an imageteller captures image celebrations.
sharing image tales broadens an artistic expression.
doing so, brings this particular creative indescribable joy.
what is your image story? perhaps I can help you tell it!
Project 2017 :: Black And White
Project 2017 continues as I explore the daily collage work that was created in 2017.
I am sharing chronologically. As stories, as they need to be told, or in defined themes like this:
Project 2017 :: Black And White
On FB someone had offered a challenge to post 7 black and white photographs. I participated in that challenge and decided to also collage in black and white. I loved how they turned out ( *denotes the collages completed that week) In looking back over the year I found many other black and white collages. I feel combined the collection of black and white collages have an impressive presence.
Some of the stories in these are intense. Everything from fighting winter, loneliness... to, apartment searching and disappointment, apartment finding and moving, gratitude in friendships long gone or newly found, new magazine sources, tension, anxiousness or the opposite, a feeling of boldness and strength.
You can view the collages in a larger format album here. (images 6-29) Notes from the back sides of each piece are at the end of this post.
#1
#2
#3
#2&3
#4
#5
#6
#10
#11
#12
#13
#14
#15
#16
#17
#18
#19
#20
#21
#22
#23
#7
#8
#9
( notes from the back of each piece )
1. fighting off winter. good tearing 1/9
2. 2 and 3 were a two page collage - both strong individually, but very good together
3. i feel powerful today. open windows, vulnerable, chapters closing, edgy
4. zigs and zags, cool sunglasses, stepping down
5. mysterious in black and white, mourning, netting = captured. the other side of bullying. 3/30
6. no writing
7. bleak, news of not getting a cottage apartment.
8. lease signed. oh my goodness. the loft
9. moving day, june
10. dating, how time slips by, it's like a dance, at the hand of the attention of a man ( got hit on twice that day. so, unlike me )
11. star tracks in yosemite, shadowed staircases
12. * broaches, pearls and polished nails. the comfort of friends, gratitude. i feel this one.
13. *should she become bearded, the city and the divide, great rips
14. *friday the 13th, gossip, caddy, evil, pearls - when pearls were a thing
15. *a flurry of black and white, story to tell, some day. did i tell you how very by myself i am
16. *it's like a narrative of something evil or mischevious - a relationship ( more collaging on the back side )
17. * monday, chaos, mr montana, money, so tired, sleepy, out of my realm, glossy
18. *feather in the wind of...there is a feather in this collage.
19. the day of my artist talk, halloween-y, shared bdays with carol. met jon. love this piece.
20. last of the dark, eerie, spooky, halloween-esque pulled imagery
21. I C U " i see you" veterans day eagle, pride, determined. another fav - such texture
22. alone for the holiday/nov - swimming in - trying too hard to have things to do, pretending. such texture and framing
23. "the embrace" a very bleak friday. great tension in this
Project 2017 :: Cry For Help
Welcome to my latest project.
In 2017 I took on making a collage each and every day. Come November I entered a call for art and put to thought how would one highlight 375 pieces of collage art. I came up with quite a few rather fun ideas! I loved the challenge. While the reality of that large of an instillation remains to be seen, I decided that I would retrospectively dive in to see what I had created. I sat with all 5 journals multiple times, and have defined 15 larger themes, and some rather specific "subconscious reveal" stories. A subconscious reveal is basically my creative process. It involves a search for images, allowing imagery to choose me and then an assembly. Over time, I've added technique like image pairing or typography or tearing vs scissor work but even with techniques for making - my work is very autobiographical. True journaling in a very personal way. The uncanny part of my collage work is often the finished piece reflects my reality.
I have decided to undertake taking all of my journals apart and reveal the patterns, themes and stories they tell. It's a much larger undertaking than I expected, but it's also a great way to create smaller examples of my work that could be useful for art calls or future installations. I feel excited to bring words to these visual expressions and to share them with you.
Project 2017 :: Cry For Help
As the story goes, my cars brakes failed. The repair was rust related at an epic level. One mechanic called it a cancer. The advice confirmed by multiple mechanics was to sell the car for parts. I was NOT prepared financially to purchase a car, I lived out in the middle of nowhere, and it was winter.
THIS collage was a cry for help. When I created it, I just burst into tears. I thought I can't do this by myself - I need to ask for help. and there was my cry beautifully captured in collage form. My first patron - a very generous one, stepped forward because of this collage. That persons name is written on the back of the collage. WoW.
All told I was without a vehicle for about 6 weeks. I had an interim vehicle, but it was a car that had not been driven for sometime, it had some challenges - like stalling in the middle of country roads, it was not winter worthy and we got some serious snow dumps those weeks, and the day I returned it, the car actually blew a gasket. ( just my luck - right?? ) The owner sold it.
