Tuesday, June 22, 2010

After a papercut is completed we color it by spraypainting it. The huge papercut we did at Somerset House's 'Pick me Up' exhibition was too big to spray indoors so we took it out into the yard, good from the point of dispersing the paint fumes but not so good when sudden gusts of wind appear threatening to blow this extremely delicate artwork halfway down the street !

11 comments:

Lori Danelle said...

That's so amazing! However I've got a question regarding the process:

I've tried spraying a paper cut with Montana Gold and the paint just flaked off the paper and got sort gunky on the cut edges. . .??? Any tricks? Do you use just the standard nozzle? Any particular type of paper? I wasn't thinking and used coated paper, so that might have had something to do with the flaking, but I'm not sure about the gunky edges. . .????

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

mars2001 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
mars2001 said...

It's been great to see daily updates on your blog! thanks for sticking with it....

Would you mind going over the basics of how your prints are made? So far, I've seen:

1. Draw in pencil the design on a huge sheet of paper.
2. Cut it out with your team.
(the timelapse for the draw & cut steps on the Somerset work can be seen here)
3. Spray paint it...

but I'm a little fuzzy on how it goes from spray-painted papercut to silkscreened print.

thanks.

Suzy Taylor said...

How come your paper doesn't all wrinkle up when it's sprayed. Is it a particular kind of paper. Is there a reason you don't use black paper that's white on the reverse? Just curious. Amazing papercut! x

Rob Ryan said...

In answer to all your questions, I always use a certain paper to cut on mainly out of habit but just because I just like it ! It is 80gsm uncoated but very smooth stock. We spray using Montana Gold, with a fat cap ! It's better to put a lot of paint on at once rather than very fine 'dusty' coats.
Regarding the printing, we use the original papercuts as artwork , as you would use a film - we expose it directly onto photo emulsion coated screen and then expose to UV etc.
Lesson Over.
Luv Rob

Lori Danelle said...

Thanks so much!! Your work definitely inspires and it's nice when someone you look up to can give you a pointer or two! Much appreciated!!

jenferr said...

It's so beautiful! I came and saw you guys cutting this at Pick Me Up and it's cool to know the whole process now too! Especially because everyone seems to do it differently.. Thanks!

ToDryFor said...

Wow!! That looks incredible! It was fun to have seen it at Pick Me Up and then amazing to see how the original pencil drawing is transformed xxx

Anonymous said...

Hi, love love love your work Rob.
Not sure about the how to bit. when ive done a [percut do i then spray paint the paper cut and press onto a piece of paper to do a copy of it?
can i equally just frame the papercut or does it look better screen printed?

Claire

Ron said...

Really nice of you to answer the questions Rob. Very helpful. Thank you.!!

Anonymous said...

Hi I have had a paper cut made for me and it seems that it is too cream in colour that I realised it would be and doesn't really match my decor in the intended room. I am really sad about this as it's so beautiful otherwise. Is there any way I can get it spray painted it to an off white colour? The paper looks slightly textured.

Many thanks for any feedback.