Not dead yet

For anyone who might follow this blog or check in from time-to-time, I just wanted to assure you that I have not given-up on posting. My brother and nephew and I have been busy working on the foundation for the back porch of the house (and I was away for a golf tournament in PA on the weekend). Anyway, here's what's coming up...
The Annual "Wish You Were Here" postcard show of the National Collage Society is coming up and the deadline for submissions is June 11th (right around the corner!). I plan to submit a piece for that show, so that will be coming up soon. Also, my friend Tom Nettle and I are participating in the 60/60 Show at the Everson Museum in Syracuse on June 18th. We will be having another "meeting of the minds" to prepare for that exciting event. So I hope you stay tuned for some up-coming interesting posts. Thanks for your support. Enjoy!

Back on track

For anyone who checks in occasionally to see what I'm posting, I apologize for the delay in getting anything posted (and thank you for checking, btw!). The end of the semester is always hectic and we were involved in a search for a new psychology professor at Utica College AND I was sick for a while. When it rains, it pours, I guess. Anyway, I finished grading last night at 7:00, so I'll be posting more regularly in the days to come. Today will be exciting. My friend Howard Caverns is coming in on the train from Syracuse and we will begin planning our work for the 60/60 event at the Everson Museum in Syracuse. Sixty artists will spend 60 minutes creating 60 pieces of artwork! The event is on the evening of Friday, June 18th and is a fund-raiser for the museum. My friend and I are doing a collage together! It should be fun! So today we begin planning and then we will go out for a nice dinner.
The image I am posting here is one I came across last night as I was culling specimens from an old book of cultural geography (or something like that). It will become the base for an upcoming piece. I want to "document" the progression of this small (5 x 7") piece as it comes together. I'm intrigued by the depth and the lighting. I'm thinking that a little galactic space might be nice. And maybe some water. But who knows at this point. Check back! Enjoy!

Greg Hanson youtube

Greetings collage colleagues!
Just came across this youtube of work by Greg Hanson and REALLY enjoyed looking at his work. Hope you like it as well. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZKDx9CuMRg&feature=related

Simple sources for specimens

My friend and fellow collagist Coco Larrain recently posted a number of her latest BEAUTIFUL collages on Facebook. She does marvelous work! This particular piece caught my eye because I really like the semi-circular black line elements. I asked Coco if she would share the "technique" she used to create this effect. Here is her response: “It's a crummy paper napkin from a fast food dispenser. I guess I was using a bottle of ink or paint, which I put on the napkin to protect the table, multiple times. I looked at it (:-).... this is years and years ago, and LOVED the way it looked and when I opened it, it created the random pattern..... I LOVED it! and tucked it carefully in an envelope which then went in one of my many boxes where I just put everything that attracted me for whatever reason. When going thru these boxes again, after many, MANY years of adding things, it was like the BEST Christmas EVER, seeing all these INCREDIBLE things, that I hardly remember picking up. I was again ~ blown away. So NOW, it's SOOOooo INDESCRIBABLE how exciting it is to FINALLY be working with them !!! AND to see what's showing up, it’s crazy. I love them!"
This is one of the many reasons I LOVE collage. If you are aware of the world around you, you can find beautiful specimens to incorporate into your work. Great job Coco. BTW Coco has an exhibit of 28 of her collages at the Brewster Library (up for the month of May). I'm hoping to make it out to see the show! Enjoy!

Rochester Contemporary Arts Center 6 X 6 show

Since this piece needs to be delivered by May 2nd and I only found out about this event on Tuesday, I had to work quickly. The RCAC has a fund-raiser in June called "2010 6 X 6". Artists can submit unframed work which is 6" x 6" that patrons can buy for $20 (good deal!). Last year they had over 1500 (I think) pieces of art. Kinda cool I think. Check out their website. Here is my piece for the event. It's entitled "A taste of blue". Enjoy!

Images from Paris!

Ahh, I love Paris!
If you're interested, follow this link to see a video of this year's International Salon of Contemporary Collage in Paris in which I had two pieces. Ooh-la-la... I should've been there for the opening. Next year! Neither of my pieces sold and they are heading back home. I will exhibit them in PA before they come back for my solo show in Little Falls in September. Later this week I will be submitting images of two pieces for another European exhibit in July (You gotta submit Julie!). Enjoy! http://www.artducollage.com/expositionvideo/index.html
(BTW, the images shown to the right are what was exhibited at the show)

Black Gryphon exhibit!

My good friend Anthony Morgan owns a wonderful restaurant in Elizabethtown, PA called “The Black Gryphon” (www.blackgryphon84.com). He specializes in fresh food and admirably procures most of his food products from local farmers and growers. He also is an avid arts supporter who regularly hosts many impressive bands at his establishment. Anthony also features artwork from a new artist every quarter and does not charge commission on art sales! This weekend we hung an exhibit of over 20 of my recent collages. As a “bonus”, my older watercolor paintings (mostly now privately owned) are on view in the “back dining room”. If you are in the Harrisburg/Hershey area between now and the first week in August, stop by for some great fresh food and some interesting artwork. Hope you enjoy!