Memory, story, and "Lineage"

After a recent foray into a box of family photos—aptly labelled "OLD-OLD PHOTOS" (among other boxes labelled "OLD PHOTOS!")—and holiday traditions that call to mind people who now exist only in memory... I thought back to my "Lineage" collage. Above is a corner detail from the larger piece which measures 12 x 12 x 1." (To see the entire collage, click here.)

As I worked on this piece, I was thinking of the stories we construct about our lineage, the parts we cherish and highlight, those we diminish or conveniently forget, and the influences that stay with us. At this time of year, I tend to look back with fondness as I also look forward with anticipation... that corner figure speaks to the dichotomy of shifting attention and emphasis that I experience at year end. 

I'm currently laying the groundwork for the story of my upcoming year... spending time reviewing notes from recent brainstorming, strategizing, and planning. I look forward to working the plan and seeing how my life as an artist will unfold in the coming year. Quite empowering to realize that I create and craft my story!

"Very few people know how to work. Inspiration, everybody has inspiration, that's just hot air." — Beatrice Wood

Four new "Poundling" pet collages

Recently I wrote about my prep work for these pet-inspired "Poundling" collages and wanted to complete that story by posting the finished pieces.The collages have been on display at a gallery gift shop here in Denver for a couple of weeks now. (Perhaps someone will permanently adopt them for the holidays!)It amazes me how much character emerges from careful combining of unrelated, repurposed paper. Probably a new record for fewest elements used: the dog at top left is composed of only four pieces of carefully selected imagery/color (not counting background).Each collage is 7 x 5 x 1/8," composed of contemporary papers with acrylic on hardboard support, unframed, and priced at $135.

Collage process & progress

Well, I've been making progress on the pet collage series. Unlike my abstract work, which is completely additive in terms of process, for these small works I do organize at least some of the major elements in advance of gluing, and then build and develop the constructed character further.Four creatures are done and ready for varnish, while a couple of others await the discovery of key pieces that would make them complete! I'll post completed collages soon.

Collage studio views: small support prep

A gallery gift shop has asked for some original "Poundling" pet collages to display and I'm out of inventory. Here are some images of how I begin the process.I use pre-gessoed 5 x 7 x 1/8" panels. I begin by covering them completely with a patterned background. Here I'm using "pet for sale" want ads and musical scores from books the library has de-acquisitioned. I create the background look by painting generously with acrylic and rubbing much of it away with a rag for a tinted look. I can add layer upon layer until I get the desired effect.All kinds of lids and containers are recycled for mixing paints. Notice the tray repurposed from a recent Whole Foods sushi lunch!The first photo is of the plain boards. I use that giant glass ashtray to hold glue/medium. It's deep, heavy enough that it doesn't move around, and the cigarette indentations hold a brush beautifully!The second image shows the background layers of papers drying after being glued down. The final photo is of the newly tinted backgrounds drying atop random jars in the studio. I'll add photos of the resulting collages in a future post.