What to Be?

I have spent some time in my studio recently, experimenting with new designs and styles.  This is one of my latest.  I almost always use words, so I decided to use lots of words.  I still used a variety of patterned papers (on the sides), some vintage hardware (on the top) and a few old buttons.  I like the conversation this one generates.
Inspired by words and repetition...Looking at simplicity and pattern...

Accessorized with brightly colored and patterned papers on each sides... and vintage buttons on the corners....

Even the back has advice for you...

This very bossy collage has something to say.

I am woman

This collage was born of my fascination with inchies.  I made a bunch and wondered what to do with them.  Then I looked for a theme to unite a set of inchies and found I had a large number of them that were woman-oriented.   I set the collage - leaving space for a quotation.  I looked and looked.  I was not satisfied with the words I found.  I wanted something simple and came up with:  I am strong.



I am strong.

 

I can do anything

The words "I am strong" resonated with me - and I thought of the 70's woman's liberation anthem:  I am Woman, Hear me Roar.  The words from the song seemed to fit the images on the collage - with all the variety and dimension of being a woman.


I am woman

 The original collage was flat.  I built the base and continued the lyrics around the sides of the box.  I am thrilled with how this one looks. 


I am invincible

 It is perfect for Mother's Day!


I am wise


I am Woman
(an excerpt of the lyrics by Helen Reddy and Ray Burton)
I am woman, hear me roar

In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an’ pretend
‘Cause I’ve heard it all before
And I’ve been down there on the floor
No one’s ever gonna keep me down again

Oh yes, I am wise
But it’s wisdom born of pain
Yes, I’ve paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

You can bend but never break me
‘Cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
‘Cause you’ve deepened the conviction in my soul

Oh, yes, I am wise
But it’s wisdom born of pain
Yes, I’ve paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

Collage - Have Heart

Art Chix Studios is hosting a recycled art challenge on facebook - the deadline is today.  I thought I would put something together to enter in their challenge.  Then, I started looking at the pieces I had recently made.  Most of my art has at least one recycled component, usually more than one. One of my most recent collages- Have Heart, is a perfect example.

The chimney is made from a discarded clothes pin hinge.  I built the wood box, behind the canvas, with scrap wood from our shed.  The paper covering the house is a wrapper from a fine bottle of liquor - a friend gave me the wrapper, not the bottle, because he knew I liked interesting papers. (too bad I didn't get the bottle also!)

The "H" is from a yard sale scrabble game.   The foam core, that forms the house are scraps left over from my daughter's school project. The old buttons are from the button jar. The roof paper and the floral in the background are scraps from my paper box.


"Where there is love, there is life."



All in all, not bad for a piece of "recycled" art.

The process of progress

As I continue to make collages, find inspiration in my materials and my daily life, I often wonder what drives the process.   What pushes me to make progress on one particular piece and not another.  I often find that I start on one and then another inspiration crowds its way into my thinking and won't relent until its end product is finished.  As a result, I may have two or three collages in various states of completion, okay, truth be told I frequently have five or six in the works.  One time, I looked around and counted twelve. Twelve!  That's excessive. 
Today I count six (although three of those are a set of identical collages).

The least complete is this one:


(Grow collage, in progress)

 This one was inspired by the coming of spring.  I gathered a number of papers and ephemera that spoke of springtime.  I laid them all onto a blank, white canvas (you can sort of see the edges.)  Maybe the canvas I chose is too small?  The letters will spell G-R-O-W.  Nothing yet is glued. Nothing yet is set.  Will I include some hardware?  Will I use a quotation?  Should I use paint instead of paper?  Although the ideas continue to germinate, this one is stuck.

The newest one(s) are a set of identical, simple ones that I will use as a gift.  They don't have very many elements, but copy a vintage design.  These will be simple to finish, but have been in the idea book for a few months:


(Three similar canvases, handmade white paper background,
red paper borders, drying on the studio floor.)

