Integrating and Unifying

At the End of the Road
6x6"

This was total play!  I did not start out with an idea of what I wanted at the end.  The only preconceived element was that I would create some texture in plaster with a cotton doily I have.  As with much of my work, it is mixed media...very mixed media!  In the layers of the collage there are found papers, part of a photocopy of one of my artworks, plaster, shellac, watercolor and acrylic paint.  I worked back and forth between all of these elements, sometimes sanding the layers with my mouse sander.  I applied the shellac and used the sander the way one might apply paint or erase out charcoal or graphite.

Because plaster and shellac take time to dry between layers, I find that I can multi-task, working on several pieces at one time.  What happens in one piece often becomes something I incorporate into some of the other pieces depending on what else is going on in them.  I like that when I look at the finished works I often can't tell the order of my process.
For me this is the definition of truly integrating all of the elements into a unified whole.

Two Sided Collage

Spring Collage (front and back)

I have talked about my two sided collages from my "Farmscape Series" but have neglected to post both sides of one of them.  Here is a collage from the 4th week in April.

If you follow the geometric aspects of the work you can see where the stitching and collaging on one side influenced what happened on the reverse side.  Usually one side ended up being lighter and brighter than the other.  I would start by collaging elements on one side of the paper, then reversing it to see what I might want to include on the other side.  I would return to the first side and do some painting, then reverse it and work on the other side.  It was a continual back and forth process.

This allowed me to make 2 observations about what was happening on the farm during that particular week.

And how do I know this was from the 4th week in April?

I included a code.

If you look at the bottom of the piece you will notice 

some stitched blocks with lines through them.

The number of blocks indicate the month and the number of lines indicate the week.

This piece has 4 stitched blocks with 4 stitched lines indicating the fourth week of April.

A Day Like Today

 It is rather gray and overcast today here on the farm.  We have lots of days like this in January and February.

The artwork on the left is another from my "Farmscapes" where I created a collage on both sides of the paper.  If you look at some of the major shapes and areas on the front you can find the matching shape or area on the opposite side of the artwork.

Example:  The square storm cloud on the top right on the front side is reflected in that same rectangular shape on the top left below.

The stitching outline that suggests a  house shape above is more complete and painted in on the bottom or back side of the work.

When I sell these I put a mat on both sides so the purchaser can easily turn the work around to display the other side.  They come matted but unframed.

This piece is 13x15" and priced at $135 including shipping.  To purchase email me.

BOGO!

Adirondack Chair (front)

I like collage.
I like working in a series.
I like challenging myself to create work over an extended time period.

So in 2011 I made one two-sided collage each week that reflected the seasonal changes taking place on the farm where I live.  In the process I walked around the farm or noticed things I usually just passed over.  The results were 50 collages with artwork on both sides of the page.

The reason these developed into two-sided pieces was because I sewed fabric and paper onto one side which affected the opposite side. When I turned the paper over there were these cool shapes that I could respond to with other collaged elements and paint.  I also found that one side of      

Adirondack Chair (back)

each collage was lighter in color and sometimes in sentiment, than the opposite side.   It wasn't until I was a month or so into the series that I realized I had a presentation issue on my hands.  How does one display 2D works that have 2 sides.  As you saw in the post on Thursday, Jan. 8th one solution was to suspend them from the ceiling so that both sides could be viewed.  Currently I am selling them with both sides having a mat around them so one can simply turn the piece over, having two artworks for the price of one!

15 x 19" matted,  $135 includes shipping.

                 Click to buy on Etsy

Saturday...the Best Day of the Week!

Saturday's Study

Without realizing it I returned to the sun imagery I used in the"Sun Series" I started my blog with in December.  This collage of a blue sun is reflective of the kind of January Saturday we are experiencing in Ohio.  My intention with creating these small collages was to work small and often.  They are rewarding in that something is accomplished quickly.
And why is Saturday the best day of the week, you might ask.  Because that is the only day that I do not have a predetermined morning schedule, allowing me to read or bake something or sleep late or all of the above.

This piece is 6x6" and priced at $35, including shipping.  To purchase please email me.

More From the Farmscape Series: April's Promise

Sold!

Is it too early to think about April?          

