Frosting

Creating collages is one of my passions. I love my time in the studio, exploring, experimenting and creating. Even if I never had the chance to exhibit my work, I would still embrace the process. But I do enjoy opportunities to exhibit my work. It's like frosting on the cake. And I can't think of a much better evening out, than to go to an art exhibit, and then go out to dinner with friends and fellow artists. Last night was one of those nights. The "Mixed-Up" exhibition of mixed media artwork at the Rome Arts and Community Center (Rome, NY) was last night. It's a VERY nice collection of work from a number of very talented artists from central New York. Afterward, we went to "Sugarbeets", a wonderful restaurant just blocks away from the RACC. A spiritually-uplifting evening!

some other experiments

I've been spending most of my free time on the golf course lately (a VERY visually-rich activity, I must say). But I have also been making my way into the studio a bit too. I anticipate that when golf season is over (which will be shortly), I will have lots of productive evenings in the studio, because I have had lots of fun experimenting with many interesting collage elements. I'm excited about what will emerge! Here's a few shots of more sketches that may or may not be converted to final compositions...

"Diggin' it"!

 I'm really "digging" this sketch. I absolutely love the saturated colors. It may be close to being finished (although, I must say, I should post some of the other experiments...

"Slowly, The Universe Expands" (15" x 20")

Here's the finished piece (I think). I was contemplating, and had experimented with placing one more small "numbers" element on the lower left-hand side. In some ways, it really "stabilizes" the composition. But when I tried a couple versions, I just wasn't satisfied. I can always add it in the future, if I feel like it. But I think this composition is good as it is. I am submitted this to a mixed-media exhibition in Rome, NY (Sept.).

floodgates

Went into the studio last night to get some things taken out of frames that I purchased over the weekend. I wasn't expecting to do too much creatively. But as it turns out, I had a VERY productive evening, inspired, I think, by this lovely vintage (and large) image (also purchased over the weekend at an estate sale)...

 I had a couple other elements "laying around" that I had done some preliminary sketches with too. I was listening to some wonderful instrumental music by Peter Gabriel and Pat Metheny, and I found myself really "in the zone". I was simultaneously (intermittently?) working on three different sketches! They all seem to have some real potential for final compositions. I was SO happy to be in my creative happy place again, and am motivated to keep working on them!

assemblage beginning

I've got something brewing for an upcoming local mixed-media exhibit. I'm excited about what will emerge from this scaffolding.

FINALLY finished...

 I realize I have posted lots of sketches and intermediates for this piece. BUT, it's finally finished as presented here. Not sure of a title yet. It might be "There's money to be made in medicine".

Book cover art (NYT story)

 There's an interesting story in the New York Times this morning (June, 23) about book cover art. It's interesting to read about the use and impact of a common strategy used by collage artists -- juxtaposition. Here's an excerpt from the article:

"But the look that’s commanding today’s runways — a.k.a. bookshelves — is not so incendiary. It tends to lay blaringly bright type in a sans-serif font atop a painting, usually a few centuries old but not always. Facial expressions are baleful or dyspeptic; an aggressive burst of spray paint can change the tone entirely.

These covers are the new signifiers of stylish literary fiction, telegraphing gravitas, wit and cool. They make a bid for a certain kind of reader — more city than suburb, more pét-nat than chardonnay. They wouldn’t be caught dead alongside a volume decked out in pop art or, god forbid, metallic lettering.

Thomas Haggerty, a senior account manager at Bridgeman Images, which licenses paintings for commercial projects, credits the trend to “the power of juxtaposition.” Gregg Kulick, executive art director at Hachette Book Group, agrees: “Poppy type” reads as fun, he says, while the paintings “hint at the academic.”

and some example...

quick update

SO, here is the finished product... another collaged check-presenter for my favorite watering hole -- The Green Onion Pub.

It's entitled, "Embrace Your Inner Onion".

back at it

 Well, after 5 weeks of somewhat debilitating foot pain, I am "out of the woods". I went to a podiatrist in Syracuse last week and he prescribed a powerful anti-inflammatory drug which seems to have worked to ameliorate the problems I was having. The initial untreated gout flare-up had cause extensive inflammation in my foot, which exacerbated some osteoarthritis I have in my big toe. Anyway, I got back into the studio last night and noodled around a bit. I know I have posted the composition including the Eakin's element before. I am getting VERY close to finishing that piece (it's gotta be "just right"!). I am also looking forward t finishing another check-presenter for The Green Onion pub (the one with the arms and hands). I also was fooling around with the ripped stamp element... just experimenting. It was GREAT to be back in the studio and doing some experimenting again!

Physical pain and creativity

Well, well... it has been a long time since I last posted. And I suppose there's good reason for that. I had a serious bout of gout in early May, that triggered an inflammatory response in my entire left foot. The gout is gone, but I have an inflamed bunion that has caused severe chronic pain in my foot for weeks. I am able to hobble around (and have been taking two strong NSAID medications), and I do have an upcoming appointment with a podiatrist (unfortunately, not until June 23rd!). However, I remain in a fair amount of chronic pain, physically; and significant psychological effects as well ("Will I ever walk without pain again"? "What about the two physical activities I enjoy the most --golfing and walking"?). To be honest -- even though I realize many others have it far worse than me -- it has been a difficult 4 weeks. It seems that I am able to find a "happy place" in art during periods of depression, or anger, or grief. But this chronic physical pain seems to have really dampened any motivation to do art. It's so strange, because, technically, the pain in my foot does not affect the use of my hands, or my eyes. Why does it so drastically affect my motivation to do art. You might think that art would be a good sanctuary. But that just doesn't seem to be the case. And of course, that just contributes to the negative psychological effects. I am trying to remain optimistic that I will eventually get back to life as usual. But with seemingly little day-to-day progress, it has been difficult. I feel like a hot mess. I will be sure to post when I get "back at it". And, as always, thank you for your interest in checking out my blog!

"Lines of Sight"

 Once again, after a bit of a hiatus, I got back into the studio this week, and finished this piece (10" x 6.5").

Also made some more progress on this piece (and I expect to have it finished by week's end)...

And I did a little playing with the dark core cut-out from the mat I had made for "Lines of Sight"...

I REALLY like the way the colored cellular elements matches the arc of the circular image. Not sure what will come of this sketch.

Small format

Well, I spent a little time in the studio tonight... ready to get back into it. I think I'm getting close to my small format piece for the National Collage Society. It's this weird faux shadow (collage-produced) and depth of lighting that I like. Excited about how's it's coming along (almost done)!

 

More creativity for the weekend

 I will say that Saturday's "Hands-Off" rally in Albany was not only inspiring, but it also continued a three-day streak of creative events for me. I LOVE when people express themselves creatively. Here are some of my favorite creative signs (and characters) from yesterday...