Papercut Polaroids

If you follow Oh Cut It Out on social media you've probably noticed that I like to draw inspiration for artwork from song lyrics. The first piece of papercutting I ever made (back when I was a student living off buttery toast and Yorkshire tea) used the Zeppelin lyrics "if there's a bustle in your hedgerow don't be alarmed now".

In recent months I've cut Billy Bibby's lyric "you keep me waitin' and waitin' for you" from the song "Waitin' For You" beneath an intricate, floral skull; and used Michael Malarkey's lyric "these holes in our hearts are like diamonds to some" from the song "Holes" to inspire a geometric anatomical heart...

Well, I've been at it again. This time with Darling BOY lyrics. I was feeling kind of upside down and uninspired (designing Christmas cards in July will do that to you) and these lyrics jumped out at me...

"We're living in a photograph

To keep the past just close enough" 

- "Bless Your Bones", Darling BOY

Recently my work has been growing in size. I want big designs with intricate detail. There's a soaring sense of achievement when you've spent 20 hours cutting one piece of card, and only one of your fingers has a plaster wrapped around it.

But working on large pieces all of the time becomes overwhelming. Polaroids seemed like the perfect antidote.

I dug out some old Polaroids of my parents first dog, Dylan, and cut out a German Shepherd beneath a leafy tree... Then I went looking for visual lyrics that could be executed in a limited space:

 "Are you ducking and diving round the houses?"

- "Oh Roisin!", Darling BOY

These papercuts remind me of the booklets you get in CD cases... Each song represented by a papercut visual and corresponding lyric. If people still bought CD's, that is...

"You knocked the wind out of my sails"

- "Shirley", Darling BOY

I'm so happy with how these lyric Polaroids turned out, and I suspect I'll be cutting out more in the future... Watch this space!

For more music chat go back and read 'The Lost Art of the Mix CD'.

You can find Darling BOY's ep 'In Flames!' on iTunes and Spotify.
 
Until next week...

-Karen

Everyone: Your Place In The World

"Everyone: Your Place In The World"

Derby Museums

9 July - 25 September 2016

This summer Derby Museums invited local artists to fill the gallery with "a joyful riot of colour and technique that illustrate the theme 'your place in the world."* 

The piece I submitted "You Are Here" is a papercut map of Derby City Centre littered with familiar landmarks (Derby Cathedral, Silk Mill, Market Hall, etc), houses and cars. Growing up in Derby I've studied, shopped and drank (a bit too much) in these streets. For most of my life my place in the world has been Derby, even if at times I've wished it wasn't... 

I like maps that use symbols as well as literal representations of buildings. If you look closely the library is an open book, the registry office is a diamond ring, and the cinema is a clapperboard...

The papercut is displayed in a custom 'floating frame' (sandwiched between two pieces of glass) so that the gallery spotlights cast dancing shadows.

The exhibition runs until 25 September. If you're in the area stop by and vote for your favourite piece! 

You can find "You Are Here" in Gallery 1 (number 62). It is available for purchase via Derby Museums.

#DerbyEveryone

"Everyone is in keeping with Derby Museums' desire to actively build, encourage and value creativity in everyone.  We're delighted to see the galleries full to bursting with amazing artworks that illustrate our shared world and our place within it." 

-Andrea Hadley-Johnson, 

Co-production and Engagement Manager

Until next week...

-Karen


*"Everyone: Your Place In The World" exhibition guide