The Dog

The Dog

I began a new series of postcards this week.  This one called The Dog came together over three days and holds a happy accident.  Most of the collage was complete but I was thinking one more thing would add to what was already created.  Then the dog just happened to fall on it from a different postcard.  Voila!  There it was.

I look at collaging as bringing new life to disparate images, images found in a variety of places.  In this case the images were found in several books I bought last weekend at an estate sale.  Each book was $1.00.  I love old books that hold amazing images.  This particular book was on exploration.  Another was on pirates, and a third was on whaling.   All three books were in excellent condition and will eventually become altered book journals.

I also recently received a box of rollers that I spent a huge amount of time tracking down.  Last month when I was in LA my friend Irene brought a wonderful roller to the workshop that we attended.  Of course I had to have one.  The only thing was that she was unsure of where she had purchased it.  She thought perhaps she got in on an excursion to Mendocino.  I called several shops but no one knew of what I spoke.  I searched the web.  Friends searched the web.  I now know more about texture rollers that I ever thought I would.  Finally I found the rollers at www.Kaplanco.com .  I say "Never give up!"  It paid off this time.

In The Dog I collaged CitraSolv paper for the ground.  Terry Garrett had suggested using the rollers on CitraSolv papers.  Genius because they really look great.  The background is a cereal box cardboard painted black and textured with many layers of gesso.  I used stencils and tissue paper as well.  A slight sanding and matte varnish finished the piece off.