Chain Reaction. ICE 2010. #1

Title: Chain Reaction. Collage #1

Kowhai dyed, handmade paper, coffee dyed paper, nest image embossed on a serviette, painted paper scrap, 2nd handshop thread, pencil, indian ink, gesso. Mounted with brads onto A4 watercolour card.

I have just started working with a new theme "Chain Reaction." For every action or inaction there is a chain reaction and this is the legacy we leave. The nest symbolises the environment in this particular collage. What we do on this earth, to this earth, has either a good or bad consequence depending on the original action or inaction. Through out the 13 collages made for ICE 2010 I am sure I will be able to explore the ideas fairly thoroughly!
I have to admit that I am loving this collage! These embossed prints are made from a wet lino cut block, the happy accident is now most definately intentional. I especially love the aged look of this one. I was actually tempted to use only the nest and handmade paper on the background, it looked so simple and clean and reassuringly old all at the same time. It didn't really express what I wanted too though so out came a pencil and collection of lids to draw around. I am learning to do simple, usually I have so many ideas and potential supplies and I really have to struggle to decide which ones don't belong there but this time it all just fell into place. I love it when that happens!

When I sat back and reflected on the finished work I noticed that some how I had tapped into a part of me that is looking for peace and calm right now. Tomorrow is my daughters hip and knee surgery (no cancellation so far!) and there's a part of me desperate not to go...to wish this all away, trade places or something. Anything but what is taking place. The other part of me knows that this is what has to happen and its happening like it or not. It's funny how despite the chaos my artistic self new where to find the peace even if I didn't know I was looking.
So....fingers crossed for us please! I will be away for a few days and will definately be looking forward to seeing what you've all been up too.
Be well!

A new lino cut nest.

I've been having fun with a new print! I cut it and did these first prints today to test it out. I like this print a lot more than the first nest print I did (which I still like...just not as much as this one!) I was trying to achieve finer lines and that weaved look because I don't like the 'colour book' look that some lino cuts have. This one does look at home here in my VD! If it looks a little familiar it's because I used my photo of a nest (that's been copied a lot of times for collages) as the base to draw from.

The yellow is paper is painted paper with indian ink wash, the brown splattered paper is patterned by string soak in coffee then left to dry on the paper. I enjoy these patterned papers more so than the straight black on white ones...however I think this b&w ones will look great photo-copied onto tracing paper. So many opportunities to explore!

I tried to make the most of the lines and ridges that appear in the background of a lino print. This is the first time I have really considered them while cutting the background away from the nest, I think the resulting cut is a little mini work of art in itself!

Today is my graduation day from my art course...I have officially finished 4 years of study and am now at a new point in my life. I will have my diploma soon and now I need to work out what to do with it! I have ideas of course but I must say I feel a bit like a little bird about to fly from the nest for the first time! It's a big wide world out there and this next journey is about finding my place in it and realising some of the dreams and aspirations that I have been holding onto for a while. Watch this space:)

Play time!

Click the image to see everything larger.

It's been a busy week here. I did work experience at a local art place which was really cool. It was pretty laid back and I'm going to go back and help hang exhibition in October all going well! I've also made my first book with covers made some thick sheets of handmade paper, no fancy binding (still to learn that) but it's really cool to see an actual book that I made and I know I will be doing some more. I will post pics as soon as I've finished embellishing the cover!
I just figured out what the 'make a collage' button does in Picassa. It's not rocket science but it looks really cool! In brief the collage shows different background papers that I have been playing around with. Indian ink and water, wet ink and salt, wet paper, paint and salt, wax drippings (my son did some too.) You can see the mountains I painted on the placemats.
They're not masterpiece's but it was great to break through some of my self-imposed pressure when it comes to painting! I did actually enjoy it so there should be more to come!
Last but not least... a beautifully rusted muffin tin! I am going to have to do some rust dying I think!

I received an award from Nancy at Openings Connecting which is much appreciated. I will post it in my next post and make my tags. Thanks Nancy!