Some bad news...

So Jen and I went to Maine for Easter with my family. While there, we decided to drive up the road to the Old Crow Gallery where I am having my solo show in June. When we got there, we found the gallery empty and a For Rent sign in the window.

Big time bummer...

I was quite panicked, actually, because I had thousands of dollars worth of art currently at the gallery and I had no idea where any of the piece were.

I eventually got in touch with the gallery owners, whom I love to death, and they explained how it happened. Long story short, the owners of the building were unreasonable and they had to leave shop in an extremely short amount of time and didn't have a chance to call all the artists to get their work.

So, as of right now, there will be no solo show:( Perhaps if the owners get the gallery and frame shop back up and running, I may be able to show later in the year, but for now it's all off. My pieces are going to be moved to several businesses that appreciate art and may help get my name out and possibly sell the piece off the wall.

I'm pretty bummed. I've been planning this for seven months now and had all the pieces ready to go. I've actually avoided applying to shows and galleries in June so it didn't conflict with the show. I'm also worried because most galleries are booked for the year (or more) so I may have to wait over a year for another opportunity to show my work.

Le Sigh.

Regardless, I'm now looking for shows and events locally to get the word out about my papercuts in town. We just decided to not move out of town, and found a beautiful tiny house to rent with a great finished shed (more of a separate building/room with windows and heat and everything) that will become my studio.

Not all bad news, but still pretty bummed about the show.

Oh, I'm on twitter now too. Terrifying, but maybe it will drum up some support or sales?

Introducing: Make

Make

16x28 mounted to 20x30
Single Sheet of Black Paper

Inspired by my previous work, I, I have continued experimenting with texture and scale with this papercutting of my left hand. I was sitting at my desk working on some custom pieces when I noticed my hands were extremely dry. When I looked at them up close, the sun was coming in through the window behind me at the perfect angle. I could see all the wrinkles and grooves in my palm and I wondered if I could capture it with a papercut. This is the result of a very long design process. I really fought for this one! I'm very happy with the outcome and I really love the bold graphic in-your-face quality, but it also has a tranquil side...somehow. Hope you like!

Available on Etsy

Introducing: Jen

Jen 2009
20x20 inches

Black Paper on Illustration Board

I was staring at a profile silhouette I cut of my wife, Jen, when I had the idea of combining the very traditional profile with my new branch pieces. This is the result: One of my most detailed pieces yet. By far one of the most difficult pieces I have ever cut. DELICATE! but still bold and very graphic.

available on etsy.com

Dare-I-Go

My new body of work, composed of about 12 pieces, is titled Dareigo. It is the body of work I plan to feature at my solo show at the Old Crow Gallery next year.

It is a take on the Maine state motto: Dirigo (pronounced deer-ee-go) and is meant to reflect both the topic of the work (Maine architecture and nature), my homecoming back to Maine, and my enterprising full-time dive into the art world.

As many of you know I am a professional archaeologist with a degree, tons of experience, and everything, but 98% of archaeology in the US is conducted before major construction and development projects. There is not exactly a lot of construction and development going on right now so the job market is tight. Jen and I were let go a few months ago from our full time jobs after work dried up. It’s crushing when it’s something you are passionate about and truly love.

Well, I’ve decided until things start looking up, I’m sticking to art, which is somehow actually paying the bills (that and the fact that Jen is working full time for the Massachusetts Historical Commission).

Okay, back to the art, I really want to show you some of the new designs, but I really want the solo show to be an official reveal of the new pieces. But I’ll happily describe them.

They are about half-half nature and architecture scenes. The nature scenes come from Portland harbor, Old Orchard Beach, and the Lakes Region. The architecture pieces are exclusively historic structures in Portland including (but not limited to) Old Port, the wharfs, and the Portland Observatory.

A few weekends ago Jen and I spent Saturday in Boston and wandered around two of our favorite neighborhoods: Charles St (antique district) and Newbury St (art and retail district). There are some fantastic galleries on Newbury and truly an inspiring place for anyone interested in art (creating, viewing, or buying). It gave me a good perspective on where the market is, what is currently appreciated by galleries, and the clientele. Very interesting.

