How I Papercut...

Ok, so I'm teaching myself how to papercut with the help of some online papercutters. Though they don't know they're helping me. Basically I have done research on what the best paper to use and tools. That's about it, the rest I've taught myself. Supposidly Etsy has been going around shops asking to prove they do their own work. Glad Zibbet doesn't do this! Well, I thought I might as well have it ready, you know, just in case they come after me! Also, I thought some of you might like to see my process.

You will probably see a lot of papercutters using Photoshop to make their designs (Or stealing images off of Google). I don't do this. #1: I can't afford photoshop. #2: I am an artist, why not use my God given talent? Who needs the computer? Although I do use the computer to research and get inspiration. If I see something I like on Google search I'll use the image as inspiration and change it to make it my own. NOT COPY IT!

First I draw out my design. Nothing fancy. Just a pencil and my sketchpad. I do this sometimes at night while watching a movie or before I go to bed.

 Here's the completed drawing.

 The silhouette pape is black on one side and white on the other.

 I then tape the image to the white side of the paper. I only put tape on the part of the image that will be cut away.

 I get my tools ready. My X-Acto knife and a swivel knife. Pink of course.

 I then cut out from in inside of the picture to the outside. It's easier this way. get all the tiny details first!

 Then I pop it out.

 .....Voila! I can't wait to post this one up. I love it!

New Pieces and New Paper!

Hello everyone! I've been super busy now that I'm back home in Georgia. I've been working on my paper cut art since there is absolutely no room here to paint. I sold my first paper cut art last week! This is the one I sold....

So I just got my new paper made for silhouette art. It's hygloss silhouette paper that wont fade. It's also a lot easier on my hands! Here are some new pieces I have made. The swinging girl is listed on my Etsy site. http://www.thesketchyeasel.etsy.com/.

I also have a zibbet shop at

http://www.zibbet.com/TheSketchyEasel . I was a featured seller. You can read my interview here. Also I will be apart of the Z BOX. It a box you can buy with a bunch of samples from Zibbet sellers.

Do you have nay ideas as to what you would like to see in papercut art? What do you think would sell well? I would love some outside advice! Cheers!

Greeting Cards and Tags Whoo hoo!

Ok, so I got my first sale a few days ago.  The buyer who was incredibly helpful and to be quite honest put my butt into gear on making my artwork into cards. I had bought cardstock a while back to attempt to make cards but never got around to it. So here I am now making some swesome cards and tags.  I'm selling them on my Etsy shop at http://www.thesketchyeasel.etsy.com/.  I made some more silhouette cut out art also!  Loving it!  I can't wait to do a craft show, I think they will do well, especially the cards. Check it out!

The following pictures are of my new cut outs! 

The Witch's Cabinet 

 Cinderella

 The Nightmare Before Christmas

Some more of my cutting abilities...or lack there of?

OK, so I've gone nuts with the cutting art.  Ideas are just flowing. I have been doing my daily devotions for over a month now and I truely believe God planted this artform in my head. Before I had never had a second thought about cutting art...probably not even a first thought. I prayed about where he wanted me to go with my art for a while.  I want to use the gift He has given me the way He wants me to use it.  I know I'm not fantastic with it, but I know with some practice (and a better knife) I will get better. So for now while I'm practicing, I'm having fun. Take a peek at what I've accomplished thus far!

Right now I'm working on a Cinderella piece I'm on the fence about. I think I have to finish it before I can judge what I think about it. 

Feel free to leave comments on what you think!  Productive criticism is always welcome!

My First Attempt At The Art Of Cutting

So this was my first attempt at the art of cutting.  I absolutely love this.  I'm usually very critical of my work, but I just can't get over how well this turned out. It took me about 5 hours to complete. I drew it up the night before and cut most of the day yesterday.  Let me tell you it took a toll on my hand.  Cutting cardstock is tough, but it's durable.  I think this my become my new obsession.

Now, what to do next.  Mucha inspired perhaps? I already have something drawn out I was going to paint. It will look cool cut out. So let's give it a go!  Off to cut!