O Muse!...The Story of a Life

O Muse!

I am a hopeless Romantic. I admit it..freely.

The collage is in a Journal I started as part of the 1001 Journals Project. The theme is "Friendship".

I was intrigued when I purchased both photos used in the piece...what was the story? Who were the women? Why is the woman in the photo in a suit and top hat? Are they all friends...or more?

I guess I'll never know the answer, but wouldn't it be nice to know how they came to that point in their lives...the image frozen forever on film...and where did life take them? Who was the Muse to guide them?

The collage is a bit of a hybrid. It started out as a conventional piece using vintage photos, found and handmade papers, and inks. In the end, digital ephemera was added. I love digital work as much as conventional, and it came together for me in this piece.

May you all find a friendship, or a love, to last a lifetime.

The Muse Moves in Mysterious Way...Like Seven Evening Stars

A song came on the radio last week. The singer/composer is Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam.

I have been working on a postcard sized collage. I was stuck. Everything I tried just didn't seem to "fall into place" as it does when the Muse is my guide, taking me along on a journey of discovery.

Then I heard Angelsea. It was serendipitous. I had come across a vintage photo of a folk dancer.  Two lines of the song kept going around and around in my head...

"She moves like and angel 

And seven evening stars..."

I knew I was moving in a better direction.

The collage uses a canvas panel as a substrate. I covered it with sewing pattern paper. I applied Ranger Distress Inks to give it a warmer feel...the feeling you get when the heat of the day is leaving and night is swiftly approaching. 

A shipping tag, again altered with Distress ink and rubber stamps, handmade paper, mulberry paper, printed tissue paper, pressed flowers, Polyester Organza fabric, and the image of the Dancer all became part of the collage.

If you are in Ohio and wish to see this collage, it will be on view with the National Collage Society's 16th Annual Postcard Show. The exhibit is held at the Downtown Gallery, School of Art, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio from June 19, 2013 to July 20, 2013.

Sometimes the Muse moves in mysterious ways....

Summer Is Just A Sigh Away...

"Four Seasons Suite - Summer" 5" x 7" COLLAGE

The collage is an homage to one of the best times of the year and is part of the "Four Seasons Suite" I have been working on.

I used a 5" x 7" canvas substrate. The handmade papers were altered using acrylic paint, alcohol, water, Ranger inks, and Perfect Pearls Mist. Tea dyed gauze crosses the canvas at the woman's eye level. Mulberry paper completes the top portion of the design.

I am crazy about Victoriana. The images from Dover books. In my opinion they have the best selection of all.

To quote Henry James: "Summer afternoon — summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language."

And Summer will be here before we know it!

Who Do You See...

Who Do You See When You Close Your Eyes?

Valentines come in all shapes, sizes...and with a varying degree emotion.

Keeping this in mind, I allowed my Muse to guide me through a selection of tissue and art papers.
The tissue from Starbucks was perfect! It had just the words I was looking for. Fascinated by logo design of all kinds, I have always been a fan of the graphics and marketing material the company has put together.  The Starbucks Siren  is iconic. And the mermaid set my mind adrift.

Is the love we have enough? Does Valentines Day give you a feeling of bliss or foreboding?  Are there questions you wish were answered? Do you feel, like the mermaid, that you are a mythical creature swimming in the uncharted waters of love?

The layout is the Bridge, which I have to admit is one of my favourites. I chose the colours in keeping with traditional Valentines. The substrate is a 5" x 5" canvas. Papers used are White Mulberry Paper, Printed tissue paper, handmade paper using acrylic paint and Ranger Inks inks, words from an old Dictionary, and tissue paper from Starbucks.

The rubber stamp of the woman's profile was just what I needed to tell the story of this Valentine.

"Who Do You See When You Close Your Eyes?". I wonder how often the question has been asked.

Earth Day...Forever Free

Forever Free

As it is Earth Day I thought I would post a collage with a nature theme. As the saying goes..."Earth without Art is Just "Eh". The Arts are what stirs our souls, makes us who we are, encourages us to follow our own Muse.

I started the piece with sewing pattern paper. I love the translucence and texture. It has a feeling of something not yet finished...the anticipation of what will be created.

The Substrate is canvas. Using the Tao format I felt would lend itself nicely to a visual breaking free.  The collage incorporates vintage ephemera, flower petals, handmade paper, sewing pattern paper, found objects, art paper, inks, dyes, and gauze.

And what better way to celebrate Earth Day? Collage is the ultimate in recycling And I think the Muse would approve...especially on Earth Day!