 at 12:02 am
I think it’s exquisite! I’m sure I’d slice my fingertips clean off if I tried it.
25th April 2009 at 12:48 am
Such lovely, whimsical lines! I have no idea about papercutting but am intrigued about the 2 layers of paper. Are they stuck together while you cut? How do you remove the white sheet at the end? If you had any good links for the ‘how to’ it would be great. Looking forward to seeing more.
25th April 2009 at 1:23 am
Oh man, we had Pienkowski’s “First Christmas” when I was a kid and I used to spend HOURS staring at those amazing silhouettes. I need to collect all the fairy tales, etc.! Thanks for the reminder (and I think your first attempt is pretty darn good!)…
25th April 2009 at 1:26 am
Really Really beautiful. I used a scalpel to cut my christmas cards and I had so many little nicks on my fingers OUCH! I truly hope your hands are intact my dear.
25th April 2009 at 2:01 am
This is your first attempt? Uau, How much better will you be?
Amazing… what kind of scissors do you use?
25th April 2009 at 4:04 am
I love your papercut design. It looks like fun, yet I don’t need another project to start.
25th April 2009 at 4:21 am
Oh Claire! Your first papercut is amazing! I love it and it is so special & sweet! Great design! Hugs from Canada, Laurraine
25th April 2009 at 5:11 am
I think your papercut is lovely.
Slightly off topic, but would you mind sharing the math website your daughter was on? That sounds like something my girls would enjoy…
25th April 2009 at 10:41 am
That’s great! My first attempt at paper cutting was so bad that I’ve never even tried again…
27th April 2009 at 4:11 pm
awww i reckon that’s GERAT for a first effort! i haven’t even done a first effort yet, s i’m much in awe of anyone who produces anything like this!
29th April 2009 at 11:43 am
These are wonderful! Oh, for just a little artistic ability …
For a more disturbing take on the silhouette – although they’re always slightly eerie, aren’t they? – have you seen the work of African American artist Kara Walker?
29th April 2009 at 10:26 pm
Actually I thought your first efforts were pretty damned good. Loove the Pienkowski, brings out the artist manque in us all to the full.
4th May 2009 at 1:09 am
Wow googling paper cutting and l found you! and your wonderful paper 1st cut!will be popping by to see the 2nd! thanks.x
24th April 2009 at 12:19 pm
That is fab! Very impressive that you still have fingers left too.