Cambodian Dancers, Pt. 2

Finished piece for the birthday girl! 

(Wish I didn't have to include a watermark...grrr.)

Behind The Scenes

Another work in progress! Here is a picture from the back with the early morning sun shining through. I have a ways to go, but it looks pretty cool just like this :) 

Finished product coming soon! Now go have a Happy Friday!

A Snake + A Deer = A Sneer!

So, today's post features a tribal art inspired piece I just finished cutting. For this papercut, I combined elements from Maori, Polynesian, and Native American design. I chose a deer and snakes...for no real reason. They were  just the first animals to come to mind :)

My Resolution

Happy (belated) New Years, everyone!

I have been jumping around from one place to another recently, and haven't had much time to focus on my art.  I did manage to buy some nice new paper in NYC though. My resolution for this year is to get back on track with my paper cutting, get into some shows, set up my online store, and get my website up and running. Oh, and sell some art, of course!

I had a little time recently to design a card. I am in love with this color combination! I leave tomorrow, so when I get back later in the month from Guatemala (!!), I am planing on cutting a few more of these babies out. Show me some love, and maybe you will find one in your mailbox :)

P.S. I am always looking for inspiration. If you have any ideas, pass 'em on!

A Little Bit of Home

Playing with design ideas...I have so many presents to make for so many amazingly kind/generous people!

 Side Note: I hate the walls in my house. Grrr...

The 'New' New Paddle

Aloha everyone!

I got a new paddle a while ago. The only problem: almost everyone in my club got the exact same one.

The new paddle. 

I knew that I needed to do something to my paddle to make it easier to spot and identify. But what? My sister helped me come up with a brilliant idea: make a sticker.

I bought some permanent waterproof vinyl and transfer tape, and I was ready to go. 

I knew I wanted a design with a Polynesian-vibe. Something that had to do with paddling or the island. I began sketching ideas and found that I kept coming back to two elements: the sun and taro leaves. My design represents both.

After I had my design, I cut it out of vinyl.

This was my first time using vinyl!

A little transfer tape, some delicate placement, and a lot of rubbing later... I have a 'new' new paddle!

Pimp My Board #2

Even Zeke Lau's board isn't safe!

Pimp My Board #1

I thought surfer Holly Beck's board was missing something...so I designed her a new one.

Tahitian Jellyfish

Aloha everyone! I had a great, relaxing weekend. What a beautiful island!

So, exciting news:

I am in the beginning stages of putting together an art show fundraiser here on the island!!! I haven't decided yet whether or not to accept pieces out of state (input is greatly appreciated!), but I will be sure to let all you artists know!

Oh, and I finished a paper cut! A jellyfish with a Tahitian spin.

Throw A Little Polynesian In The Mix

Aloha everyone!

I haven't done any new work in a while but I have a good excuse: I now live in Hawaii! It is so easy to get distracted here. I get all set up to start paper cutting again and then I notice a double rainbow outside my window, or a friend stops by to see if I want to go to the beach, or there is a slack key concert going on RIGHT NOW, or I want to go check out the rooster sitting in the yard... the entertainment here is endless! So, two months later, I have started cutting again. My new studio space? My sunny front yard!

Anyway, I have been admiring all the polynesian tattoos I see people sporting around the island.  I have started designing paper cuts based off of traditional polynesian designs. Here is design #1:

Fall Harvest

Fall is here! Im counting down the days till the local cider mill opens for the season. Hot cider and doughnuts...there's nothing better than that.

There is a family of Amish people living nearby, who have cut all their wheat and gathered it into little piles in their field. Inspiration hit me like lightning. I designed this art nouveau-esqu wheat design and used a really neat gold mesh paper (which unfortunately doesn't translate as well on a computer screen). I need to tweak this some more, but I like where it's going.

Finding A Pattern

One thing I really love is creating patterns. I sketch out an idea, scan it into Photoshop, mess around with it, and wind up with something like this:

If you look at this a certain way, the zebras look like lips. 

Let The Trumpets Sound

I just completed the submissions I was working on and finally have some time to get back to my commissions!

Not so long ago I developed a new technique, which up until now I have not had time to post about. It is fabulous! I wont bore you with the details, but here is an example of what I came up with. The  inspiration for this piece came from the trumpet vines growing outside.

Set Up A Studio - Check

I now have a nice drafting table to work on. My back is rejoicing! Everything is all nicely set up the way I want it, and my studio space overlooks the river. What could be better?

 "I have sometimes sat alone here of an evening, listening, until I have made the echoes out to be the echoes of all the footsteps that are coming by and by into our lives."

-Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

Back and Beautiful

Sorry about the long delay in posting. I have been focusing on completing my three submissions for the Along the Rivers Edge exhibit which I mentioned in an earlier post. And after weeks of labor, I have finally finished! I am pretty happy with the outcome. Oh, and I HATE matting!

This first submission will look familiar ;) Now you can see it in all it's finished glory. I found some awesome wave-like paper for the background, and presto chango!

Second submission, also something you have seen before. This one is just WAY bigger than the first. 40" X 29"

My third submission is something new! I am annoyed that I forgot to take a picture of the long view without the glass...grr. Anyway, I love the gold paper i found for the background. I am going to figure out another project to use it in...

UPDATE: All three of these pieces were accepted into the art show!!! They will be on exhibit and up for sale June 30th - July 25th at the Thousand Islands Arts Center, Home of The Handweaving Museum.

A Heart Apart

Spring is here, which means that the flowers will be coming out soon...and so will the honey bees.

Ring Around The Doggie

Yellow and black labs chasing geese. 

I thought it would make a good frame for a photo.

My idea was to do something like this:

This is just a stock photo of a yellow lab (as if you couldn't tell).  

Bull-headed Bullheads

Tada! The completed piece. It measures 20 x 30, took a couple of days, and is my largest piece to date. I plan on making more designs of this size very soon...but we shall see! The next step: finding/buying a frame.

Voyage To The Deep

After seeing a fish design I had made my uncle for Christmas, my mom requested that I make one for her of one of her favorite deep sea creatures. This was the end result:

A Little Bit Of Abstract Never Hurt

This one always reminds me of the weird foam that comes down the stream from agricultural runoff during the summer (those of you who live in the country know what I'm talking about).