sepia

Just thought I'd share some of the elements I was contemplating last night. I wasn't purposefully focusing on one color; but it seems like I was in a sepia mode.

 

Another work in progress

 I don't know what will ultimately become of this piece, but I have enjoyed sketching with this base element thus far. The keys to the base element are its strong depth cues and the intensity of the colors. Although my voice is still evident, I believe, the compositional approach has been somewhat atypical for me. I'm enjoying the density of the sketches. I feel like I am pushing my envelope a bit. The images are shown in reverse chronological order.

Preliminary sketches

So here are some of the things that I was exploring (experimenting with) on my way to creating the composition that became the final piece I posted previously. Here are the four basic elements that comprised the basic elements:

There are actually two architectural elements (famous buildings, no doubt, but I did not keep track of where they are). They fit together so well, that I wonder if the casual viewer of the piece would be aware that there are actually two architectural elements involved (?).

My original idea was to make this piece completely black and white. But after doing some preliminary work, I decided that I might "open up" the ceiling and perhaps use some galactic element in that space (pun intended). However, I realize I use lots of space/galactic elements, and perhaps it's becoming too cliche. I still experimented with it. The one seen here seemed too colorful for the overall composition. Yes, lots of contrast; but it was eliciting too much visual attention. I then tried something more chromatically subtle, and not technically galactic.

Another decision I had to make was whether both of the woman's arms should be in front of the architectural element. I decided that having both arms commanded too much attention on her body, rather than integrating the other elements. The more pressing "problem" for me was what to do with the center doorway. It was originally black, and that seemed to be okay; but I thought I would explore/experiment a little, by using some of the fabric from the woman's dress as a possible element in that space. Although it looked a little weird, I thought it integrated the elements a bit (I wasn't 100% satisfied with the way that it looked).

My fellow collagist and friend Anthony Morgan, is always busting my chops about the fact that I don't get more collages completed because I am agonizing over all these decisions, so I thought to myself that I am "just gonna go with the fabric option" and put these elements down, and complete the collage! When I went into my studio to finally complete the piece (using the fabric elements), I serendipitously saw this, while I was getting the architectural elements positioned:

I was SO EXCITED... because I was seeing what I would eventually use in this spot in the composition! It's so powerful (and a bit strange), how the architectural elements fit together so beautifully! Careful placement of the "planet" (which is actually not a planet, but "simply" a circular punch from some stratified black-and-white element) would be the final addition. VOILA!

"Who's protecting whom, from what"?

 When I sat down to submit a post today, I realized that I seem to have a lot to say about the creation of this piece (it's been a somewhat protracted creative process, that I have enjoyed immensely). At the risk of being anti-climactic, I have decided to post the final piece, and write more about it a bit more later tonight when I have more time. Here is the finished piece (8.5" X 19")

...

Hoses follow-up

 I just thought I would post some of the possible backgrounds as I was exploring/experimenting last night in the studio. Each background creates quite a different "feel".

Hoses

 Although this post may not be too substantive, I am REALLY excited about this element! Not sure what will emerge as I explore/experiment with what else will become part of the final composition, but thought I would share the germ of this project as it begins to materialize.

Great minds think alike?

I admit it; and I accept it. My studio is a mess. It's an arena of chaos -- filled with lots of books, magazines, and other ephemera, old and new. I know there are other collagists who have a much more organized work space; but I actually prefer the chaos. It's a bit like the nature of my monkeybrain. And as I have written in the past (and in my most recent article for Kolaj magazine), I enjoy how my compositions emerge from the chaos -- I rarely have a preconceived notion for my collage compositions. I suspect there are other collage artists who feel similarly. And in the collage world collectively, I can only imagine the number of images and elements we collage artists consider for our compositions. It's inevitable, I suppose; but it still intrigues me when I see a collage posted on social media, that includes an element that I have seen or used before in one of my collages. This happened the other day when I saw a piece posted by fellow collagist Meikel Church. If you are not familiar with Meikel's work, you should check it out. Great stuff! The gears element that he used, is identical to what I had used in a piece I did several years ago (although I separated some of the gears). It's not surprising that we both saw the potential in this fun, mechanical element.

Steven Specht

"Freedom"

Meikel Church

"That Thing You are Not, Until You Are"