My overall impression is that gallery shows typically have only a few pieces, they are the best-of-the-best work, and the pieces are very large. I think this is mostly because big is in (people want a lot of art for their money), galleries want to look clean (not too many pieces on display), and no crap allowed.

I took this into consideration and have made some, I think, good changes to the body of work I am currently creating.

First, I have reduced the number of pieces by about half, resulting in a good trimming of the fat and a hard, but needed, self-examination of what actually is good piece, and not just my ego showing through.

Second, I have increased the overall size of the pieces, since this art form allows me to completely design my pieces before cutting, I can take a digital version of the design, crop, modify, and enlarge it before ever cutting. It also allows me to completely organize and edit the entire body of work before I begin creating it.

By enlarging the designs, I was able to include a lot more detail into the piece, which will, I hope, make them even more visually interesting and impressive.

Okay, hope that has wetted your appetite!

Introducing: Branches

Branches

7x16 papercut
11x20 matted

Original hand-cut papercut
I was going for a funky, fresh take on the traditional tree silhouette. I imagine this piece above a fire place, desk, or a calming piece in a bedroom. I hate doing the usual so hopefully this is achieves the goal of abstract, yet recognizable.

On sale now on Etsy

It's done!

Hi everyone,

I'm really happy to share this piece with you all. As stated earlier it's a papercutting of the tree Jen and I were married under exactly 51 weeks ago.


Here it is framed, and hanging in our bedroom. It's 34x18 so it's really huge!:)

Custom Wedding and Anniversary Papercutting

Okay, June is wedding BONANZA month (we should know) so I wanted to make something for all of us crazy people who decide to join the masses (and pick a warm month) for the BIG DAY.

Ever notice I use parenthecies a lot?

Anyway, I have listed on etsy a new custom piece where I will design a special piece to celebrate your wedding. The piece will use either a traditional background (similar to Scherenschnitte or Wycinanki papercutting designs) or a sillhouette, or even an image of your wedding location (Note the bridge from the Public Garden in Boston where Jen and I got married last year). I will also incorporate your names, anniversary date, or a combination of two, or not---whatever you want, it's a custom piece!!!

ALSO, did you know that the your first anniversary is the "Paper" anniversary? Well, custom original hand-cut papercuts make a beautiful, heart-felt, original artwork gift that you know nobody has seen before or thought of themselves. Let everyone know!
We're designing a large piece for our first aniversary:) It's going to be awsome and I'll share it and all the symbolism behind it with y'all when it's done.

Save a tree:)

Hi everyone,

I'm starting a program to help rectify some guilt I'm experiencing using so much paper. As of today and for all future sales, I will be donating $5 for every purchase over $50 and $10 for every purchase over $150 to the Arbor Foundation.

For every $10 donated, 2500 square feet of rainforest will be protected.

To purchase a piece, go to www.papercutsbyjoe.etsy.com

Thanks,
Joe

Alchemy is the greatest

So at Etsy, there is this thing called "alchemy" where people post something like "I need an entire living room set made out of crayons" budget=$40 and people actually do it!

It's great fun really.

Anyway, there has been a bunch of posts recently for everything under the sun, but Ive been having soooo much fun reading through them and bidding on stuff. Papercutting is a pretty specific artform, and not too many people are like "Can I have a custom papercut for..." but some actually have! For the most part, I've had pretty good luck with my bids and many great leads.

Regardless, it's fun to put the sales person hat on for a few seconds and really try to sell my goods and talents to someone. It also helps when I'm in a rut and don't know what to make, I can have someone else make the hard decisions for me.

I just bid on a custom monogram for a wedding so cross your fingers everyone! I'll keep you updated

~Joe

SALE

Hey guys, there's a huge sale going on at are shop right now, so if you've always been thinking about getting that one piece, now is a good time!

20% off many of the originals
Reduced shipping

Click here to check out the sale!

Introducing: Cypress

Cypress

10x20 papercut
18x24 matted

A massive cypress tree located in a park near my apartment

Official Debut: Compass

Compass

5x7 framed (double matted)


Available Etsy soon