tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78566384339667191152024-03-15T04:38:33.118-04:00Papercuts By Joe Blog<p><p><p> a blog of my papercuttings and papercutting-related things
</p></p></p>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806928981258600992noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-91298244805734711982011-10-11T15:24:00.006-04:002011-10-11T16:09:34.833-04:00ArtPrize 2011 recap<a href="http://artprize.org/">ArtPrize 2011</a>, the world's largest art competition, just wrapped up and it was quite the experience!<br /><br />This year, over 1500 artists were included in various locations across the city of Grand Rapids, MI, with the promise of almost $450,000 in prizes.<br /><br />Earlier in the year, I <a href="http://artprize.org/artists/public-profile/92745">submitted a design</a> I created for the competition and was lucky enough to be included in the group of pieces on display at the <a href="http://artprize.org/venues/public-profile/74">Public Museum</a>. The piece would become my largest and most detailed design yet.<br /><br />Branches measures 30x20 inches and took about three months to complete. In total, I cut over 25,000 holes in the sheet of paper used to create the piece. It was a truly challenging piece, not just for the fragile nature of the design, but also the somewhat grueling nature of cutting so many tiny holes in order to finish a small area. I carted the piece around New England this summer during my archaeology fieldwork, often cutting it in hotel rooms in the evening. Progress was definitely slow, but I knew the results would be one of the most detailed papercuts ever created by any papercutter. Below are some shots I took throughout the cutting progress:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_jWaUkASl-wN-VTl8HnPtRZ5BOCxy8gLZOKPK_7j8P81NoDYMUob4aSW2SFZtO2r7rqycbVv4qXISogGTDQ7W6xZVxVPQYqhH1Rn7ELTs0CdTUjEY1xex8hwD02GXoB6-pQc__djLUkJ/s1600/20x30+branch+progress.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_jWaUkASl-wN-VTl8HnPtRZ5BOCxy8gLZOKPK_7j8P81NoDYMUob4aSW2SFZtO2r7rqycbVv4qXISogGTDQ7W6xZVxVPQYqhH1Rn7ELTs0CdTUjEY1xex8hwD02GXoB6-pQc__djLUkJ/s320/20x30+branch+progress.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662325191220195538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxCHCMl_Lec4BwaAxwgDaPf5tjXsDhe9Y8ejctWPkOXOqBlHSZa-fqh_FPLe3pifE5xLzmcVY4HbNWO5lH1EfbzEgU-M9qJMe_pqLL59SEKJMTrTtXNbm2YjHWvtAD9JyH9PAgqMxHO4L/s1600/DSC00091.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxCHCMl_Lec4BwaAxwgDaPf5tjXsDhe9Y8ejctWPkOXOqBlHSZa-fqh_FPLe3pifE5xLzmcVY4HbNWO5lH1EfbzEgU-M9qJMe_pqLL59SEKJMTrTtXNbm2YjHWvtAD9JyH9PAgqMxHO4L/s320/DSC00091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662325185308928674" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLHIRE9wbsuvSuENi1bMR6pvyvOqwWZAPwfbHxeAvTSna_zaE8fzjAdvigCDepgiPh6iORZB1zKEasSVCceOeqRXylmkK6G9XJNia7XX48joQrEPt9jldEVhDk7nyjehqzkGuGJ-s7m87/s1600/treemounted.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLHIRE9wbsuvSuENi1bMR6pvyvOqwWZAPwfbHxeAvTSna_zaE8fzjAdvigCDepgiPh6iORZB1zKEasSVCceOeqRXylmkK6G9XJNia7XX48joQrEPt9jldEVhDk7nyjehqzkGuGJ-s7m87/s320/treemounted.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662325203131529666" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67wk8O4WriafKt9UcL6-qlBzStRbO9EUSzuFq-5FLiYg8FnY7tus1SfCKU5BiKiVEGsQuzsA7KG6aGYpebPGWn2U7AsmUt_4B8ZGHoiue4w_RoyD3miy_YdnSYKJ30_c8EAkWWCpiwJvw/s1600/branches2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67wk8O4WriafKt9UcL6-qlBzStRbO9EUSzuFq-5FLiYg8FnY7tus1SfCKU5BiKiVEGsQuzsA7KG6aGYpebPGWn2U7AsmUt_4B8ZGHoiue4w_RoyD3miy_YdnSYKJ30_c8EAkWWCpiwJvw/s320/branches2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662325177709011298" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ygsdEev7mbMafuvsshyphenhyphenPsjjhOUD9skvyYKWw2Uci3molx2qGeJtfAQPFRuqTgkmpFLH5FcJ2wrbl1QgEqvooYDB5KEAhKXHHYj-U8tfCIpKU2tMDB2ULHX6-_yLiQMgMEKznQbS6T2oe/s1600/tree+4.jpg"><br /></a><br /><br />Though I didn't place in the top 10, I did place <a href="http://artprize.org/Search-2.aspx?item=0&rank=3">top 25 in my neighborhood</a>, and I'm very happy w<span style="font-size:100%;">ith the results. The organization does not release the overall ranks, but given there were five neighborhoods, I know I was in the top 125 overall. Hands down, one of the best outcomes of ArtPrize was my very first <a href="http://www.mlive.com/artprize/index.ssf/2011/09/artprize_exhibition_center_review_collection_at_grand_rapids_public_museum_is_earnestly_and_honestly.html">art review</a>:<br /></span><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" ft="{"type":1}"><span class="messageBody translationEligibleUserMessage" ft="{"type":3}"><span style="font-size:100%;">Close inspection is also required for the most quietly fantastical work on display, “Branches.” This black cut-paper work is by Joseph Bagley of Dorchester, Mass. As if looking out a large second story window on a stark winter day, Bagley presents an extraordinary webbing of branches, large and small, in a dazzling silhouette. The technical virtuosity of a dazzling object this complex cut from a single sheet of paper is spellbinding, but ultimately the power of the work is visual. The economy of form, composition and monochrome splendor stays with you for a long, long time. - Joseph Becherer, The Grand Rapids Press</span><br /></span></h6>I'm getting that tattooed on my back!<br /><br />The piece is now on its way back to Boston, so I went ahead and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/83655723/branches-papercut-original-hand-cut">listed it on etsy</a>.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ygsdEev7mbMafuvsshyphenhyphenPsjjhOUD9skvyYKWw2Uci3molx2qGeJtfAQPFRuqTgkmpFLH5FcJ2wrbl1QgEqvooYDB5KEAhKXHHYj-U8tfCIpKU2tMDB2ULHX6-_yLiQMgMEKznQbS6T2oe/s1600/tree+4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ygsdEev7mbMafuvsshyphenhyphenPsjjhOUD9skvyYKWw2Uci3molx2qGeJtfAQPFRuqTgkmpFLH5FcJ2wrbl1QgEqvooYDB5KEAhKXHHYj-U8tfCIpKU2tMDB2ULHX6-_yLiQMgMEKznQbS6T2oe/s320/tree+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662325207172955250" border="0" /></a><br />Okay, back to cutting. As always, please check out my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/papercutsbyjoe">facebook page</a>. I'm posting regular progress photos of my new large piece. Currently working on a detailed "Tree Portrait" of a pine tree. It's coming out great!<br /><br />~JoeJoe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com89tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-30869855800463266712011-05-19T10:24:00.009-04:002011-05-19T12:28:51.441-04:00Making my own road mapA very interesting and somewhat surprising thing has occurred since Craft Boston: I seem to be becoming a successful artist...who knew?<br /><br />(warning, long post, but I hope an interesting one)<br /><br />I'm at a crazy point in my life full of Big Decisions. To set the scene, I need to give you a bit of the backup story. Bear with me if you've followed this blog for long enough to know everything here, but I've gotten a TON of new viewers lately.<br /><br />I started papercutting when I was 10. I did a summer program that had an art class that for some reason had a papercutting component. Basically we traced designs from DK stencil books and cut them with razor blades and hoped we didn't loose a finger. No real instruction, we just figured it out on our own.<br /><br />When the program was over, I showed my mom the designs I made and she pulled out this book:<br /><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DVGQ0PV4L._SS500_.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 500px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DVGQ0PV4L._SS500_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Book-Paper-Cutting-Complete-Techniques/dp/0806902868">Amazon Link</a><br /></div><br />She owned a daycare that she ran out of our home and had tons of art and craft books for ideas to do with the kids. I basically copied every design from the book over the next 10 years, and essentially taught myself papercutting by just doing it for hours and hours.<br /><br />Fast forward to college, I attended Boston University where I majored in Archaeology. During my Senior year, I started to papercut again based on some of the designs I saw on pottery and old art from my text books. I later got into photography and started making designs using my photos as references and developed my own style: highly detailed and "crinkly" for lack of a better term. Basically, I don't use very clean lines, deliberately, to better reference textures.<br /><br />I have had several jobs in Archaeology since graduating in 2006, and have been papercutting the entire time. In 2007, I started selling on Etsy, just for fun, and the recession led to me and my wife (also an archaeologist) loosing our archaeology jobs. Since we both had the same qualifications and would be competing with each other, we decided that she should look for employment, and I would give the papercutting thing a go full-time.<br /><br />At this time, I had started to challenge myself with very difficult designs and they started to gain some appreciation online and many sold. I was already making about as much as I was working, so making the transition to full-time art seemed to make sense giving our employment opportunities (or lack thereof)<br /><br />Since 2007, I've been papercutting full time, and for a period I have also had a second full-time job as an archaeologist (May- Dec of 2010). I would create my designs from the hotel room I stayed in during away projects all around New England and would ship pieces during the weekend. I was honestly working about 80 hours a week and very much had two full time jobs.<br /><br />I have never wanted to give up archaeology for art, but I never want to stop papercutting. After five years of trying and almost giving up hope, a few months ago I found out that I was accepted into a Masters Program at UMass Boston for archaeology.<br /><br />About a week later, I showed my work at Craft Boston. That's where this story gets really complicated.<br /><br />Craftboston was so beyond my wildest hopes for a successful show, and the sales that have occured directly resulting from the show have been almost as great. This "Art Thing" is doing really well. Really really really well. In my opinion, I'm a bonified successful artist right now. Not Warhol-successful, but for someone who cuts holes in paper and has no formal art background...<br /><br />AND, I'm about to start a new chapter in the world of archaeology, with a couple potential jobs already on my radar. What to do?<br /><br />Answer: Make hard choices. Apparently.<br /><br />I've made the decision that I will be a professional archaeologist, a damn good one too, and also be a professional papercutting artist, one of the best ones in the world. Totally possible.<br /><br />I never took a single art class after 8th grade so I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. Fortunately I'm ambitious, have an amazingly smart and encouraging wife, and the internet and books exist, so I've been able to make it so far.<br /><br />I have a few major archaeology projects this summer, but regarding the art I'm making the following choices:<br /><br />1. Reduce the smaller 8x10 non-one of a kind pieces on etsy. Love designing them, love their price point and the income they generate, and I love having them as an option for my customers but they keep me very very busy and sometimes I don't have time to create larger more significant pieces. So, you may notice that my designs have decreased in number from about 120 to about 85. That number may go down again soon.<br /><br />2. Raise the bar. For myself and all other papercutters out there. Bring it! I've recently completed two personal challenges. How small can I make a complicated design, and how detailed can I possibly make my designs.<br /><br />Here's the small pieces:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9Uxo-5TOHVvMxehqNADZTDKp3lwsrJW2oX48sLtnyGfHK7NjQfKN9w4mzzLQgdSR86NzY5XuWGgYBo17-o9ttdYdhtpjiVSVBW1IZJZ48jtaERqaB9tvMxf7xh4AZMR5kNccD4NSh1pB/s1600/NYC+skyline+TINY.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9Uxo-5TOHVvMxehqNADZTDKp3lwsrJW2oX48sLtnyGfHK7NjQfKN9w4mzzLQgdSR86NzY5XuWGgYBo17-o9ttdYdhtpjiVSVBW1IZJZ48jtaERqaB9tvMxf7xh4AZMR5kNccD4NSh1pB/s320/NYC+skyline+TINY.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608453699345059826" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">^ Skyline of NYC<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zr4aI_h-ORvYupsnw-_JEPMbXYhJ9TVudTzLhRGT60RkAxtxwt3gKxl9Gco0I_CYO_9aV85NsJHkJ04hdIvMEVXtTdI7p8WQRokM2rp5VnWl3zBH036jWSyPj2MB7IQu4W2TC-oK-Vv5/s1600/couple+bikes.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zr4aI_h-ORvYupsnw-_JEPMbXYhJ9TVudTzLhRGT60RkAxtxwt3gKxl9Gco0I_CYO_9aV85NsJHkJ04hdIvMEVXtTdI7p8WQRokM2rp5VnWl3zBH036jWSyPj2MB7IQu4W2TC-oK-Vv5/s320/couple+bikes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608453692350183154" border="0" /></a>Micro Kissing on a bike, about the size of a nickle<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Both were cut using a jewelers loop<br /></div></div><br />And here's a branch piece I'm almost done with. It uses a complete sheet of my black paper (30x20 inches) and is the largest size they manufacture this paper. It has about 20,000 holes in it. It will be at the Public Museum during the Grand Rapids <a href="http://www.artprize.org/">ArtPrize</a> competition. Not sure if I will pre-sell it since I have agreed to have it in the show. The price is $7,800. If someone is interested in purchasing it, please email me (Papercutsbyjoe@gmail.com) to discuss the sale. I am willing to split any potential prize money (up to $250,000) if it is purchased prior to the show.