Collage in progress, 3.6.12 (and a nod to surprises)

Mcdonaldcollageinprogress3.6.12
This photo was taken yesterday after two work sessions on the latest collage. I use a wet process so there is plenty of drying time to consider my next additions. I don't plan the composition in advance but begin with something I like and build from there. Some of the elements that appear now may be covered up with others before it's over.

SurpriseAt left is an example of one of the surprises inherent in working this way... once the selected paper is damp with glue, images on the reverse side may show through. Sometimes remnants of imagery remain after the piece has dried, sometimes not. In this case the woman's face and high heel went away almost completely. I enjoy discovering how much will remain. It adds another "unknown" to respond to as I work. (You can see the dried blue area in the upper right portion of the larger collage image.)

More updates soon.

Jumble (or how a collage sometimes begins...)

Desk3.5.12

I'm working on some big new collages for a May exhibition. This is a photo of my work surface yesterday with a 24 x 36" wood panel ready to become something new and exciting, along with a jumble of sorta-solid color elements that I'm exploring. Total chaos, and so far the collage looks completely different from what you would expect, based on this photo! I'll post some in-progress photos soon. 

Happy Valentine's Day…

Collageheart

...not to mention paper of all kinds, glue, chaos, order, scraps, synchronicity, ripped edges, wild color, subtle patterns, layering, negative spaces, texture, stripes, printed napkins, forms/grids, postcards, pages of books, ribbon, cardboard, packaging, and unexpected daily "finds" to add to my collection of collage ingredients!

May we all find someone or something to love. I am grateful to have found both.

Leaping rabbit... and other public art

Sacto.rabbit
Lawrence Argent's Red Rabbit

Landing at the airport in Sacramento, California this week, I was surprised to be exiting my flight into a new-to-me terminal with lots of public art. I've just finished reading an extensive article about the new art pieces that have been installed. Lots of great photos and information compiled by David M. Roth, the editor and publisher of Squarecylinder, is available for perusing here. I'm looking forward to further exploration later this week when I fly out of Sacramento to return home!