Don't Panic

I made some more papercut art, once again hoping to create something that is pleasing in itself while also working out a design I might be able to use in a more replicable form, like making a run of screenprints of the design.

I pick up frames from charity shops when I see them if they're nice looking and have glass glazing. New frames are increasingly sold with plastic glazing, which is OK for framing flat prints and posters, but not really right for original art or anything with a 3D element. And of course frames tend to be very standard sizes, and you can find some quirlier ones in charity shops. I had owned a frame for a while made of a nice wood with some simple gilting, that was proportionally wide (or tall, depending on how you orient it). Its dimensions and shape made me wonder if it came from a theatre originally, as theatre bills are classically long and narrow. Anyhow I'd always meant to make something bespoke to fit it.

I'd also been thinking the phrase 'don't panic' (a reference to Hitchhiker's Guide of course) would be a useful addition to my eyeline.

So I drew up this typographic design:

However I didn't choose to go for this colour scheme, or any colourful colour scheme, in the making. I think if I make this design into some kind of print - probably screenrpint - bright clashy colours will be the way to go.

But for the papercut version, and for this frame in particular, the inspiration struck to evoke signwriting - the kind you might see on businesses whose fittings survive from the 19th century through to the 30s, most commonly pubs.

So I got some mirrorerd gold card for the background, and for the letter forms a very dark green and an ivory.

I made some slight adjustments to the design as I went along, and also ended up deciding having the typographic design stand proud of the background added the essential touch that made it click.

Of course with that high shine background I have the classic people-selling-mirrors-on-Ebay problem in photographing it of including an unwanted selfie! So probaby just as well this isn't the form I intended to sell this design in, as I'd struggle rather keeping this for my own wall.

Here it is at an angle that avoids the reflection and shows the 'floating' affect of the letters more:

I'll also have to consider a change in dimensions which might mean an adjustment to the design, as this frame is as I say an unique shape. I need to sell any prints in dimensions potential buysters could actually find a frame (or my favourite method of picture display, a poster hanger) for.