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JelBgr2iW5Ty9lqyIUQyDWbnAB7KtoP-s_jwA2ewjgMp7CsoWY5qKUOAFRodcYCh0DHRrkVdKqvibW3XhZw6GO57sp_iYDDAOAbvUaxlP8_BBmW_2motV_TsauKO4dgnu-YKiDGgzOif/s1600/trees.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JelBgr2iW5Ty9lqyIUQyDWbnAB7KtoP-s_jwA2ewjgMp7CsoWY5qKUOAFRodcYCh0DHRrkVdKqvibW3XhZw6GO57sp_iYDDAOAbvUaxlP8_BBmW_2motV_TsauKO4dgnu-YKiDGgzOif/s320/trees.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608453691445123282" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Having finished both, however, I now know that I can't really do things smaller or more complicated. So, what to do now?<br /><br />Make them BETTER and more interesting.<br /><br />So, with that said, I'm setting out on a new path with my papercutting. My goal is to combine my detailed crazy-complicated designs, but with a bit less literal use of them. For example, instead of a bunch of branches, I've designed a large skull piece that is made exclusively of branches. The denser the branches, the more shading in the skull. Up close, it's a tangle of branches. From across the room it's a skull. I think you guys will really like it. I'm also working on two other versions of the same skull using Wycinanki style polish papercutting techniques and some other ideas. More of that to come as I finish them.<br /><br />My new goal for my papercuts is to make a body of 10-15 large pieces, and find a gallery to show them. I really feel like this is the right direction for me. The larger more expensive pieces allow me to concentrate on design and execution of pieces.<br /><br />I'm still trying to figure out how exactly to go about finding a gallery here in Boston. I may start in Portland, ME where I grew up. Great art scene, and possibly a bit easier to find a gallery. I've sold a ton of pieces now for between $1,000 and $5,000 so I know there's a proven market. Just need to raise the bar a bit more in this next batch. Reading a ton of books on art careers. Wish I had made those important connections you get in art school, but there's plenty of ways to skin a cat, and perhaps not having a clue what I'm doing is charming, right? We'll see.<br /><br />Here's my reading material:<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Artists-Guide-Make-Living-Doing/dp/0306816520/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1305819221&sr=1-2"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41vDEARDUcL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>and<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Leap-Building-Career-Visual/dp/0811850935/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1305819602&sr=1-2"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/417Qmq9RdTL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This can't hurt, so here goes: If you're a gallery and like my work, contact me (papercutsbyjoe@gmail.com). I have design proofs of some of the pieces I'll be making for the body of work.<br /><br />I have no idea how far I can take this. My work really doesn't have a "message", it isn't political, and I never want it to be. I'm hoping people and Art People can recognize it for what it hopefully is: Something beautiful, visually interesting, and mind-blowingly cut from paper.<br /><br />If you aren't a gallery, keep coming back, follow my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joe-Bagley/78815382140">facebook page </a>(updated often) and hang on for the ride! I have no idea where it is going but I'm working my ass off to make it as successful as possible!<br /><br />Thanks for making it to the end of this really long post, I appreciate it.Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-63408466558070725252011-04-07T14:47:00.011-04:002011-04-07T15:17:00.111-04:00Craftboston: A review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0GosX3Z7jeTAgNndnOqpvy5Veq20Tt4tHbTNZcjDR_IMg4amI6-G99HlukAgYM2TFunJ9onBNsqCIxuebXl_taaGByRHBX3BM4bQegMAQTDJONKltXnurKU4CmoOI6hDDNTDszT7IKQ/s1600/197028_10150130976977141_78815382140_6413384_6191376_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0GosX3Z7jeTAgNndnOqpvy5Veq20Tt4tHbTNZcjDR_IMg4amI6-G99HlukAgYM2TFunJ9onBNsqCIxuebXl_taaGByRHBX3BM4bQegMAQTDJONKltXnurKU4CmoOI6hDDNTDszT7IKQ/s320/197028_10150130976977141_78815382140_6413384_6191376_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592920238600075266" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Summary of Craftboston: Wow.<br /><br />It's been almost two weeks since Craftboston, and I'm just getting back to the blog to talk about this. I'm finally recovered from the rush, and I'm ready for my next huge event, which will happen on Friday, April 8th. And no, I'm not telling you what is happening, but you'll definitely know when it happens. It's that big.<br /><br />Anyway, back to Craftboston.<br /><br />The show was HUGE, an entire convention center full of awesome. Seriously, I was in awe of my fellow vendors and so happy and surprised I was invited to join them.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIMiOxpPHrmebwmSFgZ7bo4pjffQmaoJ0dmdJIRRpAzC7X9VfsKb_ieXywtWgp-zgo_DQwufhETm7KxbLg6KRReBnVlvA7Q-aitIfESi-IiLh6FoTETnE8jtA83GItBtwos7d4r9wOC4/s1600/190283_10150130976902141_78815382140_6413381_7325947_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIMiOxpPHrmebwmSFgZ7bo4pjffQmaoJ0dmdJIRRpAzC7X9VfsKb_ieXywtWgp-zgo_DQwufhETm7KxbLg6KRReBnVlvA7Q-aitIfESi-IiLh6FoTETnE8jtA83GItBtwos7d4r9wOC4/s320/190283_10150130976902141_78815382140_6413381_7325947_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592920240848161010" border="0" /></a><br />Setup went very smoothly, however time absolutely flew by, and before we knew it we were only 2/3 done and had been there for a full seven hours! The trees looked great, and were easier to install than I had planned, though very time consuming. The drapes looked great and the lighting was well worth the investment!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1P81hjomAfoW5-ltsQkZYcZljHbW7jCRBoLE4zXWYDgzYtRLhhT-6sXEv3Aim0A3CLQ0ME82ajo8TNgeNHGmXcIyzTHSTA6JzUsjVNeXM7J6QcaC2TGn3ZKTxadJ2StfYRsQmjWk7KyM/s1600/200316_10150130976962141_78815382140_6413383_2082432_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1P81hjomAfoW5-ltsQkZYcZljHbW7jCRBoLE4zXWYDgzYtRLhhT-6sXEv3Aim0A3CLQ0ME82ajo8TNgeNHGmXcIyzTHSTA6JzUsjVNeXM7J6QcaC2TGn3ZKTxadJ2StfYRsQmjWk7KyM/s320/200316_10150130976962141_78815382140_6413383_2082432_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592920250913780338" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgRqJ9EOoLiPUllRZkFvUqLi88BghOcchUywNOzBkPOdiWx63hE2YjwUVUHmdRvceuglAGNLzBZmqmLqIoWVqL9ScrqaB5aeva9Q7TV86JwmXVWDYLhk3faTdt-693I8KBkljoB8YOgw/s1600/200114_10150130976212141_78815382140_6413373_4468258_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgRqJ9EOoLiPUllRZkFvUqLi88BghOcchUywNOzBkPOdiWx63hE2YjwUVUHmdRvceuglAGNLzBZmqmLqIoWVqL9ScrqaB5aeva9Q7TV86JwmXVWDYLhk3faTdt-693I8KBkljoB8YOgw/s320/200114_10150130976212141_78815382140_6413373_4468258_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592920242810088898" border="0" /></a><br />I was very fortunate to have one piece sell the week before the show (Water). This worked out well in two regards: The first, it took away most of the pressure to sell like crazy at the actual show. The second was that I had digitally planned for (and created) 9 pieces, but the column in our booth took up the space of one of my pieces, so I only had 8 slots. Worked out perfectly.<br /><br />VIP night came on Thursday and the very first person in my booth fell in love with my most complicated piece and purchased it. In the first 10 minutes of the show. Before it opened to the public. Yeah. It set a new artist record for my work as well.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT28JzBRSC2ZdWi2dLvV-CjTngX-ojaOy3nSLGlNk5ATGdJecWFs6EvaybHJnxObQDVy5DGBw6VDqEpoFOAQhAMh3nDCOW-MJ2BlyWYUrnqteMBiVrbau6K5eZm7ZpXnS7lo2KMPpQwuM/s1600/tree.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT28JzBRSC2ZdWi2dLvV-CjTngX-ojaOy3nSLGlNk5ATGdJecWFs6EvaybHJnxObQDVy5DGBw6VDqEpoFOAQhAMh3nDCOW-MJ2BlyWYUrnqteMBiVrbau6K5eZm7ZpXnS7lo2KMPpQwuM/s320/tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592921961123651986" border="0" /></a><br />Needless to say, it was amazing from that point on. I couldn't keep any small pieces in the booth and completely voided my studio/apartment of pieces to restock each day. In the end dozens of small pieces found new homes, and one of the show pieces was purchased (the one that sold at the beginning). Two if you count the sale the week before the show.<br /><br />The thing that made me most happy, though, was how many people immediately "got" what I do and truly appreciated the work that goes into these pieces. I think being in a craft show, and being one of the few wall art booths immediately made people look at my work (which usually looks like prints or silkscreens) and think..."there must be something more going on here". I also put up a sign that simply read "Hand-Cut Paper Art" and that definitely got peoples interest.<br /><br />The crowds were great. A few times I had to leave the booth and stand in the aisle due to the number of people in my booth. I had a blast! The show organizers were incredibly kind, my lecture went great, and moveout went smoothly. I really look forward to applying for next year!<br /><br />All the pieces are now available on Etsy, so if you've been dying to have one of my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/papercutsbyjoe?section_id=7401460">best pieces, here you go:<br /></a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/papercutsbyjoe?section_id=7401460"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 367px; height: 448px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5171/5479746724_49efbedf8f_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806928981258600992noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-38104088079333996422011-02-24T12:28:00.007-05:002011-04-07T14:41:14.437-04:00Craftboston PreviewHi everyone,<br /><br />I just finished the last of the nine piece I have created specifically for<a href="http://craftboston.org/springindex.asp"> Craftboston, March 25-27 </a><br /><br />I thought I would show you all some photos of the unmounted pieces just before I mounted and framed them. I will be showing these and many more photos as a slide show running on my laptop during the show.<br /><br />If you would like to see the pieces in-full, join my facebook page here: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/papercutsbyjoe">http://www.facebook.com/papercutsbyjoe</a> I've posted photos of all nine pieces in their entirety.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXaXWrNwxcOYeTNb30A5G_mho4fdqhvHTGMl9tPpAMBLpySLvVWdeQCEGEjMf2dG8WpBWLDgJUf1FrB2lbqmmhFsn0Alw7d9C_e6fhyphenhyphentkRP6jWFqdNox3KoHjjZ48blBqFwll5Nw7HSwa/s1600/DSC07592.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXaXWrNwxcOYeTNb30A5G_mho4fdqhvHTGMl9tPpAMBLpySLvVWdeQCEGEjMf2dG8WpBWLDgJUf1FrB2lbqmmhFsn0Alw7d9C_e6fhyphenhyphentkRP6jWFqdNox3KoHjjZ48blBqFwll5Nw7HSwa/s320/DSC07592.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577314419383958066" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBK6-TRelBt_8KWK6wzabAWspPu6NzfCoL1xOu_xYDskp2qfAhVBjasAqnarSjGnJi0cLC7oSzAk2fWFBB3I-TzWll0YUkPJf6Q8k6hakGteFWVdtYGlM0eKcMlm4QHJPprNLgsI1rNN1/s1600/DSC07579.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBK6-TRelBt_8KWK6wzabAWspPu6NzfCoL1xOu_xYDskp2qfAhVBjasAqnarSjGnJi0cLC7oSzAk2fWFBB3I-TzWll0YUkPJf6Q8k6hakGteFWVdtYGlM0eKcMlm4QHJPprNLgsI1rNN1/s320/DSC07579.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577314414636295394" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAvMc9IfUHJ6PHSsvgTqUnaIv8foZ9RGqC769-tb-KLM9sHhWLw-NgPEjVYKpDzUN3M_0qz-JfWasV7bMI4aBZcFbuxKCDDd5EIHHZneN4uge2RAL5ukPt_adwlaRbxYixsBg5MJ34gqT/s1600/DSC07574.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAvMc9IfUHJ6PHSsvgTqUnaIv8foZ9RGqC769-tb-KLM9sHhWLw-NgPEjVYKpDzUN3M_0qz-JfWasV7bMI4aBZcFbuxKCDDd5EIHHZneN4uge2RAL5ukPt_adwlaRbxYixsBg5MJ34gqT/s320/DSC07574.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577314408604879986" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeW0cOFT4cGjCaf9fERy09MBI7uGpGwbgEBbKGyWHNiNoY-ze-pdmOEHm5ur6u9Ar2Rcu1_by_c6Ronm_Z5aoh1IixRJwhdlUL_iXb3nxprZ34bS2wO3gJxElwy-HCA7z70d9RZz1xsgC/s1600/DSC07573.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeW0cOFT4cGjCaf9fERy09MBI7uGpGwbgEBbKGyWHNiNoY-ze-pdmOEHm5ur6u9Ar2Rcu1_by_c6Ronm_Z5aoh1IixRJwhdlUL_iXb3nxprZ34bS2wO3gJxElwy-HCA7z70d9RZz1xsgC/s320/DSC07573.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577311787645294130" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRslAjDeJ4R04-w24Eod52hC9Sh_fDzYeMiIBYN7RzrEZyvIsuwH1dFli5cYhzxg7AfY5c99aVtWXF9Rj8YDB6EphrLVCFxklUhFJVGAoE3rxrxsfueUHUFf9DJGLP8EsRpfA49pPef1Ls/s1600/DSC07567.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRslAjDeJ4R04-w24Eod52hC9Sh_fDzYeMiIBYN7RzrEZyvIsuwH1dFli5cYhzxg7AfY5c99aVtWXF9Rj8YDB6EphrLVCFxklUhFJVGAoE3rxrxsfueUHUFf9DJGLP8EsRpfA49pPef1Ls/s320/DSC07567.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577311784511324354" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkunss7veQTtYUiEQq-nDUITYEfWus2YM5n8marxr-AeWuUPlMoF6e60oQn_7OVR6e4G8GAfWWdsncaXiDMbI6w8vS2ziPaihf7JYrD5iQUrJ35YMJbU2IpPgvVyl_ZE-ZkjcDVHJiEscw/s1600/DSC07560.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkunss7veQTtYUiEQq-nDUITYEfWus2YM5n8marxr-AeWuUPlMoF6e60oQn_7OVR6e4G8GAfWWdsncaXiDMbI6w8vS2ziPaihf7JYrD5iQUrJ35YMJbU2IpPgvVyl_ZE-ZkjcDVHJiEscw/s320/DSC07560.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577311776676012066" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7RTfnbWrXwAk-vcOQdDY6pLfjR9Wx4AmMj2AHGyhTju4iGoVSMiwVnqgCY1WR2wrKePtOTAiwvJbt49NidcL1O16LPjn8tNpNt3jSwrNy4zmzbZ602IHy8XUl-UFycZ0BkEWHjcRTk2Q/s1600/DSC07558.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7RTfnbWrXwAk-vcOQdDY6pLfjR9Wx4AmMj2AHGyhTju4iGoVSMiwVnqgCY1WR2wrKePtOTAiwvJbt49NidcL1O16LPjn8tNpNt3jSwrNy4zmzbZ602IHy8XUl-UFycZ0BkEWHjcRTk2Q/s320/DSC07558.