Graffiti Series # 14

Graffiti Series # 14

I just love a bit of red added to a piece of art.  It makes everything pop.  The red here, tissue paper, stamp, and Stablio Woody, helps with movement in this particular piece.  My eye is drawn from the stamp down to the feet of the cowpoke.  I also have a circular movement between the three major portions of  #14, the man smoking, the photograph, and the stamp.  I like that my eye does not remain stuck in one spot.

Graffiti Series #13

Graffiti Series #13 

A few years ago in an Orly Avineri workshop we made chop marks out of rubber stamps.  Ever since then I have used the chop mark on my work.  I latched onto this idea because when living in Japan I had a chop mark.  That is how one signs legal documents there.  It was not easy finding a chop that fit my last name.  Then when I lost the chop and wanted to close my bank account I had many difficulties because I did not have my chop to sign the papers.  I had to go with a bank employee to get a second chop and sign all sorts of documents stating that I had lost my original chop.  Because all the paperwork was in Japanese I had to take the word of the bank employee that I was knew what I was signing.  I guess it did not matter much since I was leaving the country.

Graffiti Series # 12

Graffiti Series # 12

I like most anything vintage.  I just like the look.  I am continually asked about where I find my images.  I scour estate sales, the online  Goodwill auction site, garage sales, friends, you name it!  I am lucky enough to have a personal shopper.  My art friend, Sally, loves to look for anything on my list of wants.  She has a route of stores that she goes to and besides shopping for herself, she is willing to shop for me.  She will find something for sale on the Goodwill auction site that she thinks I will want and she sends me a link.  I love that she is willing to do this and I am so grateful that I know Sally.  Thanks Sal!

Graffiti Series # 11

Graffiti Series # 11

I love using vintage photos in my collages....oh yeah.....you knew that!  I scored big time this summer at a garage sale finding a huge box of photos for $7.00.  Whenever I purchase them at antique stores they are at least $1.00 per photo.  I add graphite around the photo to blend the edge with the rest of the collage.

Yesterday, I participated in an art sale with two other artists.  We were busy all day with shoppers and I sold quite a few journals and several of the graffiti series.  Thanks to all the shoppers and others who stopped by to support us.  By the way, I sold South Indiana Avenue this past week.  I am thrilled!

Graffiti Series # 10

Graffiti Series #10

Sometimes I like to add distress inks and matte varnish to finish off one of my art pieces.  Rubbing the distress inks and then adding the varnish ties everything together with a hint of the same color.  In this series I was careful to not put the distress ink/varnish over the vintage photo because I preferred the clearer photo.

I suppose one could say that is series is a bit a formula.  Similar backgrounds, stamps, vintage photo and a mostly a person for a main focal point.  I would say, well it is a series isn't it.

Graffiti Series #9

Graffiti Series # 9

I love using graphite.  Sometimes I just add a few lines in a piece that is a random strike across a work.  Sometimes I use it around a photo to soften the lines.  And sometimes puddle it and splatter with it. (Mostly I splatter with acrylic paint, though.)  I just found that there is a new type of graphite on the market that I just ordered and have not tried it yet...  Artgraf Water Soluble Primary 3-Color Set...

I use mostly water soluable graphite.  My go-to is the Lyra  water soluable graphite crayon.  I used it in #9 above.

Graffiti Series #8

Graffiti Series # 8

Postage stamps are a simple but an effective addition to a collage.  In this case, I like how the rectangles at the top go with the stamp as do the circles at the bottom, shape and color help solidify the composition. Usually I work with odd numbers as in this piece #8, two vintage photos and the stamp.  A triangle is formed between the three allowing the eye easy move around the composition.

Although I have 24 compositions in this series, they are back-to-back on the substrate.  I have many of them framed.  When I tire of one side I just flip the framed piece and I have another work to look at for awhile.