three sisters.
Some holiday catch-up:
My brother received his paper cut, framed for Christmas and my mom got this one. She was surprised, she didn't know one was also made for her. It was cut at the 11th hour, at 2 am, with not enough light, but I just couldn't stop working on it. It was framed in white, wrapped, and put under the tree—so I realize, seeing it now, I had forgotten exactly what it looked like. I found this very cool super thin crepe-like paper that was wonderful to cut and has a very small wrinkled texture. (Here locally at paper zone, portland peeps.)
It's framed in an 8" x 10" white frame with very little breathing space, the paper cut almost goes up to the edge. I'm not sure if I need to float these more and give them more room. Framing them floating with more space makes them seem more precious and I am not sure if I want this folksy craft style of work to take on a precious capital A arty feel when framed. . . I need to experiment more. At any rate, I love drawing and cutting these, so I will have plenty to frame and experiment with. I changed blades on this one—the sisters there are small, the smallest is about the size of a dime.
Inspiration of late:
I just found Little Circus Design (via Bloesem) and her work is making me very happy. It's not paper cut, I don't think, but has the bold graphic look I am obsessed with right now. Please look at this one. Amazing.
The sisters are wonderful! The texture in that paper is really rich.
Posted by: Caron | January 06, 2008 at 05:50 PM
what a beautiful yellow! gorgeous work, well done. It made a mother proud, I'm sure.
Posted by: meg | January 06, 2008 at 05:52 PM
beautiful work. and great link. i'm in love with that print!
Posted by: meg | January 06, 2008 at 06:24 PM
Oh how lovely! I'm more than a little biased, but I do have a soft spot for papercutting.
Posted by: pen and paper | January 06, 2008 at 06:47 PM
Beautiful. Love how the three sisters are holding hands.
That gold paper is one of my favorites. I've hoarded a few stacks of it already. ;)
Posted by: sally | January 06, 2008 at 06:47 PM
Dang! That looks fantastic. Love the girls in the middle.
Posted by: Crystal | January 06, 2008 at 07:32 PM
Forgive me if you've already mentioned it, but you *do* have the Hans Christan Anderson papercut book, don't you? That's what got me into the papercutting. And this one you did of the girls: priceless, lovely, and a truly wonderful gift.
Happy New Year to you all!
Posted by: steph | January 07, 2008 at 12:00 AM
I remember the one you made for your brother and I'm glad you made one for you mother, too. I'm sure she loves it. Framing anything is always something I have to think hard about--it can change the whole tone of the piece you're going to frame. I appreciate your shared thoughts about what you are considering in this area.
Posted by: June | January 07, 2008 at 12:27 AM
I just recently bought a book on paper cutting after seeing your post,looking forward to trying very soon.
Posted by: Miss K | January 07, 2008 at 02:52 AM
Oh wow! Your paper cut is lovely. I just don't have the patience - or the ability not to cut off my own fingers! The Little Circus stuff is fab, too. I love the one with the tree - it has a sort of Aboriginal feeling about it.
Posted by: Emma | January 07, 2008 at 03:01 AM
Fabulous! Have you checked out Rob Ryan's stuff? Think you might like.
http://www.misterrob.co.uk/
Posted by: Flibbertygibbet | January 07, 2008 at 04:17 AM
i sometimes do spontaneous freehand papercutting. It is really relaxing!
I usually end up with two headed cats (inentionally, yo!) and crazy pumpkins or skeletons. Love seeing yours. ( oh yeah, love your book too)
Posted by: melissa@yummygoods | January 07, 2008 at 04:23 AM
lovely work - it works really well on the crinkled paper.
Posted by: Sarah | January 07, 2008 at 04:41 AM
Wow! That is really creative.
Why does it remind me of the 70's??? The 70's is the time when I was a small kid, and it invokes happy emotions in me.
I think it's beautiful.
Posted by: sharona-lizette | January 07, 2008 at 06:11 AM
So pretty- you are rockin' with this paper cutting "stage" you are in! :-) Looks GREAT!
Posted by: Euphoria | January 07, 2008 at 07:11 AM
Those look amazing.
If you still haven't gotten a whetstone look in Chinatown (if Portland has one. SF does.) I got mine there for about $5. It's got two sides and is big enough to sharpen your kitchen knives too.
Posted by: Jennifer Noland | January 07, 2008 at 07:28 AM
Beautiful! Is that Eames paper? It looks like this mustard-y colored paper that I'm using to wrap chocolate bars. very pretty!
Posted by: Nicole | January 07, 2008 at 07:49 AM
Do you make these to sell?? I would be SO interested. Seriously. Please email me if you would.
Beautiful, beautiful work.
Posted by: becky | January 07, 2008 at 07:54 AM
Awesome!
Posted by: Miss Sassy | January 07, 2008 at 08:02 AM
What a delightful papercut! I adore the surprise of the 3 sisters being non-symetrical! Bravo!
Posted by: Ulla | January 07, 2008 at 08:03 AM
I Love your paper cutting. Did you see the article on Paper Cutting in the latest Victoria magazine? When I saw it I thought of you.
Laura
Posted by: Laura | January 07, 2008 at 08:12 AM
I really love this paper cut! Its so lovley!
Posted by: Marika på Odlingspyssel | January 07, 2008 at 08:26 AM
Your papercuts are SOOOOO beautiful! Actually your whole blog is so inspiring!!! I plan to make the marshmallows this weekend--thanks for the links!