 This one is one of the oldest.  It was an experimentation piece as I was doing some exercises out of a collage "instruction" book.  I used pattern paper as a background.  I also tried out gel transfers - see the two ladies on the left.  I have been messing with these elements for months.  It continues to sit on my work table in a state of undress.  I am truly at a loss.  Maybe I should just start gluing things down and move on:


(Collage - waiting and waiting to be completed)

 Finally, this one is a quickie!  I had painted the red square canvas a while ago, and while futzing with the Grow Collage, the girl in this vintage reproduction advertisement jumped out at me.  The elements of this one just seemed to fall together.  It still needs final details, I have  few metal pieces to adhere.  I have to build and paint the wooden box that will go behind.  But this one is most likely the first one finished from the unfinished ones I have laying around.  It is also the one I have started the most recently:


(Fortune collage- just got its topcoat of clear acrylic, drying on the lawn)

 So, as I continue to create, I continue to ask myself questions.... continue to look for inspiration... continue to try new processes and techniques... 
I am excited with my progress.  I can see an evolution in the style of my work.  I can see a forward movement in my process.  It is often as much about the process as it is about the progress.

Collage - Seriously

Another recently finished collage - I feel like I have been working like a madman madwoman!

This is another collage built on a flat canvas.  I used a reproduction advertisement, a vintage, original letter, decorative paper and paint.  I love the crazy assortment of letters - maybe too much, because I have used them several times.  I used scrap wood (notice the holes) to build a box behind the canvas.  I am trying to pay attention to the details - by carrying my collage around the edges.  In this case I used paint and then free-hand painted the pattern from the paper on the front.  I am not a painter, and this was a challenge for me.  But, I guess, I am trying to challenge myself.  I want to improve my compositions and my technique.  I want to find my groove as a collage artist.


The quotation is one that resonates with me:

A friend is one who knows you
and loves you just the same. 

That's the type of friend I want to be - and the type of friends that I am fortunate enough to have in my life.

Sunday Sculpture Series

(Yes, I know, I am a day late.  Better late than never!)

This beautiful sculpture named Liv, was created by local artist Arabella Tattershall.  It is created from copper coated steel and stands 4'6" tall with a bottom diameter of 4'.  The pieces is designed with the intention of allowing plants to wind their way in and out of the open weave gown towards the leafy bodice of the dress.
Tattershall says of her work, "I am enamored with leaves. They keep falling into my pieces, as they would from a tree, and I accept their gifts of seasonal engagement in the guises of frailty, tenacity, color and shape."  
This piece sits in front of Embellishments, a boutique at 611 S. Public Road.  It is a nice complement to the 2010 Art on the Street Sculpture walk.  This pieces is available for purchase for $7,500.

(posted as part of Art Everyday Month)

New Toy - Art Every Day #23

I have a new toy. 
I am almost giddy about it.
Yesterday I bought myself a 1 inch square punch, like this one.  It's an Inchie Punch!

I am so excited, I can hardly stand it! 
I went to the chilly studio and punched and punched and punched. 

Two different colleges started to form.  A bright patchwork of paper squares in random pattern and color.

And a black and white patchwork of squares.
Two more works in progress. 
Obviously I can't just put down a random assortment of paper squares on a canvas, or can I?  Should I incorporate some of my already completed inchie collages?  Should I use the patchwork as a background for a bigger collage? 
Oh the possibilities are seemingly endless.  I love my new toy! 
To be creative today, I have new possibilities.
(Part of Art Every Day Month sponsored by Creative Everyday.)

Time and again - Art Every Day - Day 22

This collage is the companion to this one, called Endless Possibilities.  I paired them as companions because I worked in a similar style, with similar elements, and similar colors.  But I like this one so much better.  The words seem to resonate with me more than the words on the other one.  I love the element of time in this one, and the eager little girl towards the bottom of the piece.  I added the layer of meshy paper and miniature clothespins at the top.  I may continue to add to this one by adding some metal elements and maybe even clip something into the clothespins.  Any ideas of how to complete this one?  Sometimes I don't know when I am done.  Does anyone else have that problem?

(This post is part of Art Every Day Month.  I am so happy I signed up.  It has pushed me to work on art, or at least think about art for at least a small moment each day.)

