Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Time Travel: Fashion Forward
This collage I created around 1985. It was purchased by a dear friend of mine. I loved the feeling and color of the lake water and mountains of the Western skies. The fashion model in her sapphire blue suit seemed to stride so confidently across the concrete wall. I injected a bit of humor with the little missy from a bygone era striding behind her. Some things never change in the world of women and clothes! The altered frame is from the 20's.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Techniques: Library Card Pocket
This is a very simple altered book technique: create a pocket on one of your pages. It can hold a photo, a tag, a piece of material, a small greeting card, a cut out object, a folded up list of favorite things -- just use your imagination! The pocket on this page is a plain manila library card pocket -- you know the ones that used to be in the back of library books. You can purchase them online in so many styles, sizes, and paperweights. I like the manila ones because you can decorate them to your heart's content -- paint it, stamp on it, cover it with paper, add a picture like I did here. I rummaged around in my studio and found an old address book of my grandmother's -- probably from the 60's or 70's -- and it slipped right into the pocket. I recognized her handwriting and some of the names and places she wrote in there. I liked the image of the woman looking back over her shoulder. Is she referring to her grandmother's book, or somebody else's? A mystery -- how could she ever be excluded from someone's heart?
Materials and mediums used in this spread: rubber stamp ink pads, oil pastels, gold pen, rubber stamps, ribbon, glue.
Materials and mediums used in this spread: rubber stamp ink pads, oil pastels, gold pen, rubber stamps, ribbon, glue.
Monday, September 20, 2010
The Collage Cafe: Surprising Developments!
Well, I was surprised -- right from the start! I only had 4 people register for the Cafe. Then 3 more committed 2 hours before the Cafe. So in setting up the room, I allowed for a few extra. I ran out to buy some more used books for people to select from. At 2:35pm there were 11 participants! There an incredible amount of activity, excitement, and motion; a few creative freak outs and breakthroughs; and much laughter. Once again it was a joy and surprise for me to see what people ended up creating amidst the chaotic mess of paper arts. Every person's style is different and reflects their inner and outer processes -- habits, likes, dislikes, emotional states, curiosity, and joy. Photos are from the workshop and for a complete viewing go here. We had so much fun that we decided to hold a Collage Cafe every month! The next one is scheduled for Saturday, October 16!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Time Travel: Here's Looking at You
"It's all irrelevant
I know that memory grows crooked...
they've wanted to find you for a very long time..."
I know that memory grows crooked...
they've wanted to find you for a very long time..."
Time Travel: Heart, You Plucked Mine
"Heart, you plucked mine
Loosely swirling round a [dance pole]
Rings and fingers
Kisses swallowed hole
The threat of never --
That dark and secret path
Imagine my surprise at that..."
Loosely swirling round a [dance pole]
Rings and fingers
Kisses swallowed hole
The threat of never --
That dark and secret path
Imagine my surprise at that..."
Time Travel: Your Eyes
"So there you aren't
and here you are
and there you never were.
And so I feast at gazing in your eyes
when every time you peer at me
from out a fluttering window..."
and here you are
and there you never were.
And so I feast at gazing in your eyes
when every time you peer at me
from out a fluttering window..."
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Experiments: Here's Lookin' at You
Experimenting with techniques to use in workshops. Using gesso, drawing in gesso with graphite pencil and stylus, water-soluble crayons, non-soluble oil pastels, rubber stamp, stamp ink.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Experiment: An Image from a Past Life
My art instructor, Sabrina, asked me in one of my lessons earlier this spring, to do an "imaginary drawing" using ink wash and Chinese brush pen, while she read out loud this portion from a Yeats poem:
Never until this night have I been stirred.
The elaborate star-light has thrown reflections
On the dark stream,
Till all the eddies gleam;
And thereupon there comes that scream
From terrified, invisible beast or bird:
Image of poignant recollection.
-- from An Image from a Past Life
by William Butler Yeats
The elaborate star-light has thrown reflections
On the dark stream,
Till all the eddies gleam;
And thereupon there comes that scream
From terrified, invisible beast or bird:
Image of poignant recollection.
-- from An Image from a Past Life
by William Butler Yeats
1865-1939
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
In Spite Of...
In spite of a constant battle with procrastination and what feels like a totally chaotic art studio...I am going in and out of of the art room today...cleaning up, clearing off, finishing some journal pages, posting. I need to make some new necklaces and a custom for this weekend. I need to pull things together for the Collage Cafe workshop I'm teaching this weekend. I need to not feel so scattered and to focus on generating...generating...generating. What a tyrant the mind is! I need to take a deep breath and smell the roses!
Monday, September 13, 2010
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