Tiger cutout - step-by-step

[Lady Grey]

OK - I'm ready with my step-by-step "tutorial". This is, how the "Tiger" for Wingnut's Art Project "Big Cats" was made.



I. The materials, you need:
1 - Scotch type ( the one that does not stick very hard and can be easily removed without damagin' the picture)
2 - adhesive type - sticky on both sides (I use the type that is used for sticking wall-to wall carpeting to the floor)
3 - eraser
4 - ruler
5 - pencil
6 - scissors
7 - paper cutter
8 - pane (a use a little pane from an old glass-case)
9 - colorful paper (I find the Canson cardboards for pastels quite usefull - it can't be too thin and should not be very thick either and has to be quite durable)


II. First I make a rought sketch of my cutout, using a pencil and correcting mistakes with an eraser - it is not a usual sketch - I concentrate on lines and think in terms of what should be cut out and what left, in order to achive the best result. The sketch is only a guideline for my cutout - I don't stick to it in every detail - it should just give me an idea wich way to go. It may be very useful for beginners to mark the places, that you want to cut out (for example to cover them with pencil lines). I was often confused at the beginning and sometimes cut out parts, that should remain on the picture.


III. When the sketch is ready I stick it to the pane with the Skotch type. It is important to stick it evenly and close to the pane - the paper should me a bit "stretched" on the pane.

[Lady Grey]

IV. Then I start cutting. I always begin with details and tinest= most difficult parts and try to work from inside toward outside. I learned that this is the safest way to do it - the risk of tearing paper is not so high in that way. While working I press the paper in front of the cutter with my finger an stretch it a bit. VERY IMPORTANT - always use very sharp cutters - the don't leave any "dirt" in corners of the cutout, never tear off the part that you've just cut out - you have to be very delicate - be sure, that your cutting was clean and its line is contiuous, then slowly remove it from the picture, if it resist - repeat the cutting and try again.


V. This is first stage of the work - seen form the "left" side of the picture.


VI. Now - I finished the details - this is the view form the "right" (final) side of the picture. The next step is the head - quite difficult.

[Lady Grey]

VII. The head is ready - I'm not very happy about that, but really have no idea, how to improve it Now - it's time for big parts to be cut out and then I will take a look on the whole picture and try to do last corections.


VIII. Now the cutting process is finished - I cut out the big parts, changed a bit the composition of the right side, improved the stripes on the front paws and tiger's back line.


IX. Now - I remove the Scotch type from the cutout and release it from the pane, choose the paper for the background and adjust it to the cutout size. The next step is taking the adhesive type (sticky on both sides), preparing pieces that fit to the cutout borders, sticking them to the "left" (inner) side of the cutout, removing the protective surface and sticking the background on the cutout.


X. Here you are ! Tiger is ready. It's easy, isn't it.
Lady Grey

[Gisela]

Wonderful demonstration -- BRAVO!!!

I've wondered at how you do your cut-out pieces with such precision. Thanks for sharing your technique.

Gisela

[joemajury]

You did all this for little ol me !!!!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!
It was fascinating, and Im sure a lot of others will benefit from it as well.
I always try to encourage people here to do step by steps, they are SO informative !!

Joe

[sassybird]

Lady Grey, I would like to suggest that you submit an article for WC on this process. It is unusual to see this type of work, and you have done a good job showing your process here. To publish and article just go to the top left of your screen under community and go down to 'Article Publisher' I believe this would be a good lesson in this medium.

[Lady Grey]

Thank you guys and especially - thank you Joe for encouraging me
Sassy, I'm a bit afraid of publishing an article here - "an article" sounds very formal and I saw that people who submitted them here are experienced and "celebrated" artist. An I am just a "layman", I use a "self-made" method an don't know anything about theory of cutouts and very little about its history. And last but not least - I'm not able to use that rich, beautiful vocabulary that other use it their articles. So - I'm just not sure if I would be at proper place with my humble article among such experienced artists.
Lady Grey

[sandge]

Sensational tiger! Thank you so much for the walk through. Your instructions and photos are very clear. Great job!

[Leaflin]

Well Done Lady Grey!!!
Thank You for such a great demo!!!

[TeAnne]

Yeah, I really loved your demo. Very good

[Caron]

Great demo LG!!! You should really think about publishing an article here. Many would benefit...

[deebee]

This is cool! I think I must try this! I admired it before (in the big cat project) but had no clue how you did it - Thanks!

[auntie_chaos]

Great thread!! Love the very detailed step-by-step process you've shown. Not sure I have enough patience to try this but would love to give it a shot some day. You've done a wonderful job on this tiger and the effect is awesome!!

[lisilk]

Just found this article. Great demo....No, not much work at all ! LOL.

Thanks,

Li

[Pabs]

Excellent article Lady Grey!!!!
See, it was not so hard was it, and you have included many more photo's than most other people, which have reqlly helped convey your methods.
Please think about doing another.
Regards,
Pabs