Paper Cut Work: Intertwine

October 15, 2014

As I was working on a price list and titles for work in my upcoming show at Kafka, I realized there are a few pieces I haven’t yet shared here. I document everything on Instagram, and sometimes work doesn’t make it beyond there.

There are three pieces I reworked a few weeks (or maybe even months) after I initially felt they were complete, and this is one of those three. I was inspired by an image of intertwined circles I came across on the sidewalk of my neighbourhood, but as a paper cut design it felt rather dull. I went back and added smaller rings within the two larger ones, and then it felt complete.

I was following my fascination with circles at the time, and I would really like to redo this same idea in a different way. I’m happy with this piece but there are things about it I want to do better.

The finished paper cut design is created from 14″ x 17″ Canson drawing paper, backed with red water colour paper. It’s all framed and ready for it’s IRL debut at Kafka next week.

Doodling to the Moon and Back

October 9, 2014

Last week I was feeling like all the work I needed to do for my upcoming show was ready to go, that is until I visited the venue again. I decided I needed a few more pieces to properly fill the space, and one of these needed to be large. I decided this was a good opportunity to work on a large gel pen drawing, which turned out to be a bit of an endurance test.

I used a white Sakura gel pen to draw on a piece of black 98 lb Canson paper with a light texture. I didn’t like drawing on this paper as much as the card stock which has a smoother surface to work on. The diameter of the circle is 13.5″ on 17″ paper, and I drew it over the course of about four or five days.

I’ve never spent so much time drawing, but my hand did not end up feeling as sore as it does when I’ve been doing too much paper cutting. That seems to take more effort.

I shared the collage of the four in-progress photos on Instagram a few days ago, and a few people expressed liking the incomplete versions. I like them as well, but I really wanted this one in particular to be a circle.

And just like that it is now framed and ready for the show.

Doodle Evolution

September 29, 2014

The other week I bought a white ink Sakura Gelly Roll pen from Opus on impulse, and my doodling addiction was refueled. I tested it out on a piece of scrap card stock in black, and knew immediately I needed to do more.

This series of drawings combines all the shapes I often doodle on repeat individually into one crazy composition that plays with the eyes. The white ink on the black paper seems to glow. The drawing above is the first of the full size pieces I did on 8.5″ x 11″ cardstock.

After the first drawing I decided to work towards a circle as the end result. Pictured above are the first two of these doodle clusters, both of which I completed in one sitting.

The latest of these I worked on over a few days because I didn’t have enough time to work on it in a single sitting. The photos below are how the piece evolved as I worked on it.

In the process of working on all of these drawings I’ve used up the first Sakura pen I purchased and returned to Opus to buy more. These pens feel so lovely to move across a smooth surface, which is why I love to draw with them.

I am very pleased with this series of drawings and have decided to include some of them in my upcoming show at Kafka in October. More details to come about that…

Working In Layers and Dazzling the Eyes Part 2

September 17, 2014

I finished this second layered paper cut work a few weeks ago, but just didn’t get around to sharing it here until now. The papers I used for this work are a 98 lb lightly textured paper by Canson, and the final size is 19.25″ x 19.25″ to fit into a shadow box frame.

The bottom layer is white paper while the top layer is actually an indigo colour much darker than what is pictured here. My intention with the second layer of this paper cut was to make to less elaborate than the previous one I shared, but I didn’t really succeed. I’m not very good at pulling back on making these designs less intense than they are (as you can see from the detail photos).

The final image is of the two layers flattened together. This piece is already framed and has the two pieces of paper mounted with space between and the cast shadows add more depth to the design.

Working in Layers and Dazzling the Eyes

September 4, 20142 Comments

For the last few weeks I’ve been concentrating my paper cutting efforts on a series of larger pieces with two layers. I’m working with heavier and larger paper than usual, a 98 lb with light texture from Canson. These are being made to fit into 19.25″ x 19.25″ white shadowbox frames, with about an 1.25″ depth.

These are quick work in progress photos of the first of these pieces. The bottom layer is white paper to be backed in red, while the second layer is red paper to be backed with white. You can see the full size of the paper I am working with and how it overflows the easel. The tricky bit has been to not wreck the piece while I work because I rotate the material as I cut.

The final image here is of the two pieces layered flat together, but my intention with the framing is to give them space and allow for the play of light and shadow. At this is smaller size the whole thing is pretty intense on the eyes, which I rather like.

Microcosm Series: Triangles

August 19, 2014

These are two more of the recent works combining paper cut and drawing. The two previously shared pieces are circles, but I also wanted to play around with other shapes like these triangles.

As with the others, these are about 5″ x 5″ on 8.5″ x 11″ black card stock using silver gel pen. The work is created freehand from start to finish. I decided to cover the entire surface of the triangle with the doodle of circles and it looks pretty intense (and shiny!)

These will also be part of the show I’m having in the fall at Kafka. I still have plenty of work to do but things are getting closer to the end.

Made to Order Paper Cut Letters

August 14, 2014

After the recent paper cut commissioned letter C, and feedback from my newsletter subscribers, I’ve decided to offer paper cut letters made to order from my Etsy shop.

These are samples I’ve created for the listing using my first initial and a big B for Boris. The letters can be custom made in any colour combination of 8.5″ x 11″ card stock, from eye-blasting colours to black & white.

Visit the made to order paper cut letters listing in my Etsy shop for more details.

Microcosm Series

August 13, 2014

I’ve chosen Microcosm as the working title for this series, and will see if it changes as things develop further. This is actually the third of four pieces I’ve created over the last week. It’s the second circle while the remaining two I haven’t shared on the blog are triangle shapes.

I’m enamored of the metallic gel pens I use to draw with. Partially it’s the colours and how they catch the light (ooh shiny!), but I also love the feel as they glide over the surface of the paper.

The circle is about 4.5″ in diameter on a piece of 8.5″ x 11″ cardstock. I’m enjoying the creation of these small quick pieces while I take a break from the larger, more energy consuming ones.

Under the Microscope

August 11, 20142 Comments

The ideas explored in the sketchbook work I shared last week quickly made it’s way into finished pieces. I’m still working at a small size on these (5″ x 5″) because I find the drawing intense even though I’m marking making with simple circles. It’s the tight repetition that is the killer on my hands.

A friend remarked on Instagram that the series feels like looking through a microscope. This is exactly what I was thinking about these drawing/paper cutting compositions, and it will probably inspire a related title for this series.

I have completed two more pieces for this series, and will share more later this week.

Sketchbook Peek: Paper Cut & Drawing

August 5, 2014

A preview of two experiments in my sketchbook combing paper cutting and drawing that recently led to finished pieces (not pictured here).

These are small, about 4 or 5 inches square, and I used those metallic gel pens I so love to draw with. The tiny circles are just the thing I often doodle obsessively, and once filled a page with them using pencil.

I’ve decided to include a series of small pieces like these in my upcoming fall show.

Canvas to the Imagination

Rachael Ashe – Art | Craft | Life

Category: Paper