Elongated Collage 16

Elongated Collage 16

This is the last of this elongated series.  It was total fun to do and a good exercise in creating fairly quick collages from just what was within reach of my desk.  It was also a good exercise for me because as I cleaned my studio I would find packets of ephemera that I had seen for quite some time. That opened up new ephemera possibilities.

Elongated Collage 15

Elongated Collage 15

I love vintage photos.  We have been encouraged to smile in photos.  Not so in the vintage ones.  Most people have very serious faces.  Perhaps it was a sign of the times.  Life was more for survival.  We have more leisure time now.  I started working when I was 16.  I think this boy started much sooner.

Elongated Collage 14

Elongated Collage 14

I am loving making the elongated collages.  This morning I finished the last of them for this particular book.  No. 16 ends this series.  On Monday I am going on a one day retreat with art friends to La Connor, Washington.  It is a beautiful town right on the water.  Our work space looks out onto boats and across to an Indian reservation.  It is just lovely.  I hope to start a new series then.

Elongated Collage 13

Elongated Collage 13

I have been getting quite a bit of ephemera in the mail along with the ATCs and APCs that arrive.  Most of this new ephemera is piling up on my desk.  The elongated series is using many of the pieces that are in the pile.  I don't have to reach very far to find interesting ephemera for a collage.  I particularly like how this one turned out.  One could comment on the subject matter extensively. 

I have been listening to YouTube speeches of many of the democratic candidates for President.  One candidate in particular has been having trouble with minority groups.  I hope voters listen very carefully to candidate responses.  There is telling information that is important for our future.  There is one candidate that should not be ignored.

Elongated Collage 12

Elongated Collage 12

What is better in the morning but a cup of tea, the morning newspaper, a bit of time on the iPad, and then settling into creating?  That is what most mornings are for me.  I put in my hour of sorting through papers in my studio.  It is really unrecognizable from when I started weeks ago.  I can't just work on sorting and tossing until it is done.  There are more important things to do like making books and collages.  Being disciplined to spend an hour a day is it.

Elongated Collage 11

Elongated Collage 11

Busy day visiting an art friend, having lunch, and looking at art and more art.  Totally fun!

Elongated Collage 10

Elongated Collage 10

I completed three more books this morning making it to 200.  I am going to San Francisco mid September for a month to take workshops at the SF Center for Book Arts.  I am trying to decide if I am going to take materials along on the journey to make more books or am I going to try to make 165 books before I leave.  Hmm!  Maybe that is too much of a challenge with all the other things I have to do.