Our April artist of the month is Mark Curtis Hughes whose large-scale papercuts are tapestries of on a regular basis life.
Mark Curtis Hughes
“There’s a form of chaos in on a regular basis life that I really feel my work paperwork. I consider my paintings as a tapestry of on a regular basis life, and I like it when folks discover tales or particulars inside in.”
The place do you make your work?
For the final three years I have been working in my little backyard studio in South London. It doubled as an internet classroom throughout lockdown, so I’ve spent extra hours in there than I anticipated.
It’s a stunning house. A lot of inexperienced out the window, comfy and quiet. My household and I are shifting within the close to future, and I’ve already marked out a studio house in our new home, however my backyard studio will all the time be particular to me.
How lengthy have you ever been working with paper?
I’ve been working in paper for twelve years. I studied an MA in Printmaking, and I discovered myself searching for methods to make my prints extra dynamic, and I began papercutting as an in between step, to assist me take my drawings into print.
Visually they resemble woodcuts, however they are often created far more spontaneously and with higher power. Progressively, I realised that it was papercutting I wished to give attention to. I’ve constructed my apply slowly alongside full time instructing.
How would you describe your method to paper artwork?
For me, papercutting is an expressive course of. I improvise my items as I work, so there’s a sense of exposing or uncovering one thing sudden. For me, the method is an excavation, and I really like the journey of discovery.
I’m notably within the mark making with a knife, which I why I have a tendency to stay to a single layer of paper. There’s a form of chaos in on a regular basis life that I really feel my work paperwork. I consider my paintings as a tapestry of on a regular basis life, and I like it when folks discover tales or particulars inside in.
The place do you discover inspiration?
I’m a folks watcher, which is ideal for my commute by means of central London day-after-day. I am fascinated by the way in which folks put up masks and venture boundaries. Plenty of my inspiration comes from the issues I see or expertise each day. However I am additionally impressed by tales and music. In every of my items there will probably be a number of reference factors that I’ve grazed from totally different locations.
Describe your work to us in three phrases:
Expressive, transient, liminal
What are your favourite papers to work with?
I like to make use of comparatively skinny papers. 120 or 140 gsm. I discover these are sturdy sufficient, but in addition allow me to chop rapidly and fluidly.
What software might you not stay with out?
I’ve a properly liked Swann Morton deal with, and I additionally love to make use of my Ergo Kiwi blade. In any other case, my drafting board has develop into important, I prefer to work upright. I don’t suppose I might work with out my headphones and a queue of podcasts.
What’s the neatest thing about working with paper as a medium?
I suppose it’s slightly like discovering you’re good at singing or enjoying Tennis. Once I began working with a scalpel the whole lot about it felt proper, it’s fits my model and my mentality. I might most likely use different artwork mediums if I wished, however I discover one thing concerning the technique of uncovering a picture very engaging.
Who’re a few of your favourite paper artists?
What are you engaged on in the mean time?
Within the subsequent 18 months I’ll be chopping down on my instructing and choosing up my artwork apply in a extra targeted means. I’m trying ahead to seeing the place that takes me.
