Inspired By My Collage Group

I made these pieces today in my monthly collage group. There's nothing like hanging out with a small group of artists creating our own stuff while enjoying each others' good company. Both pieces make use of acrylic gel-printed tissues and papers.

Blood Moon, collage on gel monoprint, acrylic, 8" x 8"

Breaking Out, collage on printmaking paper, 8" x 8"

Horned Masks of Nicola Toce

I've recently learned about these beautiful masks by Nicola Toce of Aliano, Italy. They're hand-made by the artist, using traditional techniques, for the annual Carnivale festival in Aliano, and each year new masks are added to the collection, which is housed in a local museum when not in use for the festival. The masks are currently being featured in a traveling exhibit most recently shown in the nearby town of Avigliano.

Gravusia

Flautomonte

Sanco

Zopàrtu

The Joys of Recycling

This collage started off as an unsuccessful monoprint. I thought I'd incorporate the print into this new project, but by the time I was done, and added my acrylic painted papers and some acrylic paint, none of it was visible any longer. Some pieces just seem right on the first pass, but this one took a lot of editing until I was happy with it.

"Orange Cruciform on a Field of Blue", 8" x 8", August 10, 2014.

Revisions

There are times when I just don't know whether a piece is done. Or, I think it's done and then I change my mind. These two gel plate prints were like that, until I added a bit of collage to each of them. Now I think they're finished. We'll see!

"Cycle", August 3, 2014, acrylic gel plate print with stenciling and collage on printmaking paper, 8" x 8"

"Stems", August 3, 2014, acrylic gel plate print with stenciling and collage on printmaking paper, 8" x 8"

Jumping Fish

It's been hard to find time lately to create, but a couple of weeks ago I was inspired by the company of my collage group friends and put together this piece, which I call Jumping Fish. The papers are my own acrylic-painted tissue paper and acrylic-painted deli paper. The substrate is 8" x 8" Stonehenge.It makes me smile!

Jumping Fish, July 5, 2014

Index Card Collage

Here's a little collage on an index card, inspired by various other artists' ICAD (Index Card A Day) projects. Materials: index card, acrylic painted paper, magazine pictures, washi tape, 3" x 5".

Twister, June 17, 2014

Collage Play

I made these today in my collage group using papers from my stash. One is not really a collage, but who's checking?

Inky Stem #1 - Acrylic monoprint with marker and ink, adhered to matboard, 5" x 8", May 17, 2014.

Inky Stem #2 - Collage of acrylic-painted papers, with ink, on matboard, 5" x 8", May 17, 2014

Sketchbook Skool is in session!

I'm in week 2 of Sketchbook Skool with Danny Gregory and 5 other amazing teachers, having a fun time and trying a few things that are new to me. And I got out to the beach on a fine spring day!

West Haven Beach/ April 13, 2014 / Pitt pen / Moleskin watercolor journal

West Haven Beach/ April 13, 2014 / Pitt pen and watercolor / Moleskin watercolor journal

Apple / April 15, 2014 / Prismacolor pencils / Moleskin watercolor journal

Black and White

I just completed a fun class called Black and White at Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven, CT. We explored several angles of creativity using only blacks, whites and grays. Here's some of my classwork:

Black and White Collage Study, 01/18/2104, cut and reassembled magazine photo on white paper, approx 8"x7"

Black and White Collage Study, 01/18/2104, acrylic paint on paper, cut and reassembled, approx 9"x12"

Black and White Collage Study, 2/15/2104, paper, approx 9"x12"

Black and White Collage Study, 2/15/2104, paper, approx 9"x12"

Gray Scale Collage Study, 2/22/2104, acrylic paint on paper, cut and reassembled, approx 12"x12"

Wanted: Sleep, 3/1/2014, paper, magazine clippings, and acrylic paint on mat board, approx 16"x11"

Recent Gel Plate Play

I spent a fun afternoon yesterday playing with my Gelli Arts plates and Golden Open acrylics. I'm loving the extra working time I get with the Open paints. During my play, I made some stencils from hot glue, as demonstrated here by Jane Davies.

Stencils made from hot glue

Golden Spiral !

Golden Spiral 2

Leaf and Stem 1

Leaf and Stem 2

Party

Foggy