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577311769192627458" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWv-VY6sXkw2gF0IOUC8eGKK8pBUvNb8U5i6DezLh8d-l16JKnYU6eOyqrk6q9TClXH5-mlGyYx040YMvK6EMrB3XL_4fPhz4mR1_y_HEppnSi7x0rXNTuy2LPFhbYw0mf5xYlC6-ONLz/s1600/DSC07556.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWv-VY6sXkw2gF0IOUC8eGKK8pBUvNb8U5i6DezLh8d-l16JKnYU6eOyqrk6q9TClXH5-mlGyYx040YMvK6EMrB3XL_4fPhz4mR1_y_HEppnSi7x0rXNTuy2LPFhbYw0mf5xYlC6-ONLz/s320/DSC07556.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577311767419573874" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnL5PQh1572qi0nTXphbXB7OSG77okvB62FxopskkRbR8jUOhr5K2CNU57yaAXRVCVwmdriyQ1JMDVONe2LvH2x1SYO64gYE8I2vU4sxBrnmXRWYFaVK_fPSD2yS9CNyMd8qOxHAn4JHpo/s1600/DSC07549.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnL5PQh1572qi0nTXphbXB7OSG77okvB62FxopskkRbR8jUOhr5K2CNU57yaAXRVCVwmdriyQ1JMDVONe2LvH2x1SYO64gYE8I2vU4sxBrnmXRWYFaVK_fPSD2yS9CNyMd8qOxHAn4JHpo/s320/DSC07549.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577311291321571730" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqGwSAaWgp642zwQ2yEhhaGwR3y2z8GQxUUstOmjd8CX830t1ujXZVCUUIsSKUEpPGW5lCQ6JGZVaJ1Zvrt8Y20ITffnkQw8QQbzdUDv0RXzt-bfGs-qKuUGSq-L-6p8cUQEscP-Phj2c/s1600/DSC07550.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqGwSAaWgp642zwQ2yEhhaGwR3y2z8GQxUUstOmjd8CX830t1ujXZVCUUIsSKUEpPGW5lCQ6JGZVaJ1Zvrt8Y20ITffnkQw8QQbzdUDv0RXzt-bfGs-qKuUGSq-L-6p8cUQEscP-Phj2c/s320/DSC07550.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577311284841877506" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKSnR1s2OxvUxYm2kYJn4yHTup0NP_VjAAlQTfsqnUNSYLlAdjfZzu9v2YmIlDh1sLC7K-uCWf2QSzd91-Fn90AsKvTirjOrrI7Dvg3dY6W7fVpzsCmzXJTKquzcXo-Sa1mcsG4m1AG3_/s1600/DSC07537.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKSnR1s2OxvUxYm2kYJn4yHTup0NP_VjAAlQTfsqnUNSYLlAdjfZzu9v2YmIlDh1sLC7K-uCWf2QSzd91-Fn90AsKvTirjOrrI7Dvg3dY6W7fVpzsCmzXJTKquzcXo-Sa1mcsG4m1AG3_/s320/DSC07537.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577311277483967426" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZ1-qGCN05ebffThkuAKgoZ498LmNqRqgN6HkZVwgM2kmL1385ChNZaFMiiC658JO0KxyCqshTOK7iSvGL6qol9uaswscyk5HbGmiDb_gn6CWZeoNtg54xydGMrakUsMf7mZgXjqUASLn/s1600/DSC07535.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZ1-qGCN05ebffThkuAKgoZ498LmNqRqgN6HkZVwgM2kmL1385ChNZaFMiiC658JO0KxyCqshTOK7iSvGL6qol9uaswscyk5HbGmiDb_gn6CWZeoNtg54xydGMrakUsMf7mZgXjqUASLn/s320/DSC07535.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577311271561184706" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYkbWaG4V5SGcEgshRe-4b27lOgYOntFQgGpaq2aPWTNPbNoAD15ILZV9qCXL5H10pMKZCV_-povzAxg10wmNsugh6-Vj7MOZpjipcKysz7k2coOclot3BXLQbYuizEQ6eb9qO5ZtyNeu/s1600/DSC07528.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYkbWaG4V5SGcEgshRe-4b27lOgYOntFQgGpaq2aPWTNPbNoAD15ILZV9qCXL5H10pMKZCV_-povzAxg10wmNsugh6-Vj7MOZpjipcKysz7k2coOclot3BXLQbYuizEQ6eb9qO5ZtyNeu/s320/DSC07528.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577311268069692370" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZa86T7pZJZj2XPmDJbCd3yDrOEK05cdprrhb55ejncI77wJ1rPRLedqS5zfapqQgCgSLk-PQeDKTV5zMM-Rh63oUoUsuCIbUY3s3hHnBnL5svJARTeZUqXMIskcmsshJzxI96IdNgcAuc/s1600/DSC07526.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZa86T7pZJZj2XPmDJbCd3yDrOEK05cdprrhb55ejncI77wJ1rPRLedqS5zfapqQgCgSLk-PQeDKTV5zMM-Rh63oUoUsuCIbUY3s3hHnBnL5svJARTeZUqXMIskcmsshJzxI96IdNgcAuc/s320/DSC07526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577310508502512226" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA91FQm7d2IGKSnUE-CilEjJe7YXUmc7w1-JD3fqXuACszO2lSKBSOSRQkINzkHrNiqxUkoq7cTTvu3tddW-kYer5ffadOuCaOkdW-OIvhhlz-G-r5VDFJDMQ7R7c2WL1_1BWvYbhBLKwG/s1600/DSC07524.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA91FQm7d2IGKSnUE-CilEjJe7YXUmc7w1-JD3fqXuACszO2lSKBSOSRQkINzkHrNiqxUkoq7cTTvu3tddW-kYer5ffadOuCaOkdW-OIvhhlz-G-r5VDFJDMQ7R7c2WL1_1BWvYbhBLKwG/s320/DSC07524.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577310499594622306" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimehSvNHtSiyjnQCbTlYUj0KsuHJn2YpXgDLXgSRm1L8fE7wNL_V0k0j5ZFdTI5FMdmE9-UzcDkip4-VDBoMOfJF6LxpeXHek2kTB48XmbKpd053d0DpUxiMabJHw0nu2yeyn5krHF54b6/s1600/DSC07516.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimehSvNHtSiyjnQCbTlYUj0KsuHJn2YpXgDLXgSRm1L8fE7wNL_V0k0j5ZFdTI5FMdmE9-UzcDkip4-VDBoMOfJF6LxpeXHek2kTB48XmbKpd053d0DpUxiMabJHw0nu2yeyn5krHF54b6/s320/DSC07516.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577310494534143234" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CaQ-iWmoDT4IqSPVdxqpWcXpy0TYjDQMChuPQ2g71FU5ZxWD4-UV-XWmoRN0Gx-rouefMeeuOHJe3KZdPEz3dOfCzMblijagHnFakkp_bMHDuXOJw5767uK3-pS9cfgodloqkmfNfT49/s1600/DSC07513.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CaQ-iWmoDT4IqSPVdxqpWcXpy0TYjDQMChuPQ2g71FU5ZxWD4-UV-XWmoRN0Gx-rouefMeeuOHJe3KZdPEz3dOfCzMblijagHnFakkp_bMHDuXOJw5767uK3-pS9cfgodloqkmfNfT49/s320/DSC07513.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577310490483739266" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqYyVdhvvC457ZAdsgsoQU6dioLyil_272CAURqT9wC75JLobG2D1MI85JzTB1-UXsl_HqngpNeU9YLDJkLmcASFriXhKvv2fk0GQVAuu3Fxv0blupYnYOCmNaFSPfsx7JpkwqbLB3_v7/s1600/DSC07514.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqYyVdhvvC457ZAdsgsoQU6dioLyil_272CAURqT9wC75JLobG2D1MI85JzTB1-UXsl_HqngpNeU9YLDJkLmcASFriXhKvv2fk0GQVAuu3Fxv0blupYnYOCmNaFSPfsx7JpkwqbLB3_v7/s320/DSC07514.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577310485370956530" border="0" /></a>Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-79343382764841541492011-02-08T08:02:00.011-05:002011-02-08T10:00:05.613-05:00Blade tips: How to cut thin linesThis is one of the most challenging aspects of papercutting, and I have spent many years trying to get this right. Unfortunately, I've had to ruin several pieces to figure out how NOT to cut thin lines, so hopefully I can save you some of the heart break I've experienced.<br /><br />Before we start, however, I need to break it to you that this is not something I can guarantee you will be able to do right away having read this. You need to know your paper, it's physical limits, how it feels when you cut, how it stretches and bends when it's weak, etc. This is not a beginner's technique. I recommend experimenting with all of these techniques and using them in various combination to find which one works in a given situation. Use the following patterns to cut along with the tips (click on image, then print):<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqp8KqykZVFvfFAYuk4abx8BdA80VeuRgiasax7tf_Tfg5WNTbkmHEvJigzOC_l_eLlNMR3oUtPemcXHslsIEsJpzK6w2xhIOD8fwWf7lm6QVeG61henISwfzkV2L-0jQarLZYUCpUdyl/s1600/lines.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqp8KqykZVFvfFAYuk4abx8BdA80VeuRgiasax7tf_Tfg5WNTbkmHEvJigzOC_l_eLlNMR3oUtPemcXHslsIEsJpzK6w2xhIOD8fwWf7lm6QVeG61henISwfzkV2L-0jQarLZYUCpUdyl/s320/lines.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571309249163017186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykYWzSjG9Yn2KBCBzCObx_o_VcL8oA5aU_nQHVpwWGtHnmpdhyphenhyphenuHfBa9jK9yCf4TuJaU_TN92GcsvQfWtndJcnsFwI9FFi3osTPag-KghMK7oeX7LzXOmuAGo7XzuHsVkebql7RYx4iH-/s1600/branch.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykYWzSjG9Yn2KBCBzCObx_o_VcL8oA5aU_nQHVpwWGtHnmpdhyphenhyphenuHfBa9jK9yCf4TuJaU_TN92GcsvQfWtndJcnsFwI9FFi3osTPag-KghMK7oeX7LzXOmuAGo7XzuHsVkebql7RYx4iH-/s320/branch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571307914833701202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtN5wlCO54OzyU8HhOyWEd4wBDchFVV9HBcrZCmAQTeZHOZ-WqKN30eAgWQfA8kGM5S3_c7ChmJ6L4caCwq248MBBGsTPc0-Nm9jpuhGF8sIbIqgCeT5CZ_SBXn0rLYfPxVZyWpytX8_d/s1600/gate.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtN5wlCO54OzyU8HhOyWEd4wBDchFVV9HBcrZCmAQTeZHOZ-WqKN30eAgWQfA8kGM5S3_c7ChmJ6L4caCwq248MBBGsTPc0-Nm9jpuhGF8sIbIqgCeT5CZ_SBXn0rLYfPxVZyWpytX8_d/s320/gate.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571307916785515826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tip #1: Use thick paper (for beginners)</span><br /><br />If you are just starting out with papercutting and you want to try a piece with thin lines, use thicker paper. It will better withstand the stress you will put on it. Ignore this tip if you already have a favorite paper, or have enough experience to be working with thinner papers. I use exclusively Hygloss silhouette paper. I have a special post all about the paper I use here: http://papercutsbyjoe.blogspot.com/2010/02/papercutting-tips-guide-to-paper.html<br /><br />For illustration purposes, I'm showing this technique on normal printer paper with the patterns above printed directly on the white paper.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tip #2: Cut lines in order, do not skip!</span><br /><br />The first cut is easy, it's like any other cut. It's the second one and all the ones after that gets you. Always cut the next line over, do not skip cuts. It may seem intimidating to cut so closely to your last cut. If you skip a cut, when you return, you will be cutting on a weakened piece of paper and the likelyhood of tearing increases. I know that makes no sense in writing, so here's some photos using the first image.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzWO0vH2Ps9rEPPaXIhg4NXSHr7HM0Kgqb34J-y9yNzY6_Anrx38W5Bh5BvfhxYD21U_TuhatB0GYF2fRl-3W19n0l9ZiKycVmsdrtmBmFOyAteoygE-okFKisLA6Cn753i0TRFek1PgF/s1600/DSC07448.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6X93BN2SgdBpb8XrHjEEnNP-xkRW22VqC_uXDzXx1hw6E43FBUHYm-adF2ZvYHIShbGA-hZxwbGOPHpMrrDjEDshAG_dAhIfaTQZpNQ_nqJ681SG71av6j8EUu-XD39sseR8EL2ztbfS/s1600/DSC07448.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 362px; height: 362px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6X93BN2SgdBpb8XrHjEEnNP-xkRW22VqC_uXDzXx1hw6E43FBUHYm-adF2ZvYHIShbGA-hZxwbGOPHpMrrDjEDshAG_dAhIfaTQZpNQ_nqJ681SG71av6j8EUu-XD39sseR8EL2ztbfS/s320/DSC07448.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571329925534625586" border="0" /></a>First Cut removed, lines indicate where next line should be cut<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JPnjfpSuCSZSa5OAulTqv4HnL90mGWQ3n-QZj37TqZpDjZZVvDOlRDBvAgaILFrQDG7bng0rxacTTBAfndRf0BMvXNDG6cLM7hnoE91tC3otyKwY-3lS3g8-EpSlcoM6bcP8m6bNmi33/s1600/DSC07450.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JPnjfpSuCSZSa5OAulTqv4HnL90mGWQ3n-QZj37TqZpDjZZVvDOlRDBvAgaILFrQDG7bng0rxacTTBAfndRf0BMvXNDG6cLM7hnoE91tC3otyKwY-3lS3g8-EpSlcoM6bcP8m6bNmi33/s320/DSC07450.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571325688896229282" border="0" /></a>Spreading the paper to show second cut<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fJ0N1XT50RMN7MuDGIIehs0-cCuEic207GPa9UwmozSx6C6qQu82dbNWlb_iaxcYSclUUi7CgfE6NKciLHOkf9bclHkSbWsLde5hhKOUH-NutIzM3TA4I_fZbsLrCfLiK8qSjDSyX43l/s1600/DSC07452.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fJ0N1XT50RMN7MuDGIIehs0-cCuEic207GPa9UwmozSx6C6qQu82dbNWlb_iaxcYSclUUi7CgfE6NKciLHOkf9bclHkSbWsLde5hhKOUH-NutIzM3TA4I_fZbsLrCfLiK8qSjDSyX43l/s320/DSC07452.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571325693258729186" border="0" /></a>The rest of the piece is then removed.<br /><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tip #3: Follow with your thumb.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">As you cut, you should immediately press your thumb onto the area just cut. This supports the paper preventing tearing, breaking, and stretching. Here's a video:<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx6AG2pYM_Nlm81QE2xpp_6xe6J6YyHOArrFCh-4HQ3x5qTv1BjKl3hBp6rb0QSD2HTx-4DO6F54PE87Cuj' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tip #4: Leave pieces in for support</span><br /><br />Sometimes when cutting a complicated piece like the gate design, you will find that pieces wrap around other pieces and going in sequential order is impossible. In these cases I recommend cutting the piece and either leaving the piece in, or leaving a small portion of the piece uncut so that either way the piece remains in the hole. These left-in pieces help to support the overall structure of your piece while you are cutting nearby delicate areas. The photos below hopefully show what I mean better than I just explained:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHffgEk_0BnMlvRoKnByHcIg_pVyjSA-CPg24m7Of9zQMJb9C4VBKpwWOTb6P1pJmUnYpBQPV9M9gs_QOX1frH6UP8OZ0RNhzQ5jYPHHcdfQ0nTq0FGVvRMsho0ViZYGfscHSZE3OxCHB/s1600/DSC07457.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHffgEk_0BnMlvRoKnByHcIg_pVyjSA-CPg24m7Of9zQMJb9C4VBKpwWOTb6P1pJmUnYpBQPV9M9gs_QOX1frH6UP8OZ0RNhzQ5jYPHHcdfQ0nTq0FGVvRMsho0ViZYGfscHSZE3OxCHB/s320/DSC07457.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571325929148950274" border="0" /></a>Piece cut, but left inside hole<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcj7RjqrmYojFByQwGY9NO9haIx9wh3GUb5YQMpzGrircFLGtrJfraQhTU_Mz0E3Rn_WTZx_eST4tuoCzvz2qYaDIAUuyZwGEOapridf3K0egKRkZo4ZkyR9HGUr5ZOFsnKYT3Qw6DPK9/s1600/DSC07458.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcj7RjqrmYojFByQwGY9NO9haIx9wh3GUb5YQMpzGrircFLGtrJfraQhTU_Mz0E3Rn_WTZx_eST4tuoCzvz2qYaDIAUuyZwGEOapridf3K0egKRkZo4ZkyR9HGUr5ZOFsnKYT3Qw6DPK9/s320/DSC07458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571325940529392450" border="0" /></a>Fragile area cut and removed<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHGTvWOVKZlj9b0CsPb6DbYp4gdOWdFulT9tEnlz8J8-eZWlIGli8gPSMj2BrdqsqU5y2e5DYkSQ0DKDB0YZb6ZJ3hHbPJPzt-123fLzN6S0qTZN8qZPVKP6iSDdFMRo6-rxYfdMi3LMa/s1600/DSC07459.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHGTvWOVKZlj9b0CsPb6DbYp4gdOWdFulT9tEnlz8J8-eZWlIGli8gPSMj2BrdqsqU5y2e5DYkSQ0DKDB0YZb6ZJ3hHbPJPzt-123fLzN6S0qTZN8qZPVKP6iSDdFMRo6-rxYfdMi3LMa/s320/DSC07459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571325698121557762" border="0" /></a>First piece removed after fragile area is cut<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This tip is great for a long series of parallel cuts. Cut all the vertical cuts in order leaving the horizontal end-cuts intact. Then once all the vertical cuts are finished, go back and cut the ends of the pieces allowing removal.