JOURNAL COLLAGES

Recently, I've done some of these that are much larger, but these are the small ones -- I start with toning the watercolor paper, then write all over it, then add collage (I just about always dye my colllage papers) and then more acrylic paint, inks, graphite, etc.  I am left-handed, so sometimes I draw shapes with my right hand.  Sometimes I add more writing at the end.  These are fun to do and interesting both to plan them ahead or just let what happenes happen.

Sketchbook Collages

Encaustic Collage

Wrapping paper, ribbon, shaved soft pastel and several layers of melted bees wax comprise this collage which is entitled, "Rapping."  The size is 12" x 12," and I used a wood panel for a support.  The book, Encaustic Workshop (artistic techniques for working with wax) by Patricia Baldwin Saggebruch, helped a lot.

Mini Collages -- Bookmarks

Here are a few bookmark collages I made the other day. I will take these along on our Thanksgiving trip and distribute to friends and relatives.

More Button Detail

Here are three more, entitled " Inside Out", "Hemmed" and "Mended".

Finally Back in the Studio

The collage paintings below are around 12" x 12" and are done on wood panels.  I photographed them outdoors, and I admit the images are terrible.  I don't know if it was the photographer (me) or the camera.  The colors just didn't seem to take.  It was about two in the afternoon, and the sun was coming over my shoulder, facing the paintings which were on an easel.  I'm not sure what happened, but I am pleased with the small collages themselves (not the photos).  I used acrylic paints, Ranger alcohol inks, gesso, pieces of silk; painted and printed papers and graphite marking pencils.  The collages are all finished with a semi-gloss acrylic coating that contains UV protection.  The one with the button detail is titled "Tatters" and contains collaged material consisting of painted paper glued to cloth and then machine stitched.  The wood panels were quite thin, so for hanging I glued a wood strip to the back which accommodated screw eyes and picture wire.

Online Gallery

Some of my work is now in an online gallery: http://artsthatwork.com.

small collage "Garden Gate"

Here is a smaller mixed-media collage -- 10" x 14". The photo
isn't the best, but I am pleased with the colors, shapes, composition, and use of texture. It is called "Garden Gate". (This collage now has a new home -- my sister, Andrea, liked it so much, she wanted to frame and hang it -- so off it went.)

decorated collage paper

The idea for using graffiti-decorated paper in a
mixed-media piece came from Alisa Burke's
DVD, which also had some other great ideas.
I like the graffiti, but I probably will not use
it much. It's not exactly my style, although it's
a lot of fun.

more collage paper

This piece of collage material was printed on thin paper and then stained with an acrylic wash. Carrie Burns Brown's DVD provided the technique for the printing.