Sunday, April 29, 2012

Finally. . . Off the Table

 
Mixed media collage 
4 1/2" x 6 3/4"
 Here
  
Mixed media collage
4 1/2" x 6 3/4"

I think I'm "back in the groove." My gluing "production" area has been moved to a new location and after finishing these two pieces, it stands ready and waiting for me whenever I get an hour or so.  It had been so long since I used my drafting table, triangle, architectural scale, glue, etc., that I sort of had to re-train, if you know what I mean.  (Does this happen to you?)  Like, it was only after I glued my first piece down, with sticky fingers, that the little voice in my head kicked in with, "Oh . . . remember, you need to get an art "rag" and dampen a portion of it so that you can use it to clean your hands periodically while gluing, and can also use it to dab up any glue that gets on the face of your collage."  And, "Okay, use your parallel bar and your triangle to mark off where on the support paper your print should go. But remember, make the marks on a blotter paper -- not directly on the support paper.  And, by the way, use a Micron pen instead of a graphite pencil so you don't get graphite on the support paper or your work." :)  

But the retraining was no big deal, and now I'm ready to roll.  

Thanks very much for visiting!
Hope you have a wonderful week.



Monday, April 16, 2012

Making Time for New Work

  
Acrylic relief print and painting on reused papers
4" x 5"

 
Acrylic relief print and gold gouache on paper
7" x 9"


It seems like I've been "clearing my very full plate" forever so that I can get back to making art.  Meanwhile, I've been without a camera for over a month.  All of this by way of saying: Forgive me for the lengthy hiatus from here; I hope to not be away so long again.

Finally,  I found some time this past weekend to ease back into creating while visiting my daughter.  I took a small sketchbook to her home and proceeded to make some simple potato prints while she worked on a painting, knowing that I would at least be able to fit the prints on my scanner.  Nothing too demanding on my end, and certainly no high expectations.  Still, the fact is that creating even the simplest works of art or craft  requires thoughtful decisions throughout the process, and those who don't participate in the artistic creative process often don't appreciate that fact.  And actually, it's that problem-solving process that makes the act of creation so stimulating and engaging.  Well, at least that's my take on it.  :)

Cheers!