<br /></div></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tip #5: Built-in Support Structures</span><br />Support structures allow for both fragile cuts as well as keeping all your loose parts in place until mounting. I will go through a design and cut in all the support structures BEFORE I begin so I don't forget later.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkF03VEqfRPIgw77M0UDJeEcX8GSqQ9XXfDksiIOgLf0oY6uTFL7IknR2VDDKmF_8V_w5znKO0lJ4Z4-Ob5PNM-IZ0Honj-CXoCb091W9EHt7vqOkp68v7wJtJdAqOD_NPQwYHmBbNRHb7/s1600/DSC07463.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkF03VEqfRPIgw77M0UDJeEcX8GSqQ9XXfDksiIOgLf0oY6uTFL7IknR2VDDKmF_8V_w5znKO0lJ4Z4-Ob5PNM-IZ0Honj-CXoCb091W9EHt7vqOkp68v7wJtJdAqOD_NPQwYHmBbNRHb7/s320/DSC07463.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571325891409046866" border="0" /></a>Piece held to light to show pre-cut supports in designs<br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgrQwJMyyMNJ2TPXouP-GYl3VMki6LI0BQsSbImxOqKXUbFAkUiljuP29BlLnWvBrvxexrDEJJCfJqkhAiT1TZXvcjwmIn5UxN3AjwQzCLNWQ66kAsZxmPHqsr8AAi_mNHthEjMhHh_nT/s1600/DSC07464.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgrQwJMyyMNJ2TPXouP-GYl3VMki6LI0BQsSbImxOqKXUbFAkUiljuP29BlLnWvBrvxexrDEJJCfJqkhAiT1TZXvcjwmIn5UxN3AjwQzCLNWQ66kAsZxmPHqsr8AAi_mNHthEjMhHh_nT/s320/DSC07464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571325703528804626" border="0" /></a>Cuts removed around delicate areas with support structures holding everything in place and also providing support to keep branch from breaking off during cutting.<br /><br />Once your piece is mounted, you can cut away the supports.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">All together now!</span><br /><br />Back to the first design. As I said earlier, no one tip is used when cutting thin lines; I often use all of these in one small area of a piece. As you get more experienced, you will be able to instinctively know which combination will result in the best results, so practice practice practice! Here are some examples of the combination being used in the designs provided here and some of my other pieces<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggV5u_yo3xiQCL7VTIpUApuE8kSkpcws8SvlirISQbVnHMc-6ugJpnHWLSAEQ3u8kGJRfWz0xNoL_Z0TtwJWfzUkGtMemaqOYdfNPHjZPycjkgBxjyhhQ1wLExvJ3VjpB-ilq00lvIhZ1/s1600/DSC07472.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggV5u_yo3xiQCL7VTIpUApuE8kSkpcws8SvlirISQbVnHMc-6ugJpnHWLSAEQ3u8kGJRfWz0xNoL_Z0TtwJWfzUkGtMemaqOYdfNPHjZPycjkgBxjyhhQ1wLExvJ3VjpB-ilq00lvIhZ1/s320/DSC07472.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571325897351977266" border="0" /></a>(Back of paper to show cuts) Support structure and pieces left partially cut to support several parallel cuts<br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3448/3726424599_0ca0b8da8b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 404px; height: 304px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3448/3726424599_0ca0b8da8b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>A custom design with text. Hand-drawn supports allow for extremely delicate cuts before mounting.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3602/3404460825_78257f9a0d_z.jpg?zz=1"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3602/3404460825_78257f9a0d_z.jpg?zz=1" alt="" border="0" /></a>Support structure keeping everything in place<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4694292051_91fe88db94.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 404px; height: 303px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4694292051_91fe88db94.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Lots of thin lines here!<br /></div><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2739/4414623877_d981ddf560.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2739/4414623877_d981ddf560.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Same principals are used for extremely small cuts as thin lines. Planning and forethought are the most important principals when doing extremely difficult cuts.<br /><br />I really hope this helps, and I'll be reading the comments to answer any questions that come up!Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-58610007581205458542011-01-18T08:55:00.003-05:002011-01-24T15:28:19.593-05:00Cutting in actionI was about to cut a kissing couple on a bike piece when I realized I should give something a try. have been wanting to do a timelapse video of myself cutting, so I setup my camera and took a long video.<br /><br />Fortunately, my PC has some built-in video editing software so I was able to fast-forward through much of it to show the entire process in just under two minutes. SO, without further ado, here's the video. I hope you enjoy:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ensoJQCkrAA" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="480"></iframe><br /><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/62407585/bicycle-kissing-couple-first-anniversary">Kissing Couple on a Bike, on Etsy.com $40</a><br /></div>Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-19556972051695684492011-01-18T08:41:00.005-05:002011-01-18T10:08:55.957-05:00Craftboston<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34SBpx-JUgNGe52IqrNX2Un5_DuKRc_ZEp6TGPF5cUoeJD2ceNW1kQD2e7p8EvyqnopPoSRYuiz0QlgD8iusic1h7nyzC0xVUIBeajpctBrLvH5DzeyDEHpbxDZyFl6aRx48X1slFVrSr/s1600/DSC06300.JPG"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubVPfSqOcjTlqcBCosTcbzWwKskmZmkKMuhLnW0JefnkaKyUAuVBalIAKzc0bLibd9zy7-LbeeEIRxW0mxXkjewTXpxNKOgj1fKQjpLnsc9kv_ax6tlOJh0E4S1tDsG1HQxNa0ZOUa0f0/s1600/DSC06165.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubVPfSqOcjTlqcBCosTcbzWwKskmZmkKMuhLnW0JefnkaKyUAuVBalIAKzc0bLibd9zy7-LbeeEIRxW0mxXkjewTXpxNKOgj1fKQjpLnsc9kv_ax6tlOJh0E4S1tDsG1HQxNa0ZOUa0f0/s320/DSC06165.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563523006076099474" border="0" /></a><br />I was recently accepted into the<a href="http://craftboston.org/artists.asp?whatpg=artview&navig=media&id=770"> 2011 Craftboston,</a> the premiere exhibition and sale of contemporary craft in New England!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://craftboston.org/images/CB_logo_08_72.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 72px;" src="http://craftboston.org/images/CB_logo_08_72.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I've been busily preparing for the show designing and creating a brand new set of designs that will be revealed at the show. These pieces are hands-down my most challenging pieces and I'm really excited with the designs. Currently, there are 9 completed designs and three have been cut. I'm working on the fourth. There are three branch designs, three architecture designs, and three Maine-inspired designs.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubVPfSqOcjTlqcBCosTcbzWwKskmZmkKMuhLnW0JefnkaKyUAuVBalIAKzc0bLibd9zy7-LbeeEIRxW0mxXkjewTXpxNKOgj1fKQjpLnsc9kv_ax6tlOJh0E4S1tDsG1HQxNa0ZOUa0f0/s1600/DSC06165.JPG"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34SBpx-JUgNGe52IqrNX2Un5_DuKRc_ZEp6TGPF5cUoeJD2ceNW1kQD2e7p8EvyqnopPoSRYuiz0QlgD8iusic1h7nyzC0xVUIBeajpctBrLvH5DzeyDEHpbxDZyFl6aRx48X1slFVrSr/s1600/DSC06300.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34SBpx-JUgNGe52IqrNX2Un5_DuKRc_ZEp6TGPF5cUoeJD2ceNW1kQD2e7p8EvyqnopPoSRYuiz0QlgD8iusic1h7nyzC0xVUIBeajpctBrLvH5DzeyDEHpbxDZyFl6aRx48X1slFVrSr/s320/DSC06300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563523015968796338" border="0" /></a><br />I wanted to share some in-progress shots with you all as a thank you for following my journey. I'm keeping the full images of the designs as a facebook exclusive, so to see the entire finished piece, head over to my facebook page here: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/papercutsbyjoe">http://www.facebook.com/papercutsbyjoe</a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwikIM04ZBoSfWeIo_hEvOBBcVd9ktDg6EgRFr9zNM1mpo1u_XuAl8X1goxqdvVsEeSMrY8N6E3lx2DKt8REW2VaDRJVKvtWQQTpeits8OXJaItwsr3CKTvwwbV9QvYbJCQEZ1FJQyhh2N/s1600/DSC07203.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwikIM04ZBoSfWeIo_hEvOBBcVd9ktDg6EgRFr9zNM1mpo1u_XuAl8X1goxqdvVsEeSMrY8N6E3lx2DKt8REW2VaDRJVKvtWQQTpeits8OXJaItwsr3CKTvwwbV9QvYbJCQEZ1FJQyhh2N/s320/DSC07203.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563522755456375122" border="0" /></a><br />I'm really proud of these pieces, and my goal is to completely blow the minds of the visitors to my booth. This is my first time at this show, and I'll be surrounded by some of the greatest craftsmen in the country, so I'm bringing my "A" game.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLyS84eervrQa0wL-SgTlKNRvyl2DQb9MLTdUaqVe7Pp67nn15xj7CKfZI5rYrdeT0TlX6ous7JIT6W3H2bR43bRGm3iRiMR2k8NQbWRyA64ax5qzoyaG8vw2k9v9C8nxIOgAreCbY03w/s1600/DSC07202.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLyS84eervrQa0wL-SgTlKNRvyl2DQb9MLTdUaqVe7Pp67nn15xj7CKfZI5rYrdeT0TlX6ous7JIT6W3H2bR43bRGm3iRiMR2k8NQbWRyA64ax5qzoyaG8vw2k9v9C8nxIOgAreCbY03w/s320/DSC07202.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563522758518452178" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/papercutsbyjoe/search?search_query=branches&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5202682&shopname=papercutsbyjoe">Other Branch designs currently available in my Etsy shop</a><br /><br />If you are interested in coming to the show, please do! Below is the information for the show:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="http://craftboston.org/springindex.asp" class="mnav" target="_blank"><u>CRAFTBOSTON • Spring</u></a></span><br /> Featuring 200 Contemporary Craft Artists<br /> World Trade Center, Boston<br /> March 25-27, 2011</span> <br /></div>Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-18557468990712287902011-01-17T09:15:00.004-05:002011-01-17T09:33:24.971-05:00Critters!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_570xN.203236279.jpg"><br /></a><br />Nothing like a trip to the museum to get inspired. I'm always worried that I'll never have another good idea. I think we all fear that sometimes. Jen and I recently took the trek across Boston by train to the quaint college town of Cambridge, home of a little university called Harvard. Heard of it?<br /><br />My beetle design, which is based on a photo I took of a massive beetle we found in a park in Iowa, was quite successful, so I thought it would be fun to do some more bug and critter-based designs. I wanted to have a bit more masculine touch to my newer designs to balance all the cute stuff. That and I really wanted to hang some bugs on my wall until they sold.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/61843209/beetle-hand-cut-paper-silhouette-8x10"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_570xN.192957666.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><br />Well, next time you visit, skip the Yah'd, and head straight to the <a href="http://www.peabody.harvard.edu/">Harvard Peabody Museum</a>. Okay, fine, you need to walk across the Yard to get there, but don't pay attention to it, it gets enough press.<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/64658974/butterfly-2-hand-cut-paper-silhouette"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.203237576.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Since 1866 this museum has been one of the greatest institution for natural history and archaeology in the WORLD. The archaeological collections are close to my heart, and Jen and I got to take an incredible behind-the-scene tour of their storage facility when we took an archaeological collections course at Boston University; however, this trip was for the bugs. And bird, and snakes, and fish, and beasts.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/64658505/deer-skull-hand-cut-paper-silhouette"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_570xN.203236279.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We left full of ideas for new designs, and I quickly got to work creating some Natural History inspired pieces. I still have about 12 more that are designed and need to be cut, but things are getting busy so they may be a while before they are released. In the mean time, enjoy the first batch!<br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/64659390/sheep-skull-hand-cut-paper-silhouette"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_570xN.203239944.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Here's the rest of them: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/papercutsbyjoe?section_id=7401476">http://www.etsy.com/shop/papercutsbyjoe?section_id=7401476</a>Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-81763096284679167312010-08-09T17:45:00.004-04:002010-08-09T17:49:54.356-04:00Gearing up for Art in the Park<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eLBmyYGZ4DB_jDayaBKL2VUiVXCxrLVujI86-rvphPWbDCQNV1rcz-sYu6Uz1M2CgZe79MM7IoCqcs7jpPy7qh6BgHmIA4mqgqywAqV1CS287fBnQC6RELattQiSxp8fiFZofkPFq5vc/s1600/Artintheparktent.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 457px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eLBmyYGZ4DB_jDayaBKL2VUiVXCxrLVujI86-rvphPWbDCQNV1rcz-sYu6Uz1M2CgZe79MM7IoCqcs7jpPy7qh6BgHmIA4mqgqywAqV1CS287fBnQC6RELattQiSxp8fiFZofkPFq5vc/s400/Artintheparktent.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503530604328632178" border="0" /></a><br />One week away!<br /><br />Please join me if you can this Saturday, the 14th in South Portland, ME's Mill Creek Park for the 31st annual Art in the Park!<br /><br />I'll be showing 75 pieces, about 35 of which are framed, the others are unframed, and very inexpensive. Figured I'd bring a bunch of pieces people can easily carry away, and a couple really WOW pieces for those with deeper pockets.