Posted by: Rhonda | January 07, 2008 at 09:55 AM
I love the paper cutout. How delicate and beautiful. I love the three girls holding hands. How appropriate to give this to your mother. I don't think that my eyes could handle doing such delicate work. Yours is truely beautiful.
Posted by: Alice | January 07, 2008 at 11:19 AM
You probably already know all about her, but I'm stunned on a daily basis by Nikki McClure's work.
http://www.buyolympia.com/q/Artist=Nikki+McClure
I have her 2007 calendar and it's literally a work of art. I'm never ever getting rid of any of her pieces, even the mass-ish produced ones that I own, they're so beautiful and inspiring! While your work has a different sort of a feel to it (to me at least) it's still as lovely and breathtaking as the McClure pieces - it really is a lovely thing that you share these with us!!!!!
Posted by: Susan B | January 07, 2008 at 12:28 PM
i love it-- the girls are so good. i sure hope you're thinking mailorder with all of this.
Posted by: melissa f. | January 07, 2008 at 01:47 PM
i have no idea how you produce these but they are so wonderfully nostalgic and storybook. very inspiring!
Posted by: lindsey clare | January 07, 2008 at 02:26 PM
You're so talented. I just looked at your efforts and thought to myself, "Huh? A real live person made that?"
Amazing. Really.
Posted by: Maggie Sumner | January 07, 2008 at 04:14 PM
What a beautiful work of art. You're mom is lucky to receive it!
Posted by: Melissa | January 07, 2008 at 05:38 PM
I was recently in Brooklyn at a gallery and saw these pillows that looked like paper cutting but it was actually "felt" cutting. The top layer of the pillow was cut like the paper cuts that you do and then placed on top of another piece of felt and carefully stitched down around the edges. I'm sorry I don't remember the gallery and didn't think to look at who made them (so many things to take in when I'm wandering Williamsburg NY). An idea to think about:-)
(Sorry - I posted this in the wrong place the first time around.)
Posted by: Kathie Webb | January 07, 2008 at 07:55 PM
That is beautiful!
Posted by: Jenny Pocknall | January 08, 2008 at 01:54 AM
This has an honored place in my house. I just love it. The color is a bright spot for the winter, but the best part is the impression of playful granddaughters clipped by the hand of a daughter...also pretty playful.
Posted by: Grammie | January 08, 2008 at 07:56 AM
Very nice papercut. Thanks for sharing Little Circus Designs with us. Her stuff is amazing. I tried a papercutting/ silhouette gift for my boyfriend at Christmas. I blogged about it here: http://bettyninja.blogspot.com/2008/01/leftovers.html . Sort of simple still, working my way up to the harder stuff.
Posted by: Betty | January 08, 2008 at 08:28 AM
This isn't papercut either, but I bet you and the kids will love the illustrations in this book: The Apple Pie That Papa Baked
Posted by: Linda Urban | January 08, 2008 at 10:54 AM
I am a big fan of your blog! I have four girls and I so relate to all your girl stories. Your cutout was beautiful do you Sell. I would love one with four sisters.
Posted by: Megan | January 08, 2008 at 01:55 PM
That's just so very awesome! I love the yellow, I bet it looks so great in the white frame.
Have you seen the newest issue of Victoria? The artist in residence is a papercut artist. Her work is more traditional, but so inspiring!
Posted by: marné | January 08, 2008 at 02:40 PM
BEAUTIFUL! Suddenly I am dying to do some papercuts!
If you really want to go overboard there is a five day papercutting class this summer where I work with Beatrice Coron (check out http://www.beatricecoron.com/papercutting.html)
here is a link to the class description: http://www.wsworkshop.org/_class/sai_bookart.htm
Pack up the kids! Road Trip!
Posted by: Sarah Burt | January 08, 2008 at 07:16 PM
These are absolutely beautiful! They're reminiscent of those old sillouhette portraits that used to be popular(but a lot less stiff and grandma-ish)! What a challenging artform that you make look so effortless.
Posted by: Alyssa | January 09, 2008 at 02:35 PM
I love this papercut! I too, am obsessed with graphic folk art and this is so Polish looking!
Posted by: Jenn | January 09, 2008 at 03:03 PM
again, i'm completely amazed by these paper cuts. i can't quite wrap my head around how you can do that if the image isn't symmetrical.
i wonder though, how do you manage to clean up all the tiny paper cut-outs when you're making them? that sounds like a nightmare.
beautiful though. :)
Posted by: punchanella | January 09, 2008 at 06:42 PM
again, i'm completely amazed by these paper cuts. i can't quite wrap my head around how you can do that if the image isn't symmetrical.
i wonder though, how do you manage to clean up all the tiny paper cut-outs when you're making them? that sounds like a nightmare.
beautiful though. :)
Posted by: punchanella | January 09, 2008 at 06:43 PM
This one is fantastic! You are so good at this even though you haven't done it very long! And you've been inspiring me. I did my first one today...it isn't until you actually try it that you completely understand the complexity... and the obsession that happens too! I definately have developped a new appreciation for it :)
Posted by: bethany | January 09, 2008 at 07:09 PM
these are so beautiful and i am itching to try. just curious about what you use for tools? an exacto? do you have little scissors?
you get so much done...so lovely...so impressed!
-mari
Posted by: mari | January 10, 2008 at 02:33 PM
I know it's an old post BUT.. Martha did a segment on paper cutting on her show yesterday and it made me think of this project.
Posted by: stephanie | February 01, 2008 at 07:26 AM