When I left IL in 2015 - the car had already hinted to rust related decline. I had a solid plan when moving west, and had the car to a place where I felt I was safe to travel 3500 miles. Just get me there "Betty Blue". and she did. However when arriving west, the home space I thought I was coming to didn't pan out. A big fail in the plan. Instead of rebuilding, I survived, pinched and struggled.
My friends, my wonderful wonderful friends started a Go Fund Me Campaign to help fund a car. In 30 days, and because of that campaign, funding was gifted to me to purchase a vehicle. A profoundly humbling experience. The car that I let go of was a compact. The car that I purchased is an SUV - and is more car than I have ever had. I feel like a queen every single time I drive it.
Notes from the back of each piece:
1. call for help. wow. ( patrons name is on the back )
2. whimsy, making light of my circumstance, unexpected
3. thanksgiving day - time capsule, tone, scape, vertical. alone.
4. herd, things in order, standing on my own two feet, gestures of giving, blue
5. talk of the car, lean on us, we are there for you
Shelf-Conscious Collage Journals at Make.Shift
A local call for art requested the journals of artists for a group show at Make.Shift In Bellingham. I had been playing with a small origami booklet in collage and decided to make a bunch of them with collaged words on them. random. nothing specific or organized, just subconscious word play.
As you know I tend to NOT collage with words, I have integrated typography into my work, and words do find me sometimes and they get a devoted page at the end of each journal.
THIS project evolved into something very unexpected. The art call was right about the time of this last move almost two months ago now. If you recall the decision and the actual move all happened very quickly. On the other side of it all I felt feelings of post-trauma. like holy crap what a roller coaster ride this move west has been. my city studio as I call it will be and is, a MUCH better scenario for me, but as circumstances would have it - I had to wait 25 months to get to it. The move was week before christmas, a lot of emotions, chaos and loneliness. This call for art gave me something to do.
The project was cathartic, time-consuming, meditative, and fun. It became multi-dimensional and more comprehensive than what I first envisioned. The pages feel worn, used, thought upon. The words found were random yet synchronistic to my day, my mood and my life. The project took multiple magazines down to nothing but their binding, utilizing the entirety of their pages, imagery and words.
23 Handmade Origami Journals. 72 pages. 604 - ish words. 3 glue sticks.
Magazines used: V, Tricycle, Harry Potter Catalog, National Geographic, Rolling Stone, Smithsonian.
These are what the collages said:
#1
strong insights buzz don’t be fooled by the most important there you are the rock review coming
is fish for thought whisk make withdrawn we’re sure
life after turn your bad day around make us better some some the next human beyond mountains contents
contents beyond when you’ve made history go barking wild for a weekend ice is melting
these simple moves will help stretch you haven’t felt this good since you were doing cartwheels in the backyard yourself happy
you breathe deep stand the day tall and loosen up all over fall
things you need earned the four eyed fish watery
right or left we need energy original flavor books
human problems when sex is so a gift for a friend change the rest is silence
change wake up call swirl view
day taste kindness in a pomegranate mind
the sanity we are born with finished 2 minutes pearls of wisdom walls are doors may I become an island
woman change your meeting of the minds ice co
getting around world naturalness thirty six years later because of us changes matter
leave it intense H hot stuff
lets step back a moment collective blue green blue troubled waters clean water water
crisis solitude green blue rend blue green green
cling clutter things blue red blue green blue blue green blue rainful skies
freezin its not about belonging at all but letting go desire learning to listen
all
blue red green
#2
living sees art now
turn art sublime art great lovers
into a great room
illustrate the predators legendary hunting techniques first comes love phenomenon then comes evolutionary strategy
heartbreaking enchanting life the estate of
jewels power of royal color
a cure? Doctors are harnessing metallic spheres travel the world free most lovable be so cute that humans will do the work to keep them around explore
hottest contributors from the coolest real art heroes soared on the trail discussion landed meet the animal
plucked from affections love plunder our deepest bonds hold the secrets to tender silver today’s your lucky day
who she was saved from when flock together then and now embracing
poetry has probably saved me her identity expanded
needs the world needs interesting so little time it’s like a blast of hydration classic
be without bread home cook bigger ideas alone
home natural food for thought nocturnal love feast new show selection can humans adapt traditions
on planet? Do it yourself forward present day science becomes near future distant future
6,000 years ago adapt to fast to the red flight control the future in the making reality the mountainous
offer the quality you need realising a world a fishy tail how did they do that? The truth takes on an ever grander proportions
doll queen of grunge question peace too best customer bonus save $1.00 free realize your vision
rocks rough and tumble state of mind people are people piece of cake it happened parts desire love
its day break let them eat cake
new photography a tale of two men
imagine big love water presented by visions
faithful apparently savor
#3
take refuge after the city is a ruin. trains sit motionless on their tracks. Schools ae silent. Libraries and laundromats lanquish in decay. Everyone has vanished.