<br /><br />This is one of my most successful shows, and I've got high goals this year (bringing over $6k worth of merchandise).<br /><br />Here's the tent plan so you know what to look for when you get there. Had a blast making this, and it really helps me relax to know I've essentially got a map once I get there.Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-12053063106160913742010-06-12T17:52:00.004-04:002010-06-12T18:10:57.033-04:00Art Show TipsI was just accepted into the Boston Arts Festival 2010 for the second year in a row (yay me!) and I really should be working on stuff for the Acquire show, but I remembered I wanted to post something here, and I'm a huge procrastinator. Anyway, here's some tips from a guy who does his fair share of art shows and has come home with his Boston rent several times.<br /><br />1. Don't stand in your tent (with one exception below), sitting is much less intimidating to a buyer who may be timid about entering your tent. I personally get intimidated when feeling like the artist is going to pounce on me when I enter their tent. And don't stand outside your tent in a chair like you're a director or a gate attendant. Seriously, don't.<br /><br />2. Do your art while you're sitting there. Don't care what it is. I was cutting paper in my notebook just to look busy. Again, it makes you look distracted and people will go into your tent thinking they won't be watched. Plus they always love to watch you do your art and I've looked up once while being a bit too intent on what I was doing and literally had five people watching me just as intently. Actually jumped and everyone thought it was funny. ha ha. ALWAYS look up to say hi with a smile when they come in and immediately look away and let them do their thing. If they stay for more than 10 seconds, then say something like "everything is hand-cut from a single sheet of black paper" (for example). If they don't respond, go back to work, if they do respond, then become mr/mrs personality and have a nice chat, they're now officially a customer.<br /><br />3. When talking to someone, stay seated, it makes them feel comfortable. Only stand to go to a piece or hand them something. Again, you want your potential customers to not feel intimidated or pressured. Give them the upper hand. When they indicate they are planning to buy, then stand up, it give them the idea that you are now engaged fully, confident, and ready for business.<br /><br />4. Here's my best tip- If nobody is going into your tent, become a customer. Jen and I are always together at these shows and if nobody is in the tent, we get up and start walking around our tent like customers viewing pieces, talking about which one is our favorite, and deciding if we should arrange pieces in the tent. People will see you and think you're a browser and automatically wonder what you are looking at and go in themselves. It works EVERY time. Ever notice how the more people there are in your tent, the more people want to be in your tent? The biggest turnoff from a browser is an empty tent. Once you get someone in your tent, casually go back to your chair, say hi, and go back to work ignoring them and letting they enjoy the art.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieXPXaog_b92kmP_rwzyMT4_fRTen6imOYlBF21IvScCbuYSXD_FykKDS9JCuuSabSlC1DVgdn9ioVkOSylv4XFJCZLjygkmCl9pNJ2yTmXh1XDpEN2vp4Luldee1CWI66BBvO1US_dCY/s1600/DSC02836.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieXPXaog_b92kmP_rwzyMT4_fRTen6imOYlBF21IvScCbuYSXD_FykKDS9JCuuSabSlC1DVgdn9ioVkOSylv4XFJCZLjygkmCl9pNJ2yTmXh1XDpEN2vp4Luldee1CWI66BBvO1US_dCY/s400/DSC02836.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482011889209877826" border="0" /></a><br />Couple bonus ones that I just remembered- bring flowers and decorate your tent. Makes you look so freaking prepared you actually thought to bring plants. Insta-Pro. I'll add more as we remember them.<br /><br />Hopefully this is helpful!Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-43718427934264911332010-06-07T21:45:00.001-04:002010-06-07T21:48:55.312-04:00ACQUIRE show opening invite<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOx9fsF5o1Us4aexs6x6wx2R_1ZEESKwATLubd5Jz_U7LSCoae7bkI36b8A3TnYeyMueSRWMgMiKw51DgoZJKvFx1sbqCAZsC8GO0Ossrg3E9lQoQNltqAKGFNks63sPWkaSB3Ifow0Nm/s1600/Joe-Blast-White.jpg"><br /></a><br />Hi everyone!<br /><br />My Acquire show in Boston will be opening next Thursday, the 17th with an opening night party from 6-9. You are ALL invited, and I hope a few of you can make it! If not, the show stays up through August, but I can't guarantee everything won't sell opening night:)<br /><br />Here's the flier with all the info:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOx9fsF5o1Us4aexs6x6wx2R_1ZEESKwATLubd5Jz_U7LSCoae7bkI36b8A3TnYeyMueSRWMgMiKw51DgoZJKvFx1sbqCAZsC8GO0Ossrg3E9lQoQNltqAKGFNks63sPWkaSB3Ifow0Nm/s1600/Joe-Blast-White.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOx9fsF5o1Us4aexs6x6wx2R_1ZEESKwATLubd5Jz_U7LSCoae7bkI36b8A3TnYeyMueSRWMgMiKw51DgoZJKvFx1sbqCAZsC8GO0Ossrg3E9lQoQNltqAKGFNks63sPWkaSB3Ifow0Nm/s400/Joe-Blast-White.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480213788290100354" border="0" /></a>Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-34109304168971577862010-05-01T18:08:00.004-04:002010-05-01T18:12:53.217-04:00Major Announcement<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/2332682728_d06cc08eee_b.jpg">
<br /></a>
<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]-->Hi everyone, <p class="MsoNormal">So the big announcement here is that I will no longer be offering custom silhouettes via my website, etsy, and any other venue.<span style=""> </span>I will be finishing all requests received recently, and will be making arrangements with several clients with whom I have long-term multi-piece orders and projects.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As this business has grown, and grown in ways that has surprised no one more than myself, I have had opportunities to show my non-custom work at galleries and museums across the country.<span style=""> </span>The 2010 list includes Terminal 22, High Wire Arts, and future shows at ACQUIRE Boutique, Westmoreland Museum of American Art, and The Wilson Gallery so far.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The custom silhouettes have become incredibly popular, and the attention given to my work from sites and folk from around the world has been amazing.<span style=""> </span>Unfortunately, the popularity of these has resulted in absolutely no time to create any new non-custom art.<span style=""> </span>I would love to continue to push myself and the envelope further exploring new ideas for this ever more popular medium, and to cut some of the exciting design ideas I’ve had floating around in my head.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I have removed all custom listings from my etsy store, and will create new listings for those current customers who have put in requests for designs.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">With this increase in “free time” I will be unveiling a new and exciting body of work, and I expect my etsy shop to grow dramatically in the coming weeks.<span style=""> </span>This is by no means an end, but a beginning. <span style=""> </span>Most importantly, I am excited about my art in a way that I have not felt for months, and I hope this shows in my new work.<span style=""> </span>Some of these new pieces as well as many others already in my shop will be around the price of my custom silhouettes ($55), and I encourage anyone interested in paper anniversary gifts to consider my entire body of work, every single piece of which is made of paper.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Again, I am truly excited to make this announcement.<span style=""> </span>I hope these new pieces will help bring both my artwork and my art career to places I believe I’m ready to go.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thank you all for your understanding and support, and for everyone who has purchased a custom silhouette from me, I cannot express the gratitude I have for your interest and support, and I hope you continue to follow my journey, experiments, adventure-- whatever you want to call it. Regardless it will be awesome!
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>~Joe Bagley (Joe)</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/2332682728_d06cc08eee_b.jpg">
<br /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/2332682728_d06cc08eee_b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/2332682728_d06cc08eee_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p> Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-48452102269246736572010-03-24T08:31:00.006-04:002010-03-24T12:18:08.529-04:00Hanging with the cool kidsWorking from home can get lonely, so against all odds I've become a frequent user of Twitter, facebook, and online forums.<br /><br />(By the way, you can be come a "fan" of my art on Facebook <a href="http://www.facebook.com/papercutsbyjoe">here</a>, or follow me on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/PapercutsByJoe">here</a>)<br /><br />I've meet some truly incredible people along the way and it seems like in the past week they have accomplished some amazing things, so I thought I'd share with you all some of my friend's do wellings:<br /><br />Liz over at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/madeinlowell">Madeinlowell</a>, creator of awesomeness, will be on the Martha Stewart show TODAY showing us all how to create her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/madeinlowell?section_id=5034972">awesome eggs</a>, which I am proud to say I have one hanging in my living room right now:)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.120293716.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 402px; height: 502px;" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.120293716.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Friend and fellow papercutter in the UK, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/mrYen">mrYen</a>, was commissioned to create some original paper art for a short stop-motion film by the same folk who created the awesome Amazon Kindle Commercials:<br /><br /><object height="192" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mwX7uEiEWx4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mwX7uEiEWx4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="192" width="320"></embed></object><br /></div></div><br />You can purchase the whales he created for the movie on his<a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=43342791"> etsy site here</a>:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.132442850.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 435px; height: 290px;" src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.132442850.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />And finally UK Illustrator Extraordinaire <a href="http://www.theblackbirdsings.typepad.com/">Natasha Newton</a> was asked to have her original paintings adorn the covers of the latest edition of Jorge Bucay's books. You can purchase prints of the piece in her awesome <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/theblackbirdsings">etsy shop here</a>:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://theblackbirdsings.typepad.com/.a/6a01053598a594970b0120a96048b7970b-450wi"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 450px; height: 353px;" src="http://theblackbirdsings.typepad.com/.a/6a01053598a594970b0120a96048b7970b-450wi" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />On top of all that two of my teammates on the Full Time Etsy Crafters were approached by Real Simple Magazine and Oprah Magazine, but since that isn't a done deal yet, I don't want to spoil it for them, but still awesome!<br /><br />I'm so happy for all of them!Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-59745506743142578412010-03-22T08:48:00.003-04:002010-03-22T08:59:38.522-04:00Guild of American PapercuttersYou are now reading the blog of the newest member of the Guild of American Papercutters Board of Directors, the largest organization of papercutters in the western hemisphere.<br /><br />I received word of my nomiation<span style="font-size:100%;"> from </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">Marie-Helene Grabmanm, the president of the </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">Guild, about a week ago and just heard last night of my unanimous acceptance onto the board.<br /><br />I very much look forward to being an active participant in the Guild's growth and I am truly honored and flabbergasted that I was even considered!<br /><br />To find out more about the GAP, to become a member (we publish a quarterly magazine with new art, history, and news from around the world), and to see the work of local and international papercutters, visit their site at <a href="http://www.papercutters.org/">www.papercutters.org</a><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://thistledewmercantile.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/guild.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 97px; height: 133px;" src="http://thistledewmercantile.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/guild.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-20659445848316560102010-03-20T09:12:00.002-04:002010-03-20T09:16:22.672-04:00MicrocutsI get up at 6:45 every morning and start work some time around 8. Typically I spend part of the morning catching up on emails and The Internet, then I cut or design for people, break for lunch, then finish cutting, package new pieces, trip to the Post Office, return, email people who emailed me while I was at the Post Office. THEN sometime around 3:30, with 30 mins before my wife gets off work, I have this creative time that is MINE ALL MINE!!!