The steps to make the more complex image, from the preparation of the paper’s blue
background to the multilayered painting applying different masks. Note in the final image the
frame and other parts masked are blurred and not perfectly regular. This effect is caused by
the irregular surface of the background resulting from using the acrylic colour
Once I saw the results of combining
and mixing different techniques, I moved
on to a more complex process that opens
up a lot more possibilities.
Indeed, following the philosophy of
the ‘true makers’, all processes described
in this article have been achieved with
a cheap DIY laser cutter and engraver,
some coloured acrylic sheet, and drawing
materials, for less than $20.The limits of the paper
One of the limits with the engraved paper
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laser-cut parts emerge from the image.
I thought that using a metallic spray
paint would give a pleasant minimalistic
effect and also give the composition more
solidity and this is what I will share in the
next part of this feature.
Using a tube of acrylic colour that has
the consistency of toothpaste, I prepared a
sheet of paper with a layer of colour using
a spatula. To avoid breaking the solid
surface, I left this to dry in a cold place for
about 24 hours, as at some points there is
half a centimetre of colour so it needed
a long period to dry. I then used some of
the laser-cut components of the drawing
as stencils and spray painted the rough
surface of the acrylic background with
metallic and high-contrast spray colours.
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I added a second piece (without removing
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surface areas were progressively covered
by one of the laser-cut components
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proceeding with this inverse colouring
sequence I removed all the plastic parts
and glued the most central laser-cut
pieces onto the surface. The masked
colour has a great graphic impact because
the masked pieces do not cover all the
surface because of its irregularity.