UNCOVERED: Andrewfordham - Caught on Camera

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andrew

Community Member

andrew

Community Member

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1 posts

19 comments

27 upvotes

335 points

Professional artist. Cuts holes out of paper for a living. Creates street maps with no road or place names on them.

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andrew • upvoted 22 items 9 years ago

Parenting, Visual Art

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Parenting, Visual Art

Dad Turns His Sons' Doodles Into Anime Characters, And The Result Is Amazing

This Unicorn Candle Cries Waxy, Colourful Tears When You Light It

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Beautiful work! But I have a question about your fine motor skill issues - few years ago, just before I developed some major anxiety and then depression, my left hand suddenly became "sloppier" than the right - I started pressing the wrong keys on the keyboard, was shaking while holding my phone, etc. After lots of visits to various doctors they concluded there is no "organic" cause... fast forward 5 years later and the situation is pretty much the same. Could you share some details about your problems and the medication that caused them? Thanks!

Art & Design, Hobbies

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How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Your work is amazing and I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your story. You give me hope to start fresh after a similar experience.

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

I love the multilayered look - great job on these!

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Your work is remarkable. Building your own tools was inventive. You should patent the design.

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

How do you keep from tearing the paper, especially with the very fine spidery bits?

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

These are so beautiful!! how long does it take to make them?

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

This is fantastic ! I wonder, how long does it take to make a map (a "normal size one" let's say !) ?

Art & Design, Tattoo Art

Realistic Anatomical Paintings Reveal The Structures That Lie Beneath Our Skin

Art & Design, Visual Art

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

What a steady hand. I'm amazed!

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Hey Andrew It is great to see (read) how something horrible like your issue ends up in something beautiful like those maps. I love them and I like your approach. I even like the boat and the ducks (swans) - great inspiration though. :) Keep it up!

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Hats off to u for ur amazing patience to create something beautiful.

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

I love your work Andrew! I hope you will find great successes ahead with your newly founded talents :D

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

unbelievable!

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Being a fellow sufferer of depression I know what medication can do. I was hospitalized because of an anti depressant. I needed no recovery time so I truly sympathise with your unfortunate reaction. I am glad you found a hobby to channel your energy into. It's why I crochet, it's when I feel at peace. Your work is no short of incredible. I hope every creation you make brings you closer to being depression free.

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

wow thank you that is awesome

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

These are beautiful!

Show All 22 Upvotes

andrew • commented on 17 posts 9 years ago

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

My issue was shakiness. Medication lithium, escitalopram and Lamotrigine. Each of these I tried for a couple of days, each caused major problems. Looking back at my life after the event, my body hasn't typically reacted very well to any medication...

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Haha, no I'm not. I do use machines because my hands still aren't steady enough to go this detailed using only a scalpel, even two years on from 'the incident'. I do less detailed designs by hand, even these take a couple of weeks for each attempt! I do custom designs - both location and colour scheme, not generally hand cut though if you are after the detail above as I would have to charge a stomach-churning amount to cover labour costs (I want these designs to be accessible). You can find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/planbcreationsuk/

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Hi. These days, about 2 to 3 days per map (Working 8+ hour days). This includes designing the template, cutting and framing. Back when I used to completely cut by hand, less detailed designs than this would take a couple of weeks and multiple attempts - glad those days are over!

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Haha, yes. You never realise it whilst you are in that bubble though, or at least I didn't. I think a good salary could be treated as an addiction....

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Thank you!

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Thank you

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Thank you

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Good luck with your journey. It wasn't easy and I had a lot more go on than I could share in the short article above, just make sure you don't give up :)

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

If cutting fine stuff like this by hand the key things are: (1) Use very sharp blades, changed regularly (2) start by cutting the finest details, leaving the biggest bits until last (3) at the same time, work from the centre outwards unless it breaks rule 2 (4) Use thin paper (5) Have plenty patience & a steady hand.

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Back when I cut them completely by hand, a layered one with less than half the detail of these would take a couple of weeks and be full of mistakes. Now I've built tools to help, from starting to design the template to finishing cutting takes a just a few days (8+ hour days, though!). As mentioned in the article, I had to build tools to do most of the cutting for me because I couldn't get the level of detail I wanted by hand due to my shakes (Still not subsided after 18 months...). A positive side effect is that it makes these maps fairly accessible.

What It's Like To Be Dealing With Depression

Someone commented 'recycled good intentions', I think that it sums this up well. If only it were as simple and easy as this makes out, we would have found a genuine cure for depression!

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Thank you. It has led me to believe that sometimes maybe what seems like a bad thing at the time may actually have happened for a reason and be good for us in the long run.

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Thank you.

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Thank you

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Thank you :)

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Thanks you

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Thank you for taking the time to respond and I'm glad you made a swift recovery! My art definitely does help put me in a positive mental state as well.

Show All 17 Comments

andrew • submitted a new post 9 years ago

Art & Design, Visual Art

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

andrew • submitted a new post 9 years ago

Art & Design, Visual Art

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

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andrew • commented on 19 posts 9 years ago

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Haha, yes. You never realise it whilst you are in that bubble though, or at least I didn't. I think a good salary could be treated as an addiction....

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Thank you!

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Thank you

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Thank you

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Good luck with your journey. It wasn't easy and I had a lot more go on than I could share in the short article above, just make sure you don't give up :)

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

What It's Like To Be Dealing With Depression

Someone commented 'recycled good intentions', I think that it sums this up well. If only it were as simple and easy as this makes out, we would have found a genuine cure for depression!

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Thank you. It has led me to believe that sometimes maybe what seems like a bad thing at the time may actually have happened for a reason and be good for us in the long run.

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Thank you.

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Thank you

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Thank you :)

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Thanks you

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Thank you for taking the time to respond and I'm glad you made a swift recovery! My art definitely does help put me in a positive mental state as well.

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

They are being shy today now I mentioned them on the internet. Will a couple of swans do instead? https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_20140321_112646_985-58bd869b67d4c.jpg

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Thanks Len. I have been pondering prints (Including things like Calendars) Just not been able to make a decision yet!

andrew • upvoted 20 items 9 years ago

This Unicorn Candle Cries Waxy, Colourful Tears When You Light It

Parenting, Visual Art

Dad Turns His Sons' Doodles Into Anime Characters, And The Result Is Amazing

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Art & Design

Kenya-Born Artist Hand-Carves Intricate Scenes Of Local Nature On Wood

Art & Design, Hobbies

I Create Ceramic Pieces With Giant Sculpted Crystals Growing Out Of Them

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

What a steady hand. I'm amazed!

Art & Design

The Fire Goddess By Emily Tan

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

These are so beautiful!! how long does it take to make them?

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

I love your work Andrew! I hope you will find great successes ahead with your newly founded talents :D

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

unbelievable!

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

These are beautiful!

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Your work is amazing and I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your story. You give me hope to start fresh after a similar experience.

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

I love the multilayered look - great job on these!

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Your work is remarkable. Building your own tools was inventive. You should patent the design.

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

How do you keep from tearing the paper, especially with the very fine spidery bits?

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

This is fantastic ! I wonder, how long does it take to make a map (a "normal size one" let's say !) ?

Art & Design, Tattoo Art

Realistic Anatomical Paintings Reveal The Structures That Lie Beneath Our Skin

How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps

Hats off to u for ur amazing patience to create something beautiful.

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Contact andrew directly: Email: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/planbcreationsuk/Twitter: https://twitter.com/planbcukWebsite: http://www.planbcreations.co.uk

Points 335 Top 10% overall

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