Even the Leaves Dance

It really does seem as though everything I've been doing in the last couple of years is somehow synthesizing in my art right now. These pieces are truly mixed media--this one has collage, paint, pencil, pastels, watercolos, and colored pencils--and is totally intuitive in that I start by writing a phrase (either from my head or from some of my found poetry) and then just start putting paint and collage materials together--No plan or pre-sketching. I'm including more of my own drawings, and adding not only physical texture (torn and braille paper) but also drawn texture with some zentangle-inspired patterns...

Feels like things are really coming together...

An Interesting Effect with Paint

I brayered some acrylic over the collaged papers, and before it was completely dry I used an eyedropper to write with white India ink across the page. The paint (I believe it is Behr Wall paint) kind of swam up to the surface of the ink. I like the effect--almost marbled looking.

Page isn't done, but thought I'd share!

Observations on Making Art and Collage No. 26

Something I've noticed since I began making one collage every day is that I've gotten caught up in the collage-making and haven't done any actual painting. Of course, this has been complicated by the fact that I've been laying laminate flooring, but now that everything's (pretty much) reorganized, I'm starting to paint again.

The good thing is that 'one collage every day' has helped me let go of the need for immediate perfection in every piece I create. I think it's vital that art-making remain a joyful activity, at least for me.

All the World's a Stage

This is from before Katie got sick. The curtains are from the painting of a tent from the 1800s, photo of woman during Civil War, harlequin floor fabricated by me, photo of sky by me, baseboard pasted together from the background of the picture of the woman...

I love the colors in this--and isn't she beautiful?

The Waterboy

Today I spent several hours in the studio. It felt good to have time to work. Katie really does seem to be feeling better--she danced around the livingroom this morning to show me how great she felt!

I like this piece. Tomorrow I'll post all the different photos that I used to make The Waterboy--mainly because I think it's interesting how photos/paintings/textures morph when they're used in Photoshop...

IF Missing

I feel like I've been out of action forever.

Katie's feeling better, although the trip to go school shopping wore her out on Friday and she ended up in tears on the long ride home...So I'm out in the studio today for a little while.

This is the first time I haven't posted an Illustration Friday on Friday in, well, forever, I think. But I was determined to start something new when I came out to the studio today, and just now, when I logged on to Blogger, I realized that the piece is actually IF's "Missing." Not sure which of the two versions I prefer--let me know what you think, if you have time, either via a comment or by participating in the poll in the left sidebar of the blog--

From Last Week

Illustration Friday:Suits

Ikept thinking about suits of cards--this is the Two of Gypsies.

Scrapbook

A friend of mine (most generously) allowed me to borrow and scan the scrapbook her mother made for her in the late 30's-early 40's--it includes pictures, Valentine's and birthday cards, invitations, letters, and report cards, as well as handwritten comments by her mother, all in wonderful faded brown script. I'm not sure that I would ever let it out of my sight, were it mine--so thank you, Nancy!