Life full of everyday encouraging us somewhere getting there extraordinary
Free tiny frozen stirring that as is not giving up
The muddy square of earth is the way things really are clouds in water the hands of a woman celebrate life to live
Ho! A heavy disappointment ultra
Off the beaten path bridge follow your curiosity it goes throughout separated by eight years
Thing way shape and form that same punch that discussion it felt real.
Your way square your questions answered great
Squared close to home it will be common home
The The The The The The The The
The The The The
The The The The The long way
Cinderella exploring how you can help people escape
On the afternoon of shape meet our most important world giant beast
Making you huff and puff? Full steam ahead recovered from seeing the forest fast forward fatal beauty
For complements visionary national
Eight shore
Monogamy that roared here’s a dirty little secret: treasure the mouth
What moves you? next sparkling generation
Love just the right amount of love.
The installation revolves around a REAL teens room, a TRUNK full of readable touchable journals. In the adjacent room are shelves, pedestals and mobiles of a variety of art journals - painted, inked, authored and collaged. Just wonderful.
I really enjoy participating in group shows at Make.Shift - the shows are creatively accessible and it's a happening place. Fun vibe to be a part of.
Thank you Make.Shift for having me!!
Freelance Articles For Whatcom Talk
Whatcom Talk is an online whatcom county community news digest. I write for them once a month. Here are my articles all in one blog post for easy reference.
Celebrating The New Sumas Historical Society and Museum
Meet Jessica Bee An Integral Part Of East Whatcom Regional Resource Center
What Makes Jansen Art Center's Vin Queneville Tick?
Whatcom Women :: Farmer Helen Solem
Artist Eric Woolsey Lets HIs Momentum Carry Him Down A New Path
Meet Sophie Williams: Crafter Of Organic Whole Grain Sourdough Bread
Brazen - Karen Blanquart and Allison Potts
Sumas International Motor Academy Offers World-Class Auto Racing
Busking: The Art Of Bellingham's Living Statue
Goldsmith Sacha Bliese Creates One Of A Kind Gold Jewelry
Allen Berry Carving Out A Niche With Practical And Decorative Purpose
Indomitable Spirit Photographer Scott Melnick
Laurel Saville Trains Humans To Speak Dog
The Future Of Bellingham Metal Arts Guild Is In Good Hands
Black Rabbit Bags Are Ready For Adventure
Bellingham Drone Photographers Share Their Views From Above
Randall Ragsdale brings World’s Best Trivia to Bellingham
Barbershacks Jared Valentine-Jones Spruces Up Clients Cuts And Our Community
Jewelry Artist Camila Wilde Finds Inspiration In Bellingham
Integrating Typography Into Collage
Soon, at Jansen Art Center, I will be teaching a class that has a specific technique and creative focus.
The class I've taught for sometime The Creative Subconscious Collage Workshop, while still comprehensive does not seem to be a fit for my current demographic. Since I love teaching and sharing collage I am excited to take on new ways of doing so.
I found this particular project and use of typography in a book titled: The Collage Workbook by Randel Plowman and brought my own twist to it.
I feel its important to distinguish the difference between words and type. I am not one to typically collage with words. Words do find me, and I value them greatly, just not within my art. At least not regularly. Playfully, I devote a page to words at the end of every journal. They are in my opinion their own thing. Generally, I find words distracting in a collage that to me is about utilizing imagery.
Words say something. Like the piece "work in progress"
( made that one recently, the day after I had moved )
Typography does not.
WORDS:
Typography is a now diminished art form. When I personally think of typography it's in reference to a word document. A favorite font, its shapes and size. In it's prime before the digital age typography was a very important and specialized occupation.
In my collage work typography is about the relationships of the curves, lines and positive and negative space each letter or Font has. In one collage I felt that graffiti was its own form of typography, it played nicely within the context of my collage
Playing with typography within my art work has been really fascinating.
I did break my own rule and incorporate a word in some of these.
That's the beauty of being a creative
it gets to be whatever you want it to be!
I look forward to continue integrating typography into my collage work
and teaching others to do the same!
TYPOGRAPHY:
Photography = a never ending opportunity to capture visual celebrations.
