I know it’s a strange title. But the file name for the original piece was First Cut. First in the Cutout Series.

Nice factoid. A lot of the pieces get their names from computer naming conventions. The file names are meant to order properly, sometimes. In this case the folder was called Cutout and the file name was First Cut.

These pieces are extremely important because they set up all the pieces to date. The PR-RAW, MPRSS_HRNT and MAZE Series all are made in this style.

Here is the gist. I wanted to do portraits and self-portraits from photographs. So I reduced each image to four colors and hand cut each layer. I then noticed that they could be viewed from both sides. So each has a positive and a negative.

At the time, I was working for a well-known stylist so I took these to work and showed them. First thing the husband of the stylist said was, “Wow, you could learn to cut better.”

I usually get this dismissive approach so I am used to it. Or I get completely ignored. Neither bother me anymore.

In this case I put it in perspective. Here were people who had health insurance for their dog but offered their employees none. Politically irate but couldn’t afford to pay me a decent living wage. Precious and entitled in a way only stylists manifest.

Stylists are some of the worst people in the world. Consumerists with a library agenda. Working in collusion with advertising executives to sell the great American lie. Want a real life example, look at the Big Mac in the picture against the real world one you get next time. Stylists did that.

So it’s roughly cut with old X-Acto blades. It’s quick and to the point. It’s my idea manifested and I love it.