<br /><br />Well, lately that time hasn't been exactly enough time to work on a large 18x24 of a famous Boston landmark I started weeks ago and have gotten almost none of it finished, so instead, I've been focusing on smaller projects I stand a chance of finishing the same day I start.<br /><br />Inspired by the creative geniuses over at etsy, including <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/kfarrell?ga_search_query=FTECteam&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=2&includes[0]=tags&includes[1]=title">kfarrell, creater of tinysaurs</a>, which I have miniature collection of, I decided to go small.<br /><br />The wonders of the computer combined with the printing ability of laser printers, I realized I had everything I needed to shrink down an original design to mind-numbing porportions. SO, with a Sunday evening filled with Jen madly trying to finish a monstrous reading assignment (studying for her MA in Historical Archaeology- aren't we so interesting?) I dug through a bunch of photos looking for an appropriate idea.<br /><br />I settled on a photo I took of the Chicago Library domed <a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/2860032872_1efe77d8d8.jpg">Tiffany glass celing</a> during our trip to that amazing city last August.<br /><br />I figured I should probably start with a size that made some logical sense, so I chose one square inch, popped the new design into photoshop, and Ta-Da!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_430xN.128580936.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 430px;" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_430xN.128580936.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I started cutting, and quickly realized I couldn't use my usual swivel knife as it wanted to move a bit too much for the delicateness of the design (wanted to twist and turn when I was cutting a 1mm thick straight line), so I switched to my usualy #11 blade/knife. Here's a progress shot:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_430xN.128580827.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 430px;" src="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_430xN.128580827.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Once finished, I mounted it to a 12x12 inch background to give it some presence on the wall and framed it up but good. Here it is unmounted and finally framed:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_430xN.128580808.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 430px;" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_430xN.128580808.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />AND, if you are so impressed, you can even purchase the $65 <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42213922">framed original piece here on etsy</a>.<br /><br />After completing that and getting lots of "oohs and Ahs" I felt pretty good about the decision to go small and immediately started thinking of new ideas. Apparently this is harder than it looks to go so small because I've had a hard time coming up with ideas for interesting, cutable designs. I soon thought of the world map, since I was working on the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=map&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5332574">Continent papercut</a> designs.<br /><br />I had to subtly modify the map a bit (bring the two hemispheres a bit closer together) but in the end, I was really happy with the design, which measures 1 x 1.75 inches huge.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_430xN.129385781.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 430px;" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_430xN.129385781.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_430xN.129385736.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 430px;" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_430xN.129385736.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Apparently it was a really awesome design because it was on Etsy a whole 6 hours before getting snatched up and now lives in a great home in Missouri:)<br /><br />Like I said before, I'm struggling to come up with designs that would both look interesting small, but also be physically cut-able. Here are some recent experimentations that I love, but I'm not listing yet as I'm hoping to do even better.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBot4WiAr75NVkBj_cs7cOnLGxZX_-MmYj95lu2P-jf-dEPHowOyisODVmwhFv-KLfDtxqG1bqtK62UsObFoj6Ry89tPMUvJdElU-zYDPlNwtQdXMH7rRXkqD6fNwKpRjDYheU5zZJKG4O/s1600-h/3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBot4WiAr75NVkBj_cs7cOnLGxZX_-MmYj95lu2P-jf-dEPHowOyisODVmwhFv-KLfDtxqG1bqtK62UsObFoj6Ry89tPMUvJdElU-zYDPlNwtQdXMH7rRXkqD6fNwKpRjDYheU5zZJKG4O/s320/3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450703250070701906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0M4ljPaPOX4-NliG3vp9gY73_Q8Q7okiiBQ7IF8q3AnYKI69COXI24n8VJuH6Q02o4v3-JFAMI_Rqk7G2wXFXSuJbcmL-vx89ifaaMa6ekostir23YvemCTwCkGdSewKVVtzqd9CcS61b/s1600-h/maine1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0M4ljPaPOX4-NliG3vp9gY73_Q8Q7okiiBQ7IF8q3AnYKI69COXI24n8VJuH6Q02o4v3-JFAMI_Rqk7G2wXFXSuJbcmL-vx89ifaaMa6ekostir23YvemCTwCkGdSewKVVtzqd9CcS61b/s320/maine1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450703233627797906" border="0" /></a><br />I am working on a 1x1" version of this piece, which now hangs in a private collection in London:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_430xN.64218423.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 430px;" src="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_430xN.64218423.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />About 1/3 done as you can see<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyB78OdhCxbAHyb54feWlakuaZ5Hq3CqOUeBKUDnNhFNR2vhPLweaIGxWUQ0SJ9-DfuM09D5O3MuOlBS-fb_qlRx_qwvXSolV8yX0vOO9r4pv4U5JW-qUydpcj4DP4Mh9JCOj5B9PI6No/s1600-h/2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyB78OdhCxbAHyb54feWlakuaZ5Hq3CqOUeBKUDnNhFNR2vhPLweaIGxWUQ0SJ9-DfuM09D5O3MuOlBS-fb_qlRx_qwvXSolV8yX0vOO9r4pv4U5JW-qUydpcj4DP4Mh9JCOj5B9PI6No/s320/2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450703245380684706" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Okay, that's it for now. If you have brilliant ideas for microcuts, do tell, do tell. And, speaking of telling, I have some very exciting news that will be confirmed at 10am today, after the confirmation, I'll be back with a nice announcement:)Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-75259260199777890482010-03-10T09:36:00.003-05:002010-03-10T10:23:36.486-05:00Shows, and new stuffWow, first off, a huge thanks to Ann Martin and her All Things Paper blog for <a href="http://allthingspaper-annmartin.blogspot.com/2010/03/papercuts-by-joe.html">featuring my work </a>recently, and also to the incredibly kinds comments that followed. You have no idea how much I appreciate it!<br /><br />With that has brought a TON of new readers (hi y'all) so I figured I should, you know, actually write something for you to read.<br /><br />I have a couple of upcoming shows I'd like to plug.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I just got back my piece from the Terminal 22 show, and the two largest (below) are now heading to a papercutting show at the <a href="http://www.highwirearts.com/">High Wire Gallery</a> in San Antonio, TX. Both are 18x24 inches.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs161.snc3/18847_290808339266_47028564266_3253154_7827972_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 368px; height: 551px;" src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs161.snc3/18847_290808339266_47028564266_3253154_7827972_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I'm hoping they'll make a bit of a splash there since, as many of you who are familiar at all with the art of papercutting, these are just a <span style="font-style: italic;">little </span>different from traditional <span style="font-style: italic;">scherenschnitte </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">wycinanki</span>. Just a bit.<br /><br />I'm also waiting to hear back from a show in Pennsylvania, and two summer art shows, one the Boston Ahts Festival and Art In the Park, a fantastic outdoor show in my home town of South Portland, ME. Did the latter two last year and had a blast, though the weather could be better for the Boston show this year. Fingers crossed.<br /><br />I'm also finalizing a commission I received to make an original piece depicting the Massachusetts State House, which will be sold at the Gift shop along with prints of the original. Pretty cool!<br /><br />Here's some of my most recent work:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.127556781.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 498px; height: 498px;" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.127556781.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Cliff, available on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41918269">Etsy </a>or <a href="http://www.discoveredartists.com/artwork/view/23520/Cliff++Hand-Cut+Paper+art">Discovered Artist</a><br /><br />Detailed photo of the water in Cliff:<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_430xN.127556899.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 430px;" src="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_430xN.127556899.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><br />Also new, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42367455">Green</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42343541">Mother's day Silhouettes</a>, and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42359769">Car & Bike Portraits</a><br /><br />Thanks!<br />~Joe<br /></div></div>Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-48079235990825779392010-02-16T10:17:00.003-05:002010-02-16T10:40:42.015-05:00Early 18th Century Economics Woes in France Under Louis XV, or, How the Silhouette Got its NameÉtienne de Silhouette was the French Controller-General of Finance under Louis the XV.<br /><br />In 1760, a huge budget crisis hit France. To combat the lack of income for the country, de Silhouette dramatically raised the taxes on the richest noblemen of France and instituted several laws including the melting of gold and silverware.<br /><br />This didn't exactly sit well with the wealthiest of France, and his reputation among them was less than stellar.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.askart.com/AskART/photos/CNY20060121_3095/564.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 384px; height: 231px;" src="http://www.askart.com/AskART/photos/CNY20060121_3095/564.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A group (and extremely valuable) silhouette by Auguste Edouart</div><br /><br />Silhouettes, the art form, were very popular at the time and were often purchased by all economic classes, however they were some of the only records of appearance available to people who were not able to hire an artist to paint their portrait (remember, at this time photography had not been invented). While they were well known, they were referred to by many names including Shadows, Casts, Shapes, and Shades.<br /><br />In the late 17th century, the anger towards de Silhouette transformed itself into the derogatory use of his name towards anything of lesser value, or cheaply made. Silhouettes, the papercutting, took on this name as an adjective at this time.<br /><br />Auguste Edouart, without doubt the most famous of all silhouette artists (I'm working hard to be #2), began using the term "Silhouette" to market and promote his goods as he did not like the name Shadow or Shade. Cutting over 100,000 silhouettes across Europe of famous people, dignitaries, royalty, and the general public, his popularity and ubiquitous nature caused his term Silhouette to permanently adhere to the cut paper artform.<br /><br />Silhouette has now spread from the person, to the art form, to anything shadow or darkened outline of a person, place, or thing.Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-84168487397204916722010-02-16T09:13:00.004-05:002010-02-16T09:23:39.366-05:00As Seen on TVSo Saturday was my big TV debut. Well, my artwork debuted on tv, not me, but it's better looking anyway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSCbRlwRvqMcVRVQ0em6x0DpIXREQNPoYCtn3xVEcdmlDcMU1fWZuNWZhAshpLxUgdmSDMFxaRthEf2kBrAO3azflzon4-tBJ9pCShCVYssJMvlY53xwmeoUWcqay69J_2IfX-FMpgyC4/s1600-h/AsSeenOnForHerRight+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 311px; height: 434px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSCbRlwRvqMcVRVQ0em6x0DpIXREQNPoYCtn3xVEcdmlDcMU1fWZuNWZhAshpLxUgdmSDMFxaRthEf2kBrAO3azflzon4-tBJ9pCShCVYssJMvlY53xwmeoUWcqay69J_2IfX-FMpgyC4/s320/AsSeenOnForHerRight+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438845740275187186" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I was contacted at the end of January by Lindsay Roberts, an Advertising Assistant for Good Housekeeping Magazine and blogger, who writes the blog <a href="http://www.giftgivingwithlove.com/">Gift Giving With Love</a><br /><br />I made a custom silhouette for her parent's anniversary based on an old photo from their wedding.