When we’re being excessively lazy, do our souls get bored? These are the kind of thoughts that tie my brain in knots on those nights I can’t sleep. Even though I can force my body to be lazy, my brain is a different story. Ten years ago, I had Jean-Claude Van Damme movies to help me get a good, healthy mental shutdown. Thankfully, drawing odd critters seems like a good way to empty the old noggin. And the cutting process can be very meditative. When I’m not poking myself with the point.
Some random thoughts:
Take a look at some photos of sloths. They are almost always smiling. What do they know that we don’t?
I recently read an article online (sorry, I don’t remember where) that residents of the French Alps used to more-or-less hibernate through the winter. This strikes me as a very nice idea.
The first box of Christmas presents just arrived from the US (thanks Mom!). Being that this is Tokyo, there is no storage, so the box is sitting in the middle of the living room. Teasing me. Beckoning seductively (though not too seductively…it’s from Mom, after all).
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July 4, 2008 at 6:31 pm
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December 6, 2007 at 12:14 pm
doni conner
I was asked a question a few years ago when viewing a large show on posters (mostly band posters) “what is the new animal”. So many times you see deer or birds, cats and occasionally a squirrel in paintings or graphic design. At that moment I decided it should be a sloth. I campaigned the sloth to my friends but it never seemed to take. Within the last two weeks I have seen two painted sloths including your’s…since they are such a slow creature I figured it just took them a bit longer to make the scene. I love your sloth and it has inspired me to paint my own. Thanks.
December 6, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Ella
Wonderful collage! Sloths certainly know how to relax :-).
December 6, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Josh Billings
Awesome sloth. They do seem to smile. Maybe it is becuase they live in trees and sleep all they want.
December 6, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Kim
Oh, look at this beauty!!!!!!!!
December 7, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Brittany
what an amazing piece. my favorite animal in the spanish language is oso perezoso…which is a sloth (at least in northern south america that is what they are called). your papercutting is very inspirational, as I have recently discovered my personal realm of this art form! you can check out my version of paper cuttings at http://www.bittystarr.etsy.com. I completely agree with the meditative and contemplative and therapeutic benefits of papercutting….as long as one isn’t feeling irritable!
all the best, and great blog!
*bittystarr
December 7, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Neda
I don’t know who said that the cure for boredom was curiosity and that the latter — thankfully?– has no cure.. Therefore, you are not in danger of ever being bored!!! Love that sinewy fuzzy cuddle (?) sloth. You have nice Mom too
December 7, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Taro as 3Yen.com
I think it’s gr-r-reat that the word for a sloth in Japanese is literally “Lazy Thing” [namakemono 怠け者, なまけもの, (n) lazy person / lazy fellow / sloth].
Speaking general slothiness, we are just getting around to buying Christmas cards and crap at Kawasaki CostCo, Do you folks want a ride with us tomorrow?
December 8, 2007 at 6:04 pm
constance
Patrick, I’m amazed! Wonderful works!
December 9, 2007 at 6:28 am
Christine Clemmensen
I’m so amazed by what you create. I think your papercuts are beautiful, original, highly expressive, … I could go on and on. Thanks for commenting:) I’m so glad you did, so that I “found” your site. I have linked to this from mine. And I’ll be back to see s’more:)
December 13, 2007 at 6:34 am
edhl
Is the pink-yellow furry effect the paper itself, or did you have to do something to it to make it that way? It’s wonderful!
December 13, 2007 at 9:23 am
patrick
Thanks everyone, for the comments.
edhl - I’d love to claim responsibilty, but that’s all in the paper. The furriness comes from tearing instead of cutting. It’s so soft, it’s nearly fabric.
doni - I’ve always wondered how those animals-of-the-moment get chosen. I remember the rooster and the cow being popular. My vote is for the sloth too. A truly inspirational animal.