The Floral Sphere

Detail

My style of paper carving lends itself to floral designs and patterns. It’s not that these designs are inherent in paper - but rather something subconscious. I feel that I have become comfortable carving leafs and blooms as they are prominent themes in my work. I am now able to intricately and realistically render these themes.

Now, I am at point where I don’t try to abstract my cutting but rather embrace what it is. Even when I do abstract something that is not organic, it becomes organic. I feel that there is something fundamental to the structure of the plant that I embrace- symmetry is natural to me, yet I enjoy subtly offsetting the symmetry.

  My recent work no longer explores but exemplifies my floral development. Paper carving is a grey area of the arts. I am not quite sure what carving means artistically, especially in our contemporary environment, but I feel it deserves attention.

Part of a whole limb that I covered in paper flowers. For the project I made my own rendition the Japanese lotus that is smaller and simplified. I only wish I could have made a whole dead tree be in permanent bloom.

I am starting to create bowls out of paper that is blended to a pulp. Its hard, but I have learned a lot. I like making the pulp as white as I can. I think it is neat to then mix it with paper carving.

I have a Gallery Show En Masse, January 2010. It is at the FStop Cafe in Provo Utah. 250 North University Ave. Opening reception is Friday the 8th from 7 to 9. Come by, it is my first show with paper carving.

This piece is about heaven. It is a key step in my current direction.

Not of This World (reference, John 18:36) is my first conceptual scherenschnitte. I use glue to redefine an icon. In the work glue symbolizes the drudgery, sin, and the mortality we deal with on a daily basis. The crucifix means something more than the death it depicts, it represents life. I wish to free the Christ from his symbolic confine of the cross. This figure of Christ is not held down by any glue-while his cross is.  I feel this detail transcends and redefines this crucifix to a true reality of my Savior.

Haynes Goodsell Artist Statement

I consider myself somewhere between a sculptor and a photographer- sculpture is my heritage and photography my training. I have always sculpted with paper and found the transformation of something three dimensional out of what is essentially flat my genius. Ironically photography is the exact opposite of sculpture, it takes what actually is 3D and makes it 2D. I came to pursue photography because of a fascination with how things work. Initially, photography was simply the camera, the machine itself is what I wanted to understand.        However, photography eventually became the catalyst of conceptualism in my work.

As an artist, I am obsessive compulsive - I enjoy tedious details, repetition, and no messes. I approach my work much like a scientist, I am most effective when exploring. My process resembles Darwinism;  I create utilizing the notion of  “survival of the fittest”; only the best concepts and images are used. This environment makes my work grounded on a foundation of compelling ideas. I value sole authorship and make myself  intrinsically involved in every phase of creation.

       Scherenschnitte is the traditional German art of paper cutting or carving. It is typically symmetrical as is this body of work. I do not use a template or drawing, I free hand the work as I go. They are created by cutting one stroke, then mirroring the same stroke on the opposite side until the piece is complete. After carving the paper I fold, secure, and bend it to make the piece protrude and lift off of the backing. Although presented on a card they are not cards, but sculptures composed on a miniature scale.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog for paper cutting. I felt it needed to be separate form my website. Eventually I will be creating a website just for the paper carving. Scherenschnitte (pronounced Sharon-sh-net) is german paper cutting. It is important to me, and what I create.