Graffiti Series #7

Graffiti Series #7

One of my favorite mixed media tools is the Stablio Woody crayon.  It is like a watercolor crayon.  I love it because you can create transparent color over your collaged work and it can run easily. Please note the right hand side of #7 above.  That purplish color is a Woody run.

Graffiti Series #6

Graffiti Series #6

If you have never done a packing tape stencil transfer I highly recommend doing a Google search and or head off to YouTube to seek out the methods.  If you have done one you might know that you get a 3 for 1 when doing the process.  You get what sticks to the tape.  You sometimes get floating ephemera when you do the wet step and you might get positive debris left over.  So you might not understand what I just said and that is alright.  You have to do the process and see how comes of it.  Too much fun but it is a wet activity!  Try it out.

Many of the transfers are included in this series.  You might note that the black with white dots above were created with this process.

Graffiti Series #5

Graffiti Series #5

There was a building in the University District of Seattle that use to be called the Tubs.  It was for hot tubbers, rooms with hot tubs and you rented by the hour.  This enterprise went out of business and the building sat idle for years.  Idle on the inside but definitely not on the outside as graffiti artists created their art all over the building.  The story goes that the building's owner did not want to sell and the building became an "eye sore" for some.  Not for me though because I loved the graffiti which I photographed several times.

I got the idea of incorporating graffiti into my mixed media pieces.  You can find some of parts of photos that I have taken in #5 above although the graffiti came from a different location which I will talk about in the next few days.

Graffiti Series #4

Graffiti Series #4

Tissue paper can be both a transparent or an opaque layer.  In each of the 24 collages in this series I used polka dot tissue paper.  Mostly this tissue paper was opaque but in some places semi-transparent only where the white dots appear.  I frequently print images on tissue paper to use in a collage. Disguising edges of said tissue becomes a goal of mine.  Having ragged edges helps.  It is easy to make ragged edges when you paint water on the tissue and then tear or pull the watered edge away.

Graffiti Series #3

Graffiti Series #4

Once the gesso dried I did an acrylic wash over the paint to add a bit of color.  I did all 24 substrate steps in two settings....one side and then the other...gessoed all and then colored all with the wash.  I did leave a bit of white gesso on occasion which was colored in a later step.

Although these are not postcards, one could do the same process making postcards and once they are all done you have a series of postcards that you can go to when an occasion arises.  This happened today for me.  I needed two thank yous and what better way to do that than with a handmade postcard! :-)

Graffiti Series #2

Graffiti Series # 2

Gesso was used for the first layer for each of the works in the Graffiti Series.  Gesso absorbs paint well and gives plenty of texture.  It also is a great step at starting if one does not know where one is going with a particular art piece at the beginning.  If you do a search on Pinterest for texture you will find several examples of how to use gesso.

I did not name each individual piece in this series like I normally do instead chose to be more general.  However, if I were to name this piece I think I would call it Stern.  Somehow I think the man's face on the stamp registers disapproval for something.  Perhaps he thinks the bathing costume is too suggestive.  Ha!  Give it time and fast forward to the 21st Century and one will find that the above bathing attire is modest!

Who do you think the little girl in the photo represents?

Graffiti Series #1

Graffiti Series #1 

This is the first in a new series I am calling the graffiti series.  There are 24 works in this series and each one uses portions of photograph images of graffiti that I took in Seattle.  Each work in this collage series has at least 15 or 16 layers in order to create the final composition.  I will talk about the layers as we progress through the series over the next 23 days.

As I have mentioned in a previous blog posting I would like to break 300 posts for the calendar year 2016.  With the addition of this series I will have 294 posts which should take me to mid December.  I think I might just make it.  We shall see!

Happy Thanksgiving if you celebrate this holiday!

South Indiana Avenue

South Indiana Avenue

South Indiana Avenue is my favorite of the four works that will all hopefully be in shows beginning in January.  I really like how the composition came together.  For me it is like a set on a Broadway stage.  It might be that I like it because it is all part of one photo broken in parts hence unifying it.  It is almost like this piece has actors just waiting to say their lines to the audience.  What drama happened on South Indiana Avenue?

Vintage Photo Op

Vintage Photo Op

This is the third piece for January shows.  Keep your fingers crossed it is juried into the Collage Society Winter Show beginning in January.

Road Trip

 Road Trip

This is my first piece that I am submitting to be juried into the Cascadia Art Museum Collage Society Show beginning in January.  The theme for this show was to take one or more artists from the NW School....  Kenneth Callahan, Pieter Van Dalen, Fay Chong, Yvonne Twining Humber, Abe Blashko, Anne Kutka McCosh, Irwin Caplan, David McCosh  .... and to create up to three works for submission.

I chose Fay Chong for my inspiration as his work has many architectural features which as you know are speaking to me at the moment.

Gone Fishin'

Gone Fishin'

Although you can not tell it here, this piece is much larger than the postcard series pieces times four.  I am entering this particular work in the Edmonds CC instructor art show beginning in January.  Each year the art instructors are asked to submit new works for a show.  We are limited to one piece this year because of the venue space.  I love working bigger than I have been previously.  There are four pieces total in this larger size (at least at the moment).

Grandma/Grandson

Grandma/Grandson

This is the last of this particular postcard series.  It has been fun sharing over sixty works.
Next on the agenda will be four works similar to this series but the pieces are much larger than postcard size.  I have created four pieces for two upcoming shows.  Stay tuned!  ;-)

Home on Leave

Home on Leave

I remember when I was in the army and had almost successfully completed basic training, I flew home on a weekend pass.  I only had two days and most of that seemed to be travel time.  However, it was important to touch base with friends and family.  When I discovered this photo at a garage sale I remembered the feeling that is represented here.