Art Every Day - Day 19

Art Every Day # 19 comes from a recent trip to the Denver Botanic Garden, where I was inspired by the fall colors and unique plants.

Art can be found in the garden

Look at these crazy flower stalks,

the stems run through the center of the blossom-

 and the bloom appears to be upside-down

and if you look closely, the petals are fuzzy. 

Recipe - Kale Chips (Art Every Day - Day 18)

(A Day Late for Art Every Day Month)

Today's Art Every Day comes in the form of food.  After a couple of sugary recipes, it's time for something a bit more healthy: Baked Kale Chips.  You may be saying, "WHAT?! Ick!" But, wait!  Hear me out...

These crispy little treats have made their rounds on cooking blogs, on diet menus and have been tauted as the next best thing to the potato chip, so I decided I needed to try for myself.  Here's what you do:

Washed curly kale, stems removed.

Baked Kale Chips
1 bunch curly kale
1 T olive oil
kosher salt
fresh ground black pepper
fresh grated Parmigiano Reggiano


Kale tossed with olive oil and parmesan

 Wash kale (I do this by soaking for a few minutes in a bowl of cool water.  You will be amazed at how much dirt and silt is left in the bowl.) Remove the large stems from the center of the leaves.  Let leave dry on a paper towel.  When dry, tear leaves into smaller (about 2 inch) pieces  into a dry bowl.  Toss with 1 T olive oil, salt (about 2 teaspoons), pepper and 1 T grated parm. Line 2 baking sheets with foil, spray baking sheets with oil.  Arrange leaves on a foil lined baking sheet in a single layer.  1 bunch of kale may take two baking sheets.  Top with more parm.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, or until dry looking.


Baked kale, cooling on baking sheet



• Be sure the leaves are somewhat dry before tossing with oil, so they don't steam in your oven.
• Add additional herbs and spices to change the flavor.  Try garlic powder, cayenne pepper, or chili powder.
• Go easy on the salt, the chips shrink and the salt becomes more concentrated.
• Let cool completely before storing.
• Store in a covered container in a cool place for up to a week.

Crispy kale chips

So, what's the verdict?  Are these the next potato chip?  No, they most decidedly are not.  But they are a  unique crispy treat that are curiously addictive.  I can see that they would be a great garnish on top of a steak or hearty bean soup.  They could be spiced up or down.  They make a great "Bat Wing" food item for your Halloween Buffet.  They are unique, healthy, crispy, spicy, tasty, and interesting.  Don't let anyone fool you that they are a substitute for other type of chips, but I think that they can hold their own.

Art Every Day - Day 17

Find creative letters on Spell with flickr

For my Art Every Day month post I decided to post someone else's creative idea - but it's one that I use to spark my creativity and may inspire you, too.

Uses: print and use in collage, make a card, send a message, use in a blog, send a letter, make a sign, use for a name plaque, spell your name, spell your kids' names, send in an email,

Best things about it: it's free, it's eclectic, there are endless possibilities and combinations.

Art Every Day - Day 16

Just checking in for Art Every Day Month, sponsored the the blog Creative Every Day.  I have been working on this one throughout the month - I am not sure if it has reached completion.

"Endless Possibilities"

I was inspired by fall colors and lots of words - I used paint, handmade paper, vintage stamps, vintage tickets, word clippings, metal bits and pieces of wood beneath some of the labels to create dimension.  All of it is on a painted and walnut ink stained 8 x 10 flat canvas.

Creative Every Day

I strive to be creative every day.  I do this with my cooking, my home, my family, my art.  I even try to devote time every day (even if it is just a half hour) to making some art.  I have been following the Creative Every Day blog  and have wanted to hop on board... until now, I have been too busy to take time to write about it... and some days too busy to be creative.  But, here on day 15 of Creative Every Day Month, I am joining the movement.
So here is today's creativity.  A brief stint in the studio to work on some inchies:



Inchies, in progress.  Some are easy to complete,
others are waiting for the right word or detail to be finished.



These ones are done, I think. 
They will someday be part of a bigger collage or maybe a card.