A cut tut
Then I started to cut.
I arrived at my studio on Saturday morning, wanting to make something large and filled with different kinds of leaves and stems. In the back of my mind was this sketch by Arounna, and this ink drawing by Etsy seller, Karen Gathany.
Step 1
After looking at lots of flowers and plants in my books and magazines, I drew a 45 x 45cm composition of botanical specimens onto some thin white paper, and stuck it to black paper with a couple of pieces of sticky tape.
Then I started to cut.
I use steeply-pointed NT cutter blades in a rather wonky craft knife. I really should get a proper NT cutter because it’s much more stable.
Step 2 
Now it’s just about putting on some music and putting in the hours. I slice through both layers of paper, cutting on either side of the lines I’ve drawn, removing the white paper so I can see where I’ve cut. I tend to make lots of decisions and changes as I go.
Now it’s just about putting on some music and putting in the hours. I slice through both layers of paper, cutting on either side of the lines I’ve drawn, removing the white paper so I can see where I’ve cut. I tend to make lots of decisions and changes as I go.Step 3 
Change the CD again, shake out your fingers, and keep on cutting…
Step 4 
I like this part – I slough off the white paper guide, which remains largely intact, but very frail.
Step 5 
This part takes the longest, and I have to be so careful. Most of my cuts have not been close enough to a neighbouring cut, so now I carefully make release cuts to remove the negative spaces. The more negative space I remove, the more delicate everything becomes.
Step 6
Finally! I finished without tearing anything or slicing anything off mistakenly.
Step 7 
Now I hang out the nearly-finished cutout on my line so I can look at it and decide what’s next. Mostly, I’m happy with this cutout, but some areas seem a little congested and could do with some pruning, which I’ll get onto today.
So wonderful! Thank you
So wonderful! Thank you
It’s beautiful. I have a little growing collection of paper cuts that I’ve found at estate sales and thrift stores.
Seems like if you used freezer paper to draw on and then used it as the top paper, you could then use that as an iron on stencil for something else. Or would the paper be too heavy?
I do alot of paper cutting as well, I do mine on big sheets of watercolour paper and go from there with it ( I’m a artist) Its alot of work, yours look good!
that is amazing, have never seen anything like it!! Look forwarding to having a look at your blog…
I love how the cutting process really creates the character of your work. Having such parameters allows a focus and consistency.
I only paint my silkscreen positives – directly on the acetate. I find that by limiting myself to that medium I am better able to express my own “hand”.
Thanks for the inside view! – looks lovely!
I am amazed at the beauty of your work!
I have tried papercutting before and I have a lot of trouble cutting accuarately, especially curves. Can you give me some advice? Do you make several shallow cuts before the line is complete, or is there a recommended cutter I should try?
Thanks! Carly
jigsawjazz at gmail dot com
Thanks again for the comments. A few responses to suggestions and queries below:
tcarole and Sarah: The freezer paper sounds like an interesting idea. I didn’t know you could use it as iron-on stencils. And Sarah, I’d love to see your cuts of watercolour paper. I really should experiment with different papers and see what works best.
Leanne Graeff: Thanks for your comments and insight into your process. I love the prints you make and am always impressed by how much you do in such a small space!
Carly: Cutting curves just takes practice, but I find turning the paper instead of trying to do it all with the knife helps too.
Heather – these would make the most beautiful blinds/screeny-things for e.g. bathroom windows… Maybe you could get them laser cut out of a thin smoky perspex or something… I’d order loads!
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL – you are such a brilliant artist. i agree with those who have said you should sell prints of this
Wow that is amazing!
You are a real master! I love it!
WOW…WOW….that’s amazing! I don’t know what else to say! Wonderful!
so amazing…. love it.
Beautiful and skilled work. Here I am using my mini exacto for stencils for my own attempts and you don’t even need such a specialty tool for much more intricate work.
Wow… increible, beautiful, simplemente mágico.
Salu2.
really lovely.
Beautiful work. I’m always so impressed with people who do this well. Just lovely.
I agree: Wow.
AMAZING! To have the patience AND the time…I’m jealous!
This is not to be believed-it is beautiful beyond words.
Unbelievable! What an amazing talent you have…and steady hand! Thanks for sharing the process.
Hello! A friend shared a link to your site with me, and I just wanted to tell you how beautiful your work is! Your cutting is so fine and precise!
Have you ever used silhouette paper? It’s great, because it has a white back to draw the pattern on! It holds together well even though it’s very lightweight. I get mine at Dick Blick, and buy it by the pack for a pretty good price.
Good to meet you!
Kim
Thanks again for all the lovely comments!
Kim, I haven’t heard of silhouette paper, but it sound like a great idea! thanks for the hot tip.
wow, this really seems like a lot of work. how long did it take you to cut all this? about 2-3 hours?
Hi Letrodectus
It took a bit longer than 2-3 hours. It’s about a day’s worth of work.
Your work is wonderful and so elegant! I am glad to meet another paper cut fan. welcome to my world.
oups! I forgot to leave my name on the previous comment…didn’t mean to be anonymous!
Hee hee. Thanks Julie, I was wondering what anonymous’s world was like. Would love to see your paper cut work too sometime. Can you send a link?
wow. very beautiful.love it. it looks amazing!
i was looking for an idea to try out an old technique called passe-partout, where the artwork is mounted directly behind glass and framed with fabric tape. i think your beautiful flowers would be perfect!
Thanks for sharing your amazing work!
this is lovely! thanks so much for sharing this!
this is beautiful! and such intricate details – awesome!
WOW! that looks fantastic! Have you ever tried glass etching? I use a very similar technique (actually it is the same, except you pull out the design not the spaces! And i also put contact paper on the glass and cut directly on to it) That design would look AMAZING on glass!!!
Oh thank you soooo much! I was just recently searching for exactly this tutorial! Beautiful work!
This is awesome!! Beautifully done! Thanks for the tutorial! I am recently in love with paper cutting XD
that is really incredible! your fingers must be so sore when you’re done!
Incredible:)It looks so simple..The amount of patience and precision you have is just amazing….I wish it was so simple to cut one small part…Hmmmm..
I am Meera from India…I was drawn to your paper cut art work….
Have a nice day
meera
AWESOME! I am going to apply to graduate school for visual studies, but I’ve been sewing so long that I don’t have much of a visual arts portfolio. Your tutorial has inspired me to use this technique for a few art pieces. Kudos!
Absolutely stunning and incredibly brave of you!! This is very inspiring. Thanks for sharing!
WOW!!! This is absolutely amazing!!
Thank you…..you have inspired me to give this a try!
For sharing thank you very much good very beautiful work
this is rather incredible. and so beautiful.do tell: so you do this without major swearing? if i tried, i'd probably not only cut my fingers but also use up all available swear-words and start borrowing some from other languages. wow.
Thanks so much for this. I've been looking at heaps of papercut work around the place but couldn't find out how to do it until I found you! I see someone has asked if you are going to do a screenprint of your papercut. Sometime it would be great if you put up some instructions about how you do this. I feel so ignorant but all this art stuff is new to me and I really want to get creating! Many thanks
Firstly, wow, that's beautiful -thanks for sharing. Secondly – the freezer paper story – do you have any ideas where to get it in SA? Sounds like a fun thing to have around but can't seem to find any.:)
WOW!!! This is absolutely amazing!!thankyou
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