"Embrace II" and the Steps to Make It

This new piece experienced quite an evolution.  At first, it was just going to be like the previous piece, with a paper cut on top of a drawing.  But this piece wanted something a little different.

Let me walk you through it, step by step.

Step 1: sketch ideas that come from the magical and elusive land of creativity
Step 2: choose favorite idea
Step 3: photograph my lovely friend, Carrie, for reference photos
Step 4: have husband, Mat, help by holding the light aimed at Carrie
Step 5: fire Mat, he's been deemed the worst studio assistant ever
Step 6: manage to get a good photo anyway
Step 7: upload photos, and look through them over and over
Step 8: choose best photo to work from
Step 9: edit photo in a way that makes it a good drawing reference
Step 10: alter sketch based on photo
Step 11: draw!

Step 12: draw more!

Step 13: realize the hand needs to overlap the paper cut, oh no, what do I do???

Step 14: grow a pair, cut out drawing

Step 15: trace drawing!

Step 16: draw really hard over the lines on the tracing paper

Step 17: turn tracing paper over on top of new piece of paper, rub pencil onto new piece

Step 18: sketch outlines of paper cut layer

Step 19: cut out paper

Step 20: place cut paper on top of drawing

Step 21: realize the cut paper area over the body is too blank, oh no, what do I do???
Step 22: grow a pair, decide to draw plant-like texture on cut paper layer
Step 23: put it all together on top of another blank piece of paper!
Step 24: finishing touches
Step 25: photograph piece, including detail shots
Step 26: edit photos, save in a variety of sizes for a variety of purposes
Step 27: write blog about it
Step 28: create an elaborate list of steps of how I created this piece
Step 29: write step 29 without knowing what to write
Step 30: all done!

So this piece is more 3-dimensional, and is drawing on top of paper cut on top of drawing on top of blank paper.  And here's the final piece:

"Embrace II" graphite, hand-cut paper, 22"x28", by Heather Clements, 2013.

"Embrace II" (detail) graphite, hand-cut paper, 22"x28", by Heather Clements, 2013.

"Embrace II" (detail) graphite, hand-cut paper, 22"x28", by Heather Clements, 2013.

 Green Tip:  CARE.  I don't know what the beginning of the trend of "too cool to care" was, but I think it's finally on its way out.  Apathy's reign on our culture is dying out.  Apathy exacerbates so many problems in so many ways.  People sit idly by while their Earth is being destroyed, their fellow humans are being mistreated or killed, and even while they themselves are being used and abused in the name of "progress."  But now I think, partially because we are reaching a boiling point, and partially thanks to the internet, people are starting to care again.  Nothing will ever change for the better if you don't care.  Nothing.  Caring is a double-edged sword, because it brings moments of joy and pain.  But I will take joy and pain and change for the better over apathy any day.



Thank you so much for coming to my little blog world for a few moments.  I care!

-Heather