<br /><br />She regularly makes appearances on Fox News in Detroit to show great gift giving ideas, and this Valentine's Day she showed the silhouette I made for her and her parents. Very exciting! The video is below (I'm about 3:30 into it)<br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" id="video" data="http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/video/videoplayer.swf?dppversion=5732" height="280" width="320"><param value="http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/video/videoplayer.swf?dppversion=5732" name="movie"><param value="&skin=MP1ExternalAll-MFL.swf&embed=true&adSrc=http%3A%2F%2Fad%2Edoubleclick%2Enet%2Fadx%2Ftsg%2Ewjbk%2Fwildcard%5F1%2Fwildcard%5F02%2Fdetail%3Bdcmt%3Dtext%2Fxml%3Bpos%3D%3Btile%3D2%3Bfname%3Dvalentine%2527s%2Dday%2Dgifts%2Dfor%2Dhim%2Dand%2Dher%3Bloc%3Dembed%3Bsz%3D320x240%3Bord%3D824653726071119400%3Frand%3D0%2E41979859094097013&flv=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emyfoxdetroit%2Ecom%2Ffeeds%2FoutboundFeed%3FobfType%3DVIDEO%5FPLAYER%5FSMIL%5FFEED%26componentId%3D131681777&img=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia2%2Emyfoxdetroit%2Ecom%2F%2Fphoto%2F2010%2F02%2F13%2Fvalentines%5F2%5Ftmb0000%5F20100213163219%5F640%5F480%2EJPG&story=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emyfoxdetroit%2Ecom%2Fdpp%2Fmornings%2Fweekend%2Fvalentine%27s%2Dday%2Dgifts%2Dfor%2Dhim%2Dand%2Dher" name="FlashVars"><param value="all" name="allowNetworking"><param value="always" name="allowScriptAccess"></object><br />Lindsay did a phenomenal job on the presentation, I can't imagine staying composed on TV! Thanks so much Lindsay for finding me and showing my work!<br /><br />Go check out her great blog, if you haven't already: <a href="http://www.giftgivingwithlove.com/">Gift Giving With Love</a>Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-59621559025429629382010-02-14T09:50:00.004-05:002010-02-14T10:28:34.836-05:00Papercutting tips: Guide to paperLike the adhesive post, this post is also focused mostly on one product, but I'll include some helpful tips afterwards for picking out good paper.<br /><br />I use, pretty much exclusively, Hygloss Silhouette paper from DickBlick: <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/products/hygloss-black-silhouette-paper/">http://www.dickblick.com/products/hygloss-black-silhouette-paper/</a><br /><br />I buy it in rolls of twelve 20x30 sheets, and depending on how busy I am they last about a month or two.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2436/3726441771_ae925d57d7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2436/3726441771_ae925d57d7.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Silhouette paper from Blick in the roll<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2600/3726441783_be95dc3a47.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2600/3726441783_be95dc3a47.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>An un-cut sheet of silhouette paper<br /></div><br />This paper is incredible! It is actually white paper that has been covered in a thin layer of matte-black paint. This is good for two reasons: 1, you have one side that is white so you can draw a design on it, and 2. because it's painted, there is less chance of the black fading over time. More about that later.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3473/3726451937_a1e3f31b58.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3473/3726451937_a1e3f31b58.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The "white side" of the paper<br /></div><br />I work from the white side of the paper, which means that when I'm done, my designs get flipped around. This is very important when you work from the white side! If you are doing anything that can not be backwards (text, recognizable architecture, etc) you will need to cut your design backwards. In my case, I always create my designs in the computer (easy to resize, tweek, and otherwise mess around with my original designs before cutting them), so before I start cutting I flip my designs backwards, print them as a pattern, and adhere them to the white side of the paper with a bit of <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/products/krylon-easy-tack-repositionable-spray-adhesive/">light-tack spray adhesive from Krylon</a><br /><br />When I finish cutting the design, I peel off the pattern and flip the silhouette paper over to the finished black side.<br /><br />One draw back of this particular paper is that it does come very tightly rolled, so the paper has a lot of curl to it when you first open it. I have a very large wooden shelf-like thing that store my unrolled paper in. I put the sheets of silhouette paper between two larger sheets of regular paper and then put something heavy on top to hold the paper flat. In about a week most of the curl is out of the paper, but the first few sheets really want to roll while you're working with them.<br /><br />Another minor drawback is that because it's painted, not dyed, it doesn't like to be folded. The paint doesn't crack, but you can definitely see the white try to peek through the black along the folds. Also creasing the folds can lead to abrasion of the paint and wear it through to the white.<br /><br />Don't iron them! I tried this and it made them kind of wavy even without steam. Not sure why. Just press them between something heavy.<br /><br />Okay, that all said, here are some more general tips on picking out paper:<br /><br />- Acid free and Lignin free are EXTREMELY important! Can't stress this enough. The natural acid and lignin found in most wood/paper needs to be removed or your paper will discolor, become brittle, and possibly simply fall apart over time. Look for fade-resistant paper (should be labeled as such) if you are using non-white paper. The paint on the sihouette paper is much less likely to fade as it is more light-fast<br /><br />-Thin is good, but too thin is a nightmare. You want the paper to be easy to cut, but not so fragile that you are constantly tearing it. I recommend not going much past 70 pound paper unless you want a really good hand cramp.<br /><br />-Texture is very important. You want the paper have very tiny fibers in it. If the fibers are too large, your corners and areas where the paper isn't cut completely through will have stringy bits of fiber sticking out of them. This is a huge pet peeve of mine and, in my opinion, a very good indication of the quality and skill of a papercut. You want all your edges, corners, and cuts to be clean with very little overcutting (cutting beyond the intersection of two lines). Hand-made paper is beautiful and I would love to work with it, but it's extremely fibrous. I'm not above tearing a 2mm tear in the edge of paper to see how clean it is, but you can usually tell just by running your hands on the paper. The less texture, the smoother the paper, the better.<br /><br />Some paper is actually died after it is rolled, whereas with others, the pulp of the paper is dyed first before being rolled. Very hard to tell which it is when you are looking at it, but the pulp-dyed paper has a more thorough dye-job and though it will fade, it will appear to fade slower as there is more dye throughout the paper.<br /><br />Finally, and probably most important to your paper looking good over hundreds of years, you should frame ALL your papercuts. All of 'em. These buggers are dust magnets and are too delicate to easily clean. Always use UV glass, which will help block some of the damaging ray of the sun from fading or otherwise altering your paper. Keep the paper out of direct sunlight, and away from exterior walls (walls where the other side of the wall is the outdoors) unless your house is very well insulated. The temperature changes of exterior walls aren't terribly bad for your paper, but the more stable you can keep your piece (heat, light, moisture, etc) the less likely your piece will deteriorate over time. Think about mummies: deserts are always dry and pretty much the same weather all the time= preservation. Submerged wooden ships stay in pretty good shape because they are always wet and about the same temperature. Fences in New England, where the weather is always changing and there is about a 100 degree range of temperature throughout the year rot.Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-59458181801159520982010-02-11T11:29:00.004-05:002010-02-11T11:52:18.377-05:00Guide to papercutting: AdhesiveOkay, this has been a long-time promised post, and a BUNCH of people have written me to ask, so here it is: My guide to Papercut Adhesives.<br /><br />Well, really it's just adhesive, since I pretty much only use one.<br /><br />It's called <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/products/letraset-studiotac-dry-mount-adhesives/?wmcp=google&wmcid=products&wmckw=24905-1000-2518#description">Studio Tac or Letra Tac</a>. Both are made by Letraset. I'm not sure exactly what's happening, but it appears the Studio Tac (blue package) is being phased into Letra Tac (yellow package). You can order Studio Tac from Blick online, but if you go to the store, they sell the Letra Tac.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cdn.dickblick.com/items/249/05/24905-1006-1-3ww-l.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 353px; height: 548px;" src="http://cdn.dickblick.com/items/249/05/24905-1006-1-3ww-l.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.graphicsdirect.co.uk/images/store/products/1895/large/LetraTac_DesignGrp.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 480px;" src="http://www.graphicsdirect.co.uk/images/store/products/1895/large/LetraTac_DesignGrp.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br />No matter, it's all the same stuff.<br /><br />Essentiall, this adhesive is a sheet of thousands of very small white silicon adhesive dots. They are packaged in sheets, with a a wax paper cover. You place your artwork on the dots, then rub the back, which sticks the dots to the back of the design, then you peel off the design and stick it to your background. Pretty simple, and it has great coverage.<br /><br />They stick very well. I have several mess-up papercuts that I simply slapped on my studio walls, and they are still up there after months of dramatic temperature changes and no glass covering.<br /><br />A few very very helpful tips.<br /><br />1. It sticks pretty good, so be very careful removing your piece from the wax paper.<br /><br />2. It's technically repositionable, which is great for when you stick it down not quite in the perfect spot, but it is very good at long-term adhesive.<br /><br />3. Because it's silicon, it has a bit of a rubbery ness that allows your piece to expand and contract with weather and not become detached. I've had pieces adhered for years without any sign of detachment.<br /><br />4. Personally, I would avoid the "permanent" kind since the regular kind is quite permanent and still allows repositioning.<br /><br />5. Place your piece upside down on the sheet of wax paper that isn't covered in dots, then press the sheet with dots down onto the back of the piece. It stops the piece from moving and getting wrinkles, trust me.<br /><br />6. Rub the back of the piece (the side with the dots) not the front of the piece. This makes the dots stick more thoroughly<br /><br />7. When mounting your piece, lay your piece face down (sticky dots up) on a grided surface, like a quilters mat, and use the grid to place the piece in the right spot, then take your pre-cut background, and line it up with the grid, and slowly fold it over your papercut. This I have found to be the best way to mount your work without damaging, folding, creasing, or otherwise messing up your papercut.<br /><br />8. This adhesive works best for white backgrounds as tiny bits of the dots will overhang your papercut. If you are adhering it to a white background, these will become completely invisible, but if you are mounting to a colored background, they may be very noticeable and I recommend a different adhesive like double sided tape.<br /><br />9. If any stray dots get on your work, you can remove them with a very clean soft eraser and they come right off.<br /><br />10. #9 is especially helpful if you accidently put the wrong side down and cover your presentation side with thousands of tiny sticky white dots.<br /><br />Photos of me using the Studio Tac:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3468/3726441817_3071b9b694_b.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 418px; height: 312px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3468/3726441817_3071b9b694_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Each of those dots is a dot of adhesive, and yes, I accidentally covered the back of my ruler with studio tac taking this photo<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2470/3726441823_05daa13abe_b.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 412px; height: 308px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2470/3726441823_05daa13abe_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This shows me pulling one of my papercuts away from the adhesive. Note the fact that one side of the paper is white. I'll discuss that in my next post...<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Next helpful post will be on the paper I use. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section. I'll answer them the best I can.Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-68324332283907515492010-01-28T12:43:00.003-05:002010-01-28T13:08:41.205-05:00Hard work (and a little play)The valentine's day orders are rolling in left and right, which is fantastic considering last year I literally did not sell a single piece that I knew was going to be a V-Day gift.<br /><br />Right now the two biggies are my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38687799">custom silhouettes</a> and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36656132">hand-cut valentine</a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image3.etsy.com//il_430xN.116557311.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 229px;" src="http://ny-image3.etsy.com//il_430xN.116557311.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image3.etsy.com//il_430xN.115496303.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 230px;" src="http://ny-image3.etsy.com//il_430xN.115496303.