When it is 9 degrees out and you are shoveling snow, I don't think it's too soon to remember  the promise of new greenery, budding flowers, and sunny skies.

So here is a glimpse of the spring to come.

This piece is 11x15" and comes matted making it 15x19". 

There is another artwork on the back which is also matted so you get two artworks for the price of one.  It is priced at $135 and includes free shipping in the US.

For purchase info or for shipping costs to other countries email me.

Remembering October on this Snowy January Day

Since I just installed a collection of my Farm-
 scapes and posted about them a few days ago, I thought I would take the time to show some close-ups of a few of these over the next few days.

This one is from the first week of October.
Each of the Farmscapes is two-sided, meaning there is a complete artwork on each side.  I am selling them with a mat on each side so the buyer can easily turn the artwork over and view the other side.
So here is the reverse side of the above piece.      

What I really had fun with when making these
was responding to the stitching on each side which informed the collaging and painting.

Each collage is 11 x 15" without the mat and
15 x 19" matted.  They are unframed so you can
select framing that suits your own tastes.

                Click to buy on Etsy

December 30, 2014: Balancing Act

mixed media collage, acrylic and watercolor paint, plaster, shellac, pen and ink; 

layered and sanded

6 x 6"on a cradled board

I need a different name for this piece.

Got any ideas?

December 28,2014: Sun with Green Halo

mixed media collage, acrylic and watercolor paint, wax, plaster, shellac, pen and ink, 

thread; layered and sanded

6 x 6"on a cradled board

I struggled with this one!  Although I know and mentioned in a previous post that you can't sand encaustic medium, I had to try it.  I was right the first time...sanding wax is problematic!

So there are lots of layers here...I lost some "stuff" and ended up with this.

But I like the halo effect around the sun that looks like it is hovering over a field...as if you are viewing this from above.

December 26, 2104: Divided

Click to buy

Collage, acrylic and watercolor paint, stained tea bag, shellac, plaster,

pen and ink, encaustic paint; layered and sanded

6 x 6" on cradled board

I often have a hard time getting into the studio during the holidays...visiting, cooking and eating, spending time with family, all important parts of enjoying the season. So having the time and energy to do this piece was a bonus.

I used some encaustic wax, also a bonus, but tricky as it is hard (practically impossible) to

sand once the wax has been applied.

December 21, 2014: Blue Sun

Collage, gesso, acrylic and watercolor paint, plaster,

shellac, layered and sanded.

6x6" on cradled board

Chance plays a big role in this body of work.  I am playing with very few rules for myself. 

Past work relied heavily on photocopied and found imagery of people, places and objects.

Here I am trying to play more with form and color.

The use of the plaster and shellac along with the sanding of the layers allows for unexpected revelations.  This is how the 2 original suns in this piece developed into 4 suns. 

Never Say Never!

In the past when asked if I had a blog I would say "Oh, I don't think I have much to blog about."
Or "I don't have the time."  I've even said "I will never have a blog."  And here I am blogging, although I'd rather like to think about it as journalling.

So as you read my blog I will be commenting on materials, processes (both new and old), ideas that may or may not come to fruition.  Of course some days I will have little to say but overall the beauty of this blog for me is that it keeps me on top of photographing and documenting my work as I go.

I welcome your comments, critiques, and questions.
Thanks for visiting my mixed media journal!


        December 9, 2014: Sun Series no. 5

The two images here are the same piece only rotated 45 degrees.
When I was working on it, I mostly had it in the top orientation.
My husband likes it in the lower orientation.

What do you think?

And the final orientation might ultimately depend
upon what other pieces from the series are next to it.

December 8, 2014: Sun Series no. 4

     

December 7, 2014: Sun Series no. 3

The plaster is fun to play with!

I like the texture I was able to get in the lower right corner.

6x6" on a cradled board

December 5, 2014: Sun Series no. 2

The second in this series of experimental work 

where I am using collage, plaster, shellac,

acrylic and watercolor paint.

6x6" on a cradled board

December 4, 2014: Sun Series no.1

Click to buy

Who knew that sanding layers of paint and plaster could be so much fun?

6x6" collage, paint, shellac and plaster on a cradled board.