an arting life
What now…? I doubt that I’m the only one asking this question, as we head into the uncharted territories of 2021. But, because we forging a fresh, new path, perhaps we get to make the rules. We can invent our new world, and make it better than before. The flaws of the past are coming…
This is among my favorite sets of daily collage pages in my “Looking for a Fairy Tale” art journal. The scan is as good as it’s going to get, for now. (I’ll see if I can get better photos when the new camera hardware arrives.) My (current*) husband suggested that – perhaps – the pages…
Working on a book based on my 2002 “Looking for a Fairy Tale” art journal, I was struck by an image I’d used on May 4th, 2002 and a similar one in yesterday’s collage. It’s the tiger’s eyes. At the top of this page, you’ll see the 2002 collage – admittedly a scan that needs…
Some of my collages start with very odd inspirations. This one began with three images: First, the classical figure in the upper right. Then, the woman with the sunglasses. And finally, a photo of a wall with a large window and a translucent, folded shade. (The latter is at the left side of the collage,…
It’s time to try some different techniques. Not necessarily mixed media, though this one is clearly that. Mostly, I want to go beyond the edges of my “tidy” impulses. The question is: Will my work still retain its artistic vision and integrity? And, will these nudges into somewhat-unfamiliar realms take my art in a new,…
The past three mornings, I’ve woken up smiling. That’s refreshing, and this collage reflects that. (The photo is a little blurry as I photographed it in early morning, low-light conditions. I’ll replace this photo later in the day.) Life isn’t perfect. (Is it, ever…?) But, after a good night’s sleep, and with an increasingly clear…
This collage, “And carry on,” is about darkness, the light ahead, and the path from here to there. It’s about where we are as a country (in the U.S.), as a world, and as individuals. And what’s immediately ahead of us. It may not be tidy. Challenges may await. We’ve seen the darkness. It may…
Shine is about us. It’s about who we are, inside, and who (or what) we’ve pretended to be. Yes, sometimes pretense is about privacy and a sense of personal safety. It feels like protection. Sometimes, pretense is just for fun. The aspects – or even complete identities we adopt, even briefly – can actually reveal…
I think many of us are searching for something in our lives. (And yes, as I’m writing this, the Eurythmics’ song is in my head.) Perhaps the more serious you make the search, the less likely you are to find what you truly want. That’s the message of this collage, and it’s another one I’m…
Voice. It’s not about noise, but self-expression and authenticity. That’s the essence behind this collage. Now is the time to move beyond monochromatic living and tidy, clasped hands. It’s about travel and adventure and exploring our boundaries. It’s a simple, straightforward collage. [Note: After photographing it, I saw that part of one image hadn’t adhered…
This collage started with the dog with the plaid bandana. Then, it grew with Christmas images. The more it grew, the more I realized I was creating a vision board of my perfect Christmas. It might be in England. It might be in New England. But, next Christmas (2021), I want to spend the holidays…
If you sense turbulence around the edges of this collage, you’re right. It was one of those days when the world seemed to tilt just enough to feel off-balance. A day when I should stop following the daily headlines, and just find my “quiet place.” And so I did, in this collage. The word “welcome”…