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway, the real point of this post isn't to get you guys to buy stuff, but to encourage you all. Last January was the start of what I call "the rough months". My sales plummeted, almost nobody was interested in my work, and the entire country was in near-panic over the economic situation. <br /><br />The incredible amount of "down time" allowed me to focus on my art, get some pieces cut, and come up with new ideas for my etsy shop. It got so bad that in February of last year I had $300 in total sales. That isn't profit, that's TOTAL sales. It was rough, and when you are working 40+ hour work weeks and seeing nothing for it, it hurts. Wasn't much better in January or March. Fortunately we were expecting a dip after Christmas and cut our spending WAY back and just managed to squeek by through March.<br /><br />If you are also self employed and facing a minor crisis and possibly considering quitting, look at your goods. Look at your website, blog, twitter, facebook, etc. What can you do better? Think of it as a bit of a vacation and do something crazy as an experiment. Can't get much worse right?<br /><br />I did some CRAZY pieces last winter, and I don't have them any more, because come summer and fall, I had a better blog, a better site, increased my items in my etsy shop (more items, the better I have found) and had a TON of new pieces that were ready to go any time a show came up and sold a bunch of pieces.<br /><br />If you need help, tips or encouragement, especially these slow times, I'm a pretty good cheerleader. Drop me a note!<br />~Joe<br /><br /></div><br /></div>Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-10794210236470206142010-01-27T13:03:00.004-05:002010-01-27T13:15:39.589-05:00Terminal 22 Papercuts ShowJust sharing the announcement for the Terminal 22 Papercuts Show including seven of my pieces:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs199.snc3/20647_246782629266_47028564266_3096628_2155523_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 437px; height: 291px;" src="http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs199.snc3/20647_246782629266_47028564266_3096628_2155523_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />If any of you happen to be over in the San Francisco area, please attend the show and let me know how it goes. Unfortunately I won't be able to make it!Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-43253771876233682542010-01-26T19:46:00.007-05:002010-01-26T19:58:20.725-05:00Experimentation!I've been itching to make things, but lately it's been of the 3D variety.<br /><br />For starters, I made a paper collar my wife was kind enough to model for:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZegOh0c05OCDz0uZXJqbdWnALz00WUPJ2twApti0Lw8Tx26BPdzPmsCWlXdr6MKhkg_Q0fL8g94IruJ4dLUUK4981Eh22g1i9i04SfjxAeF2MeP0MWB3n93aE38mPpV4oRx4Mq8A7U16/s1600-h/2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZegOh0c05OCDz0uZXJqbdWnALz00WUPJ2twApti0Lw8Tx26BPdzPmsCWlXdr6MKhkg_Q0fL8g94IruJ4dLUUK4981Eh22g1i9i04SfjxAeF2MeP0MWB3n93aE38mPpV4oRx4Mq8A7U16/s320/2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431214890064106882" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOoyLSVNbwwt4-0ENMFsBEWyKMDIJLt__4DyrtizkXgz1FmS1z13OV4PbjuxahmYLC7wX-SlJN2KaNT4RdMpmqpAc2RKBljMluVblD5BWl3WBYMS-5Euge-j-IUiwSPXkwjqXmtGnEkhT/s1600-h/4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOoyLSVNbwwt4-0ENMFsBEWyKMDIJLt__4DyrtizkXgz1FmS1z13OV4PbjuxahmYLC7wX-SlJN2KaNT4RdMpmqpAc2RKBljMluVblD5BWl3WBYMS-5Euge-j-IUiwSPXkwjqXmtGnEkhT/s320/4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431214983957684466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Link to Etsy Listing:</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38136419"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Radiant- Avant Garde Paper Neck Piece</span></a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">I have another collar that's all done, just need to photograph it and list it.<br /><br />I also had an idea last night about combining papercutting with origami. Wasn't sure if it would work, and it, guess what, it did!<br /><br />This one's 14x14x8<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Sm8n1MVAzZa4LPgA_q8s449mv4RMbFDmwqKHRnFmdX-1kmoRzilHSLuqCku4Lbah7R7PHhhGHENp6MzH24d_Xl5asHp7eQohpgGpY2Fx3Xs1nJyCCP-LjsOHI00kjtJk4hydJfWTMv9X/s1600-h/crane88.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Sm8n1MVAzZa4LPgA_q8s449mv4RMbFDmwqKHRnFmdX-1kmoRzilHSLuqCku4Lbah7R7PHhhGHENp6MzH24d_Xl5asHp7eQohpgGpY2Fx3Xs1nJyCCP-LjsOHI00kjtJk4hydJfWTMv9X/s400/crane88.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431216280538820290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLKMj1-zg3Svo81FFgGRkqleDxbCAL9vPBuq5wb_jyxavA8gXczxSw3oQVbH1WhyphenhyphenusavENyK9-dGpk1ERDXtPwAc5Qwq-0g18Xq1zVp0vmuz5ym45ajMJvSuAOcgeJkU-gbKxTNx0r405/s1600-h/origami3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLKMj1-zg3Svo81FFgGRkqleDxbCAL9vPBuq5wb_jyxavA8gXczxSw3oQVbH1WhyphenhyphenusavENyK9-dGpk1ERDXtPwAc5Qwq-0g18Xq1zVp0vmuz5ym45ajMJvSuAOcgeJkU-gbKxTNx0r405/s400/origami3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431216284234279794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1dJUWYgJi5LEEFX86x642mi5UyVFKrAHADgkHpdwdBeab4_65ULZob-xnNzQBuihz9QSX2CuSfiRP7LvZRu0cssOGA6CRLwkxJE3Hp-55l9RXcg8rY6hd_6aYFq8vVm61vdT3sPInJTN/s1600-h/crane9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1dJUWYgJi5LEEFX86x642mi5UyVFKrAHADgkHpdwdBeab4_65ULZob-xnNzQBuihz9QSX2CuSfiRP7LvZRu0cssOGA6CRLwkxJE3Hp-55l9RXcg8rY6hd_6aYFq8vVm61vdT3sPInJTN/s400/crane9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431216278044157122" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Etsy Listign: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39347137">Origami papercut crane with branches</a><br /><br />This inspired me to make this smaller one (7x7x4), which I cut out all the "panels" between the folds making a paper crane skeleton:<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JFCu-yHf2IsfFis7LrUs60BP2vyD-KNDw4CgmN_CcgLGw3Z1kv0qclVy59LnHDi-x8R73bMxkg4jty3kFUJqgwhVOsTr32aNNlzYgbYqg7wwOZCy_i68lMjJJv994bQf03B3h12VIhJY/s1600-h/naked1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JFCu-yHf2IsfFis7LrUs60BP2vyD-KNDw4CgmN_CcgLGw3Z1kv0qclVy59LnHDi-x8R73bMxkg4jty3kFUJqgwhVOsTr32aNNlzYgbYqg7wwOZCy_i68lMjJJv994bQf03B3h12VIhJY/s400/naked1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431216298804149650" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZF2aLSpHvmrMDKzx1gb2JyPzjg23CpEbwJkZhgIYpw7Rjz7UxFEDEaiSFq17VjruXB-2r8Gs3RqHA5EpQ_AVjkVfhoccFlSXXu0lkFI9k_J4b_-QIDOadmIiECtwyG8efYUOpmuYYsw-C/s1600-h/naked6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZF2aLSpHvmrMDKzx1gb2JyPzjg23CpEbwJkZhgIYpw7Rjz7UxFEDEaiSFq17VjruXB-2r8Gs3RqHA5EpQ_AVjkVfhoccFlSXXu0lkFI9k_J4b_-QIDOadmIiECtwyG8efYUOpmuYYsw-C/s400/naked6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431216295204681250" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Etsy listing: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39352189">Origami paper crane skeleton</a><br /><br />Let me know what you think!<br /><br /><br /></span></span>Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-36755192928580076662010-01-18T09:48:00.009-05:002010-01-18T10:31:10.594-05:00Tools of the trade- KnivesI get a bunch of emails each month asking how I make my papercuts and the materials I use.<br /><br />I thought it might be a good idea to make some posts about my techniques so others can give it a try themselves. Plenty of room in the world for more papercutters!<br /><br />I'll be focusing on knives. I use exclusively Xacto products just because they are, in my opinion, the best available. Trust me, I've tried them all.<br /><br />A quick note on terminology: Knife is the handle, blade is the sharp part that the knife holds.<br /><br />Here are my two main knives (I have pretty much every product Xacto makes, but these are my most used ones)<br /><br />Xacto X3627<span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><strong face="arial" style="font-weight: normal;">Gripster Soft Grip Knife- available everywhere<br /></strong><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4285175396_c03c613412.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 372px; height: 372px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4285175396_c03c613412.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; font-family: arial;"><br />and my <span style="font-style: italic;">piece de resistance: </span>Xacto 3051 Professional Swivel Knife. (shown with some blue painters tape to thicken it a bit and make it more comfortable for my hands)<br /><br /></strong><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4285175456_9c321ee702.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 417px; height: 242px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4285175456_9c321ee702.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><strong face="arial" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />Xacto no longer makes the 3051, and I only have one that was given to me by a friend who did rubylith cutting for billboards in the 70s (that's how old the knife is). If you find one, I'll buy it off you! Actually, my birthday is coming up on Feb 3rd...<br /><br />The Gripster takes standard #11 blades. I use this knife for all my straight cuts as it is very easy to cut a perfectly straight cut with a standard xacto knife/blade.<br /><br />The Pro swivel knife, however, is pretty much the greatest thing ever and I'd love for Xacto to start producing the knife again (are you listening Xacto???)<br /><br />This swivel knife, unlike the swivel knife Xacto makes today, is entirely made from metal. There are tiny ball bearings that allow the blade to rotate in the knife without having any wiggle to the blade. The currently available swivel knife allows way to much movement of the blade inside the knife, so trying to put the tip of the knife exactly in the right spot is difficult because the blade wiggles a bit as you press it into the paper (bad).<br /><br />While they say you cant use the current swivel knives available at stores (they come in a tiny plastic tube and each blade is encased in a white piece of plastic), I found that you can still use the blades for the old style knife, you just need to take the blade out of the plastic case. This is very easy.<br /></strong><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4285175414_b683040877.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 374px; height: 374px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4285175414_b683040877.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><strong face="arial" style="font-weight: normal;">I really wish Xacto did not package these blades with the point down as they are very sharp yet delicate. When they get jostled around on the shelf or in shipping, the tips can sometimes break off in the package. At $1 each, I don't want to waste ANY blades in the package and I'll check every one before I buy them.<br /><br />I use a pair of pliers and squeeze the plastic case just below the blade. This crushes the plastic and loosens the blade, then I take the pliers, pull the blade out, and put the blade directly into the pro swivel knife, which holds the blade in a brass mechanism. A bit of work, but totally worth it for the stability of the pro knife.</strong><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2744/4285175368_25b1f6a285.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 178px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2744/4285175368_25b1f6a285.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4285175562_eeba8d9c32.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 273px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4285175562_eeba8d9c32.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4285175508_c41d03e2a5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 205px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4285175508_c41d03e2a5.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><strong face="arial" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />The best thing about the pro knife is that the blade swivels inside the knife so incredibly smoothly, you can cut your work just like you would drawing with a pen. Here's a video of my using my swivel knife to cut a piece. It doesn't cut straight lines very well though, that's why I use the traditional knife with #11 blades.<br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="300" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=f745896175&photo_id=3727273866"></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377"></param> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=f745896175&photo_id=3727273866" height="300" width="400"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/g0ICJhbZPEA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/g0ICJhbZPEA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I hope this was helpful to all of you. Please feel free to ask any questions in the comments, I read them all, and I'll try to answer them all.<br /><br />I'll be doing another post on paper, adhesive, and design.<br /><br /><br /><br /></strong>Joe the papercutterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03580925855436414701noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7856638433966719115.post-9420687994529252342010-01-07T12:01:00.001-05:002010-01-07T12:01:06.780-05:00Papercuts By Joe the movie!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/hKjSXKCJb3E' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/hKjSXKCJb3E'/></object></p><p>Just uploaded this video to youtube showing some of my work, and some in-progress photos showing them being made.</p></div>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11806928981258600992noreply@blogger.com2