Another COVID-related artwork

Here is another COVID-related collage that I found really interesting (and that I really like!). This is a digital collage by Sarah Madison. It harkens back to another historical era which elicited collective national fears; and is relevant to the next big pandemic concern, as some children return to school. 

"Treatment" (i.e., mats and frames)

I love when I get my pieces matted and framed (finis!). I posted the image of this collage previously... but wanted to show it matted and framed (brushed metal frame; olive green mat with black core. The olive green mat got a little washed out in this photo). I'm so pleased with how it turned out! I also posted the other photo; because it shows the size of this piece... much bigger than my usual work (I think it's the biggest I've ever done).

Nicolet

My latest piece, entitled, "While we were boating, Nicolet told me about her leg" (15.25 x 19 cm). I'm not sure I will use that color mat when I frame this piece (although I do like the color contrast with the piece).

More circle of art (Linnea)

My dear friend and colleague Linnea gave me a bag of 60 items for my 60th birthday last year (2019, when life was GREAT!). One of the items was a vintage "colorized" postcard of two children. Also included in the items were six "micro" canvases (I think 1" square). So this year for her birthday, I created a 3D collage which included the postcard (cut up) and 4 of the little canvases. The background is from a vintage journal from 1870s; and I framed it with a vintage frame I got at the Farmersville auction in Pennsylvania (I think). I was pleased with how it turned out, and Linnea really liked it too. 

Circle of art (the Marlee connection)

I'm very excited to be posting a follow-up to my most recent post! After posting Marlee's artwork on this blog and on Face Book, I got a friend request from a "Marlee". I'm very cautious about friending anyone I don't already know or who is not mutual friends with others who I know; so I simply ignored it. I also got a phone message from a friend and fellow artist (Trish) who used to live in my area but moved to Florida a couple years ago. She said that she wanted to talk with me about the art I posted (i.e., Marlee's art). I really didn't expect that the two messages were related; especially since I had requested that folks comment on Marlee's work in my FB post. Then I saw a FB post from Marlee that said, jokingly, that she was getting her 15 minutes of fame because some guy blogged about her childhood artwork. That was the stimulus for me to accept her friend request and message her. Lo and behold, SHE WAS the one who had created that art! AND she is the daughter of my artist friend Trish! I have SO many books and magazines and frames and such in my basement (I mean, A LOT). I don't know from where I got half of it -- auctions in Pennsylvania; bookstores in New York City; garage sales in Utica. As it turns out, I got Marlee's artwork from Trish when her and her husband were moving to Florida and wanting to clean out their belongings. I got some great books for collage elements and some frames from them. SO, it's all pretty cool, I think. Marlee is now a Master's level counselor with a specialty in art therapy. She agreed to let me post some of her more current work. I have also posted a collage by Trish that I bought at one of her exhibits (the clipboard is part of the piece... she did a series of these years ago). I'm so excited that all of this has come together like this!

https://youtu.be/5XNxcJkFcuA

The art of Marlee

I have posted similar posts to this one over the years. But I will post again because of my passion for the medium of collage. There's always something interesting to do in the collage studio! When I am not actively creating artwork, I thoroughly enjoy looking at one or another of my sources for collage elements -- vintage books, magazines, catalogues. Other studio tasks can end-up being interesting as well. Last night, I decided to take off the backing and the artwork, and clean the glass that was in an old frame I bought at a garage sale last year. The artwork was apparently created by a child; whose name was presumably "Marlee". I hadn't noticed how interesting the artwork was until I took a closer look last night. I played a little bit with photographing and cropping some of the elements from the overall piece. Very cool, I think. Then I got to wondering when the piece was made; how old Marlee was when she made it; in what context she made the piece; and what ever became of Marlee. I have written about this in the past with regard to some of the yearbook photos I have used in my pieces, or have simply come across in my vintage yearbooks. It's also interesting to me that I have this piece of artwork by Marlee, without knowing any of these details. So strange how things end-up in a collagist's collection of potential materials. Since I don't have much "children's art" from my own life, I have thought about framing this piece as a Basquiat-esque piece for my collection. Not sure yet. I love that my interest in collage has brought me into a world where my imagination is so stimulated -- even when I'm not involved with actual creation of art, per se

Anthony Morgan

I'm one of these guys who claims he has many "brothers from a different mother". I confess... I have several friends who are really like brothers to me. One of the is Anthony Morgan. He is one of the most passionate individuals I have ever met. He is also compassionate and empathetic... and works his ASS off! Anyway, he is also a very talented analog collage artist. Here's one of his latest pieces, entitled "At Times, But Still Our Country" (4.5" x 6"; framed 9" x 11").