Category: Paper

The Leeway Residency: Halfway Point

I haven’t been working on my pattern paper cut project much over the last three weeks because I’ve been focused on other things. But yesterday I finally made time to work on transforming the flat pieces into 3D, and how to connect them together. This is the part of the project I’ve been procrastinating madly, all the while working on it in my head.

I scored the paper and folded the three pieces into half boxes, and used painters tape because I didn’t have archival glue on hand. I’m still not sure if I will glue each box or assemble them with tabs. If they are glued it makes them more difficult to store and ship, while with tabs I can take them apart to make them flat.

Prototype pattern paper cut installation

Prototype pattern paper cut installation

Prototype pattern paper cut installation

I won’t go into details about how these are attached to one another, but they aren’t glued or taped. I love playing with materials and problem solving. The goal is to make this a modular installation of small pieces that fit together to make a larger whole. With this prototype I can see the idea is going to work.

The Leeway Residency: Update on Progress in Week Five

When I was working in The Leeway during my open studio on the weekend I completed my ninth paper cut pattern. I am pleased to have reached this point already, though I am trying to finish two to three of them a week these days.

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I made the decision to incorporate a wider variety of patterns and distinguish them by category using colour. Going forward all of the Japanese patterns will be cut from black paper and the Islamic ones will remain white. This means I need to redo all of the Japanese designs I’ve already cut, but I’ve moved forward with cutting new ones from black paper, some of which are pictured here.

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At the moment I’m still holding off on sorting out the three dimensional aspect of this installation, but I do have some interesting solutions in my head for how to do it.

Instagram Photos In Print With Chatbooks

Chatbooks is an online service that turns your Instagram photos into printed books. They sent me a complimentary photo book last week to share with my followers and promote the service.

The book is 6″ by 6″ square with about sixty of the photos I shared on my Instagram account between April and December 2014. Each page includes a photo with corresponding location data, date the photo was shared, and the caption used on IG. More about their Instagram books here.

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The print quality is really good especially considering the resolution of photos shared on Instagram. These are the the printing specs from their website:

  • 100 lb. matte cover
  • 100 lb satin coating paper for interior pages
  • Ink certified by Wilhelm Imaging Research to resist fading for more than 200 years

If you’d like to see your own Instagram photos collected into a cute little book visit the Chatbooks website and use the offer code: racha630. You’ll get your first book FREE.

Find me on Instagram!

Work in Progress Cut Paper Patterns

Last week Friday marked the end of week four of my artist residency at The Leeway. I have five completed pattern paper cuts and a sixth about a third of the way to completion. There are three Japanese textile patterns, and three Islamic geometric design patterns.

The photos here are a mix of work in progress and completed work.

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This week I will spend some time figuring out the three dimensional aspect of the work, and how to bring these together as a coherent installation. I’ve also just acquired a pile of new books on pattern design from other cultures, and will spend time figuring out whether or not they’ll be included in this project.

If you’re interested in seeing these in person come visit me on Saturday at The Leeway. I’ll be hosting an open studio from noon to 4pm.

The Leeway Residency: Working With Pattern Design

I’m three weeks into my residency at The Leeway and I feel like I’m making good progress on my project. I’ve decided to explore traditional pattern making as my focus for the next few months, and these are the two pieces I’ve cut so far.

On the left is a Japanese textile pattern, and on the right is Islamic geometric design used in architecture. Each one is cut from a piece of 8.5″ x 11″ white card stock, and the design area is 5″ x 7.5″. The large white border around the cut areas will eventually be folded so they become 3D. I’m still refining the details on that part of things.

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I’m using low quality inkjet prints as my cutting templates. The second photo here is of what remains of these prints after I’m finished cutting. They are delicate pieces of paper which I’m also holding onto.

Work in Progress: Tyvek Paper Cut Installation Part 2

A few weeks ago I started working on a second paper cut installation made from the remaining seven foot roll of tyvek. It’s proving to be the most awkward thing ever to maneuver around and work on so my progress on it has been slow. This one will be composed of a series of intricately cut circles varying in size throughout the material.

Work in progress - Tyvek installation

Work in progress - Tyvek installation

Work in progress - Tyvek installation

The final photo here is where I reached as of yesterday. It’s going to take me a long time to finish this, but I am determined to see it through to the end.

Creative Paper Cutting Techniques Demo at Opus

I will be on location once again at Opus Art Supplies Hastings Street location giving an in-store demo of paper cutting techniques next Sunday. The demo is FREE but you must register by phone (604‑678‑5889) to reserve a spot as space is limited.

Work in progress installation

When I give these demos at Opus I do a thorough run down on knives, paper, techniques, and different ways to use paper cut elements in artwork. Read more details about the demonstration on the Opus website.

Opus Artist Demo: Creative Paper Cutting Techniques
Date: Sunday May 3rd, 2015
Time: 11pm & 1pm
Cost: Free
Location: Opus Art Supplies, 100-207 West Hastings Street

Concentric Circles with lines and more lines

I’ve played with the idea before of making a piece of work with both paper cut designs and drawing, but they were both smaller and simpler. Last week I sat down at my easel with the idea of creating something more complicated, and so I dove into making this new concentric circles piece.

WIP - paper cut and drawing on paper

I outlined the circles first and then worked on creating the alternating cut paper circles, leaving the drawing until last. As I worked on the drawing I really struggled with seeing the piece through to the end because it felt like it wasn’t working. While in process, I thought the drawings and cut designs were fighting against one another and the piece was far too busy overall.

paper cut and drawing on paper

paper cut and drawing on paper

I forced myself to keep going, and when I reached the end I could finally see that it all does work together. Now I view it as a powerful piece of work that is full of energy.

paper cut and drawing on paper

The full size of this paper cut & drawing is 14″ x 17″ on archival drawing paper.

A Return to Play in the Studio

This year I am determined to concentrate more on making the work I want to make and not just work towards fulfilling an obligation for a show. With this in mind last week when I was in the studio I decided to just play and see where it took me.

I started with a doodle using metallic gel pen on black paper, and made a few different clusters of patterns and lines around the same page. I wasn’t really satisfied with these so my next step was cutting the paper into circles and capturing the doodles I’d drawn so far within its own circle of black paper. I went on to fill each entire circle cut piece with its own distinct doodle, starting with the first three here.

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I kept working on this over the next few days, and now I think I have about fifteen of these circles. I really like them.

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I don’t know where I am going with this but that’s just fine. For awhile now I’ve need to play, and there’s no reason to stop just yet.

Commission Work for Farmboy Fine Arts

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This is a recent piece of work I was commissioned to do for Farmboy Fine Arts. The piece is based upon classic Arabic architecture details, and I was provided with the design to use as my template. Cutting someone else’s design is not something I’d ever done before, but this was fascinating to work with because the line work is so structured.

Farmboy commission

Farmboy commission

Farmboy commission

The finished piece was framed a photographed by Farmboy Fine Arts.