my aim is true

My Aim is True is part of an ongoing body of work that explores laser cutting as both a fabrication process and a form of image-making. Drawing from the visual language of Pennsylvania Dutch folk art such as distelfinks “thistlefinch”, florals, hearts, and other traditional motifs, the work reinterprets regional imagery through contemporary digital fabrication. The graphic repetition and visual density also nod to the iconic checkerboard cover of Elvis Costello’s 1977 debut album, My Aim Is True, connecting folk ornament, pop culture, and graphic design.

Central to the work is an innovative backpainting process I developed for laser-etched clear acrylic. Imagery is etched into the reverse of transparent acrylic and selectively painted from behind, allowing the polished acrylic surface to remain untouched. Viewed from the front, color and engraved detail appear suspended beneath a glossy, dimensional surface. The process combines the precision and repeatability of digital fabrication with the variability of painting, masking, layering, and hand finishing.

The technique has since become an important part of my teaching practice. I now teach backpainting as a way of encouraging students to think beyond the laser cutter simply as a tool for cutting shapes. It is a core process explored through the laser-cut jigsaw puzzle project in How to Make Things (MEAM 4110), where students experiment with engraving, color, coatings, surface treatments, material layering, and assembly to transform digitally fabricated parts into highly finished objects.