Golf waggle and collage

Like many golfers, when I play golf, I waggle. You may have seen this if you watch golf on television. Some golfers waggle more than others. What's the point of a golf waggle? Well, when you're a decent player, golf becomes a game of precision -- small things can affect the quality of a golf shot. So golfers will waggle, until their stance and their body feels "just right". Then they swing. I feel that in some ways, my collage efforts involve some "waggling" -- especially at the finishing stages of a piece. I was very excited to share an image on this blog back on August 14th. I had been experimenting with some elements in the studio, and really liked this potential composition... 

But I did not finalize the composition; and had actually used some of the same elements in others "sketches". This week, I returned to the initial skecth and worked on finalizing it. Here's the finished piece...

If you carefull compare the details in the two pieces, you can probably understand why I thought it was comparable to a golfer waggling. There are a couple minor changes from the original idea -- "artistic waggles". I often agonize over very minor changes in a composition until I get it "just right" (at least, "just right" for me). Then I "put down" (i.e., adhere the elements together... irreversibly). Sometimes it takes several days for me to feel like I have it exactly the way I want it. I'm typically satisfied, precisely because I'm so picky about my waggles.

Seasons

I could be doing more art these days; but I am kind of obsessed with golf for right now. The weather in central NY has been the most beautiful stretch of weather I've ever experienced here (although we are flirting with drought conditions). But I am already anticipating (and feeling) that the fall and winter will be a tremendously productive season for collage. Although I haven't been in the studio much, when I'm down there these days, I feel like lots of good experiments (sketches) are emerging. And I'm really enjoying it (which is always helpful for creativity). Here are some experiments from last night (it's difficult to decide which I like the most)...

Here's the original "base" element...

 

Stella Scarano

 I spoke at a fundraiser for 4 Elements Studio (Utica, NY) last night. While I was checking out new artwork on the wall, I saw this mixed media/collage piece, entitled "Yum Yum", by the late Stella Scarano. I find this piece quite compelling for a number of reasons. First, I LOVE the color palette and the saturation (of the piece, and the framing). I also love the style. Quite unlike my own style. I have attempted to do work in this mixed media style, and I have a difficult time "making t work". I also love how "Schwitter-esque" the piece is. Kurt Schwitters (1887-1948) has always been an inspiration for me and I appreciate his "Merz" approach to collage. When I saw this piece by Stella Scarano, it felt like I was looking at a Schwitters collage. This piece is very moderately priced. I am thinking about acquiring it (but I already have SO much artwork in my house... too much to display).

Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts (MVCA)

 Another great art opening this week. On Saturday evening, the Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts (Little Falls, NY) hosted its annual regional juried exhibit which included work from my friends and fellow artists Tom Nettle, Doug Whitfield, Eric Whitfield, Andrea Vedder, John Paul Gardner, Erin Gardner, Terry McCarthy, and Jeff Miller, among others. Very impressive group of work, and worth the visit to another arts gem in the Mohawk Valley (NY). Wish that I had entered a piece :-(

Exploration fun!

When folks ask me about my "creative process", I often say that I am "an explorer", and "an experimenter", and "a recognizer". I rarely (if ever) start my creative endeavors with some preconceived composition idea in my mind, which I then try to create. Rather, my process starts with foraging/exploration of images from various magazines or books (often vintage, but sometimes contemporary). Once I have found interesting images, I then experiment with juxtapositioning. I refer to these experimental combinations as my collage "sketches" -- and I like to post these intermediate sketches to share the process with anyone who is interested. I continue to experiment, until I "recognize" a collage composition that I think will really "work" as a final product. Although I did some prep work last night in the studio coating a box I will be using for another assemblage work, I spent most of my time exploring and "harvesting" images from the "Illustrated London News" magazines from 1893. It was SO much fun! Interestingly (I think), this publication, as well as many publication that are from this era, includes two types of images -- some are based on drawings; some are based on etchings. I rarely use the images based on drawings, but am compelled by the higher quality of the images based on etchings. Here are some examples of the images based on drawings:

Although the images are often interesting, they lack the quality and resolution that etching affords. You can really see the detail and high contrast in the images based on etchings, so that it enhances the quality of any collage composition in which they are integrated. Here are some examples of images (from the same publication) that are etching-based:

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".