Irene

Irene

The photo of my art friend, Irene, who I visited last month in Newport Beach, CA with Jacki and Brian.  I took the photo with my new mini polaroid camera.  The jury is still out on this camera because I am getting many photos that do not develop.  Since this guy does not read directions and tries to figure things out on his own, I most likely need to do some adjustments when taking shots with this camera to have better results.  I do love the photos that turn out.

Hanjin Ancestors

Hanjin Ancestors

I have had many discussions with others about using the actual photographs in artwork as opposed to making copies.  My stated opinion is that who is going to look at the originals after I am late (remember I love this term for dead).  So I use the originals.  Most of the originals are anonymous to me anyway.  The box of photos from my parents house for instance.  There are few names on the back and many of the people I never met or was very young when I met them.   I knew a few basically but they are all late and I have no children to leave things to.  Hence, use them up.

I also buy or are given photos from others and I have no clue as to who the people are.  I rather like not knowing and creating something new with their photos.  It is sort of a rebirth for me.  Somehow their life goes on even though they are mostly nameless to me.  To the greater world and the past world they are not nameless.  They knew who they were and using the captured moment in their life continues to honor them.  At least that is what I believe.

Others feel that they just can't use the original and so they don't.  I respect that opinion, too, because it is their opinion and hurts no one.  I have chatted about this many times but this morning I am thinking about it again and here we are re-vocalizing the opinion.

Happy Family

Happy Family

I have used the eyes in a previous spread but just love how they command a piece.  

I got a new toy yesterday.  When I was in California last month I was introduced to the Polaroid Zink printer.  It prints 3" x 2" photos directly from an iPhone or iPad.  The photos have a sticky peel off backing for easy adhering.  I researched this printer because I do not have an iPhone and I was having trouble finding out if this little printer would work with an iPad.  It does and was very easy to install. I also have a mini Instax Polaroid camera that is new to me.  So I am set for taking and printing small photos.

Romping Through the Meadow

Romping Through the Meadow

Can you just imagine if this woman came upon the streaker romping through the meadow?!  Or am I stereotyping?...probably so but with experiential reasoning!

The Eyes Have It

The Eyes Have It

I am in a new round robin that just began this month. We send one postcard (4 x 6) to someone on the list and this month Jacki Long was my buddy to receive the monthly card.

Uncle and Auntie

Uncle and Auntie

Don't they make a dapper couple.  Helen and Les were actually my aunt and uncle.  We spent a great deal of time with them when I was a kid.  They had three girls, one who was a year younger than me. Helen and Les are late now.  I found their home in Portland where they once lived and where I spent time visiting.  Funny how I was able to find it, too.  I knew that it was near Mount Tabor and on a busy street.  One afternoon we searched for it and found it.  It sure looks different now, much smaller than I remember and less well cared for.

You might have noticed I used the word late above for dead.  I have read all the #1 Ladies Detective series that takes place in Botswana.  In the book the word late is referenced to someone who has passed.  I like that term for referring to the dead.

The Honeymooners

The Honeymooners

Happy Veteran's Day to all those vets past and present.  Thank for your efforts to protect our country. Can you believe that I was in the army for six years?  Yup!  It is true.

Retired Carnies

Retired Carnies

Every person that I know either is in retirement or at least thinks about it.  Those golden years are treasure years to me.  I love retirement.  It has given me a new lease on life.  That is not to say that I did not like my work world, I loved that part of my life, but now I am the soul decider of how my life course goes.  So many people do not know how to fill their time when they retire.  That has not been a problem for me.

Cola Heir

Cola Heir

I do not have much to say today.  It is a somber day for me.  

They All Have Something in Common

They All Have Something in Common

So what do you think they have in common?  Do they all work together or are they related?  Perhaps they work for the same political force.  You decide, after all this is election day and every vote counts.

Bette and the Elephants

Bette and the Elephants

I do not know where the original Bette photograph was taken.  Irene and Jacki who I visited in California both took photos of the "Bette" photo when we were in the Long Beach Art Museum last month for me. It was included in an artist's work that I really liked.   As you know I love the disparate and including the photo with the elephants makes me smile.  When I work I audition and audition until I get a composition that I like or that seems to work and this one is one that fits into the like category.

All Boys and Their Teacher

All Boys and Their Teacher

What is it about vintage photos that attracts my attention?  I imagine it is that I have a strong desire to create a narrative about the subjects in such photos.  Some vintage photos can easily be passed up and others lock me in.  This one definitely did that.

The Hand That Was in the Cookie Jar

The Hand That Was in the Cookie Jar

Who doesn't have the memory of being caught with your hand in the cookie jar or who has not been told "Do not spoil your dinner"?  At a young age one does not know limits and one only wants  immediate gratification.  How is it our mother had such good hearing and knew that someone was in the cookie jar in the first place!  I love the simplicity of this piece.  It is so easy to make up a narrative  when one only need focus on a few elements.  Obviously this boy got away with taking the cookie.  Look at his facial expression.

The Tree

The Tree

I have to stop and look and look again at this one  Just what is going on.  It looks like maybe a reflection.  Or is it a cave?  Why is there a tree?  Is there a map of a melting USA? Do you see that or is it just me?  Just odd?

Autumn Rust

Autumn Rust

Just a little bit of rust all around on this postcard.  Nature does its own patina given a chance.  We are hard to replicate what she does so well.

567-0785

567-0785

The series continues........