I've got a bit diverted. I got digital die cutter and started playing...
It is basically a plotter with a knife which cuts vector files from my mac, and as I make my templates as vector files in Illustrator, its a no brainer to use it almost like a sketching machine. I am still committed to making framed pieces handcut from Japanese paper but I've got tons of other paper engineering type things which can be tested on the die cutter. I am very excited!
I got some time and space today to get stuff done. I started with this one. Yes I've done it before, but after yesterday's shaky start I thought it would be best to go for a familiar warm up.
The Kozo paper is very lovely to cut, but you have to go so slowly as it is very easy to mess up. On the lightbox, you can see the texture of the paper - very delicate, super strong fibres. Its tidier than the last version.
Template in progress for the biggest hangers piece - 0.5m diameter. I have an A4 printer so its a bit of a jigsaw puzzle. Took bloomin' ages.
Piece in progress. I'm about half way. I thought it would be done but alas, things take longer than you think and I can't really rush it!
Roller coasters,
Fear and fun, fun and fear.
Making art?
Sort of similar.
Got paper, got scalpel, got frames,
got TIME - for once!
and...
got a crisis of confidence.
The pressure to perform eh?
My very expensive new paper cuts sooo easily and its a bit scary how easy it is to make mistakes.
There is no Ctrl Z with this,
one mistake and its in the bin.
Got to get stuff made over the weekend.
Onwards and upwards...
I lived in London for 10 years, during which time I listened to much Scottish music on my mini disc player/ipod device on the tube. Trying to cling on to an idea of "Scottishness", I guess...
Arab Strap
Boards of Canada
Belle and Sebastian
The Blue Nile
even a bit of Deacon Blue
This takes me straight back to Dundee, 1996. Its a life I might have been leading had I not buggered off to Art School. Although we did our fair share of drinking and silly stuff there too.
This and the album its from are so badly produced, its actually good and I love those early Belle and Sebastian albums that sound like they were recorded in a church hall (and they were)...
It has been a "Big Weekend" of sorts. I'm up to my eyeballs in life, instead of making right now but I'll be back soon with more art type stuff. I'm getting stuff ready to make some actual pictures for frames at the weekend.
Until then, this could be some sort of 'on hold music'....
