Memory Snip

This cut and paste collage is titled:  Memory Snip.  The woman in the old photograph that I altered is
my partner's mother.  She died two years ago this fall.  This really is a tribute of sorts to her.  She was hard working and very strong in her beliefs.  My partner and I have been together for over 36 years  and the first few years were hard.  His parents did not speak to him for 3 years.  Then slowly they came around and both his mother and father loved me.  This one is for you Marie.

Recovery

This cut and paste collage is titled Recovery.  I made this after I ended my teaching career at the university.  As my friends know- I love teaching and loved the whole process- the exchange of ideas with students is something I will never tire of.  I feel great teaching is always an exchange.  I always learned lots from my students not matter if it was first grade or university level.  It was so nice to see the world through the eyes of students besides my own. I have always loved the art of teaching as much as I love making art.  The recovery part comes in because there were some professors in the art department that were down right mean to me and to their students.  As much as I hate to admit it- my confidence as an artist was shaken to the core from that experience.
I am very glad I am over that.   I am also very excited as in 2013 I will begin teaching workshops in my home.   I intend to make art and to teach as long as I am able.

Gratitude & Thanksgiving

This digital collage makes me smile- I made it for the quote below the collage.  My art exchange pals have seen this one but I wanted to post it anyway.
I have much to be thankful for.  A loving partner- a wonderful home- good health-good friends- and a group of wonderful artists that share their work and give support.
Time for a gratitude page in my journal.

Natural Knowledge

As you can see this is related to the last collage I posted.  Words and images together.  I tend to work in a series and often will have several pieces going at once.  I will leave this one up to your interpretation.

A Story We Tell

This cut and paste collage is titled A Story We Tell.  Sometimes I like to use words or phrases I find in magazines in my collages.  Sometimes they become a starting point.  The background in this one is an altered photograph of a leaf I did.  I really like the bottom sentence:  Some questions can only be asked (and answered) as artworks.  I so agree with this- and I also think that's why visual journaling is so powerful as it often contains both word and image-  I am preparing a workshop I hope to teach early next year.  Introduction to Visual Journaling:  When Words Aren't Enough.  Sometimes it takes images to express a thought, feeling or experience.

Artist Trading Cards

I have been making ATCs for gosh- over 12 years now.  I use to be regular about taking pictures of them but not so anymore.  It is fun to look back at some of these.
I love the whole idea of trading cards- not to be sold but traded.  The small size is challenging but yet isn't near as intimidating as other larger art works can seem at times.  It really is amazing what one can do in this 3 1/2" X 2 1/2 " size.
I am in two different groups that trade right now.  One I am the only male- pretty common in the mixed media world.  The other one is new and it is all guys- that's fun for me.
Think I will make some more right now!

Act Your Age?

I love this quote from Margaret Atwood.  I just did a quick digital piece to go with it.  Sometimes it's important to just have fun.  For much of my teaching career I was in the art room with elementary age students.  I have to say that was a real joy- a gift really.  To everyday see the world through the eyes of children made my life so fresh.  Then when I taught at the university it was not like that at all.  I still loved the students but the pressure to make " high art" from the department took the joy out of it.  I also saw how some art professors used their art professor status to crush students.  Why do some people get joy out of making people feel bad?
So back to the quote-I have been called child-like on numerous occasions and to me that is the best thing to be called.  I have learned to have fun in the studio again- making art for fun and for friends is so wonderful.  I am blessed to have a group that I share mail art with and we do it because we love to do it.  I have a T-shirt from Fred Bab that says "Go to your Studio and Make Stuff".  I intend to do just that...

Memory

This collage is a cut and paste one.  Flickers of Memory is the title.  I often will spend time cutting out many different collage elements just using my trusty X-acto blade.  That way I have many elements at the ready.  I have learned the hard way that changing the blade often is the key to crisp cuts.  The background for this is an altered photograph of mine taken at the Judy Garland Museum.  This museum is about an hour from us in Grand Rapids Minnesota- Judy spent her very early years there.  And yes the ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz were there until they were stolen a few years ago.  I like the dreamy quality this piece has for me.  The lack of detail of the dresser in the background goes with the concept of the flicker of a memory-sometimes the memory is there but not all in focus if you will.

House Box

I love the house shape- be it 3D or 2D- I love to whole set of meanings it can have.  I occasionally make these house boxes.  The are somewhat unusual as the roof comes off- then you can put things inside.  In this case a folded house-shaped book.  I do make these out of cardstock but the wood ones are so sturdy.  Because they are wood I can glue real found objects on them as well.