Artistic Experiments by Charles Burns

Art Galleries

Commissioned Paper Cuttings

Introduction

AS I AM A SILHOUETTIST, people naturally approach me with all kinds of idea for paper-cut commissions, usually based on their own silhouettes. Here are a few of my favourites from recent years. If you’d like me to make something like this for you, please get in touch. Any challenge accepted!

Waterloo paper cutting
This was a gift from bride to groom, given on their honeymoon. The poem around them relates to the story of how they met by chance on the platform at Waterloo station

Waterloo
I left the darkness behind, uncertain what to find
Wheels set in motion, a journey started, old life left behind on the platform departed
Your card, my pen, my number, a message, a meeting, I wonder
This chance I almost could have missed, but forever was sealed when we kissed

Waterloo layout
The detailed layout for 'Waterloo' agreed with the client before cutting. There were several versions of this, but getting it right was time well spent as the cutting of all that lettering was complicated and time consuming

Pump Room wedding
This commission was a paper-anniversary gift. The couple were married at the Pump Rooms, Bath a year earlier, so the bride commissioned this as a gift fro her husband

Pump Room layout
A paper-cutting commission always begins with a sketch, or blueprint, which is agreed with the client before I begin cutting. This is really important; once scissors touch paper it's impossible to make significant alterations to a paper cutting!

A Mickey Mouse Poem
The sky you see now
You have never seen before
The perfect moment is now
Be glad of it

Mick Stow at Fishpond Cottage
A portrait of author Mick Stow outside the Suffolk home where he lived for many years

Mick Stow portrait in progress
The cutting of Fishpond Cottage was complicated as I made it in two layers. I experimented with a variety of colours, including this red to indicate the red bricks it was built from, before settling on the final more subdued tone

THESE GALLERIES ARE DISPLAYED for artistic interest. However, many works are available for sale, while others have been sold, bartered or given away over the years. If anything catches your eye, or if you’d like to arrange a studio visit (either real work or virtual) do please get in touch. While the most recent galleries represent ongoing work, you can browse collections of art from various projects over many years here. Charles is a productive artist and always has one of more projects on the go.