Papercut Frida

So last night at about 10:30 I got an idea - 

One of those ideas that just had to be worked on right then and there!  So with my trusty Cincinnati Art Museum cup at my side I freehand cut out some facial features.  When I dropped the eyebrows on the counter it reminded me of Frida Kahlo. 

This morning I worked on refining the features somewhat.  LOVE how the nose turned out.  I doubt that anyone ever seeing that shape would think nose unless it was accompanied with the other parts of the face. 

Started working on a coffee stain that was already in my journal. . . 

She's wonky but she was handcut with no pattern or any type or rhyme or reason so I'm pretty pleased with how she turned out - although those eyes are more than a little crazy!! 

Doesn't everyone keep their brushes in a Spiderman cup?  You can tell that I am the mom of boys! 

Linking to Paint Party Friday and

Art Journal Every Day

Illustration Friday - PREHISTORIC

This girl was cut by hand with scissors - fun to do but I should have done a bit more planning.  I sketched a face shape on the back and then started cutting - Should have cut out eyes/nose before I did all the hair.  She was getting a bit wobbly and I was afraid she would tear if I messed anymore with her.

 Glued her onto the cover of the moleskine journal that I've been using for most of my faces this month.  Weird how the black tape photographed blue on the edge of the notebook. . .

Linking to Illustration Friday - PREHISTORIC

Check out 29 Faces at Ayala Art!!

Choose the daring adventure. . .

 

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."  - Helen Keller

A simple art journal page that expresses a profound thought!! (plus it uses papercut "scraps")

Linking to Art Every Day Month

Use your papercut "garbage". . .

I've been making an effort to use all my "artsy" scraps.  These white pieces are the computer paper patterns that were cut while making my recent papercuts.

In the past I would've probably tossed these "leftovers" in the trash but after all the back scrunching, eye squinting, cutting work it was time to figure out how I could recycle them. 

Ink spray gives these pieces an entirely different look than the original and can easily be featured in your art journal or as scraps in other mixed media pieces. 

How you do reuse "scraps" in your art?

Linking to Art Every Day Month

Papercut #2

My second papercut - a little more intricate than the first one.  I really should've taken up these types of crafting before my eyes starting going south on me. . .

Linking to Art Every Day Month

My First Papercut. . .

Hands down one of my favorite artists is Elsa Mora - her talent is abundant in so many different medias - painting, jewelry, papercuts, ceramics, bookmaking, etc.  A particular favorite of mine is her intricate, detailed papercuts.  They are not only beautiful but tell such amazing stories.

I was thrilled when she started her newest blog "All About Papercutting" that includes an online shop featuring several collections of downloadable patterns that you can cut yourself!  I've always wanted to try this art but was intimidated at trying to come up with a pattern.  For my first attempt I chose Collection #1 of the flower patterns. 

There is an easy to follow tutorial on the site and I am happy to report it was great fun!!  Not nearly as scary as I thought it would be and my very first attempt turned out great!  The only problem I had (if you would call this a problem) is that I cut my pattern from super thick Papertrey Ink cardstock - while this cardstock is the best in my opinion for papercrafting it was a bit thick for cutting but it makes for a sturdy end product.

Be sure and visit Elsa Mora's new blog Art Is A Way where she features not only her work but the work of other artists that she admires.  

This won't be my only papercut - I'm off now to decide which one I want to tackle next!!

Linking to Art Every Day Month