Drawing with Papercuts

I love finding different ways to use and strengthen my creativity, but sometimes going back to past methods can be just as rewarding. Today I decided to slow down a little and do some drawing. I use the term drawing loosely because when I was at college, one of my favourite methods of mark making was creating cut outs using my scalpel. I remember researching for a project I was working on at the time and discovering artists such as Rob Ryan's intricate paperwork, which instantly fascinated me. Creating such delicate marks using just paper appealed to my aesthetic and since then I have spent many days with just my scalpel creating images and patterns.

Going back to such a familiar method felt intimately nostalgic, especially when I rediscovered my old scalpel. Like an old pen, the blade instinctive to hold, with familiar grooves and the perfect balance.

This method of drawing isn't quick. It takes time for the picture to emerge, which I love. It is very therapeutic, sitting for hours using the same motions and very rewarding when the image starts to emerge and come together.

When I saw this box frame in Hobbycraft, I knew it would be fantastic to team up with one of my cut out's. In a certain light the papercut creates a shadow reflection on the back of the frame adding a beautiful depth to the artwork. This is something I would love to work with more in the future and can't wait to have a play with different papers, backgrounds and framing methods.