Even more deconstruction and reconstruction

Last May, I wrote about the collage above and my struggle with whether it should be vertical or horizontal. Well, it doesn't matter any more. Why? It's been cut up and reworked it into two new collages - below - in the Out On A Limb series.

An interesting thing happened with the top section of the collage, the pressed leaf from an early 20th century school notebook crumbled. I had hoped to keep bits of it, along with the tape strips that held it, but the whole thing fell apart. Then, when lifting the collage off its mat board substrate, the notebook page started to wrinkle. I liked the grungy look and decided not to even try to flatten it.

Yes, these are very autumnal. Spring images coming soon! Honest.  

© Out on A Limb: 27
mixed-media collage: antique endpaper, vintage notebook page
(1918 notebook of Lillian Mary Shackett) and illustration (Birds of New York: Part 2,
State Museum of New York), recycled catalog cover, watercolor, ink,
 acrylic sealer, acrylic varnish. 5"x5" on cradled, hardwood panel. 
Price: $75.

© Out On A Limb: 28
mixed-media collage: antique endpapers; vintage library date due card
and teletype operator manual and illustration (1990 Audubon calendar);
recycled catalog covers; watercolor, ink, acrylic sealer, acrylic varnish.
5"x5" on cradled, hardwood panel.
Price: $75.

Chicks with attitude

It's no secret in my family that I'm smitten with antique Easter postcards depicting sweet little chicks - especially those acting in very human ways. So, in time for the holiday, here are some of the favorites from my collection ...

And still more ...

Only two more days to see my 5th Street Gallery show

© Out On A Limb: 14 (2012)
mixed-media collage: vintage illustrations (A Field Guide to the Birds,
 Houghton Mifflin, 1934; Birds of the World, Golden Press, 1961),
ink, watercolor, acrylic sealer & varnish. 6" x 6" on cradled, hardwood panel.
Price: $85. (SOLD) 

Just a reminder that "Expecting to Fly," my exhibition at downtown's 5th Street Gallery, is open for two more days: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. today and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. It's a gorgeous day for a stroll around downtown! So, please stop in if you are out and about.

Mad Women: Jean Drops Out and Joins A Cult

Mad Women: Jean Drops Out and Joins A Cult (2012)
mixed-media collage: vintage illustrations (Esquire, Dec. 1939;
 McCall's Pattern Book, spring 1946);  recycled Turner Classic Movies
trading card ("Casablanca") & Monet exhibition catalog illustration;
ink; watercolor. 7.5" x 9.5" on archival mat board. Framed with conservation glass.
Price: $125.

I was so excited to - finally - use something from the December 1939 issue of Esquire, which my friend Marsie Newbold gave to me a few years back. It's the background image of the lithe women with a horse and came from an illustrated feature titled "If Women Rules the World and Men and Horses Were Slaves." Yeah, real male fantasy stuff that I couldn't resist turning into female fantasy stuff.

Adding to the romantic air: a quote from "Casablanca" from a set of classic movie trading cards that came in the mail back in my newspaper features editor days. At that time, I was saving promotional card decks. Well, let's be honest, I was also saving tons of other paper!

In any case, what was funniest to me about the quote is that my daughter recognized it as being from "Casablanca" almost immediately. Guess we raised her right.

Works in progress ... or fait accompli?

Working title: Julia Had A Certain Spring in Her Step 

Working title: Hope

In early February, I was asked by Cincinnati artists Paula Wiggins and Kay Hurley if I would donate two small artworks - 5x7s - to help raise money for the Jamie Osher Memorial Fund. The fund was created a few years ago in memory of Paula's husband, who died from esophageal cancer. Proceeds go to education and research into the disease.

There is an annual event and as Paula puts it, it has "always centered on art, because that is what we love." The pieces will hang on a "Wall of Hope" during the fundraiser April 26 at Art Design Consultants, downtown. Each piece will sell for the same price: $75.

Of course, I said "yes." These are the collages I'm working on, which may be done but then again, maybe not. It seems that Julia could benefit from splashes of the blue in her hat in other spots. Also under consideration: adding gold leaf to "Hope," which has touches of gold - streaks in her hair, dots on the rays - that are hard t detect here. I'd forgotten about the "Wall of Hope" and titled her "Hope." Now, that's being rethought.

I'll post more details about the event as soon as I have them. Oh, and I'll post the final pieces, too!