Am I blue?

© Out On A Limb: 30 (2012)
mixed-media collage: antique engravings (Chatterbox magazine No. XXI, 1879; People's
Cyclopedia of Knowledge, vol. 3, 1881); vintage illustration (Birds of the World, 1961);
hand-marbled paper; recycled art catalog; ink, marker, fluid chalk; acrylic sealer & acrylic varnish.
 6" x 6"  on cradled birch panel Price: $85.
(SOLD)

Yes, I'm blue. But it's okay. hue: blue opens tonight (6-9 p.m.) at Brazee Street Studios' gallery One One during our Open Studios' event. There are five new/newish Out On A Limb Collages in the show, including the one here. I must say, the gallery looks fantastic. There's something utterly refreshing about a sea of blue - especially when you're 12 hours from the shore. Well, my shore - the Jersey Shore.

But back to the collage ... I had been wanting to use the text on birds nests since finding it; luckily, there were plenty of black-and-white nesting images to choose from. Needed a b&w one to continue the pairing with color images. The twiggy bit at the bottom was cut from a much larger piece that I wanted to put down the right side. But that made it too dominant. So, I kept moving it around and cutting away at it.

Here's the cool thing about the twigs: they were cut from a page in the spring catalog for Vosges - the amazing Chicago chocolatier. Trust me, its catalog is as inventive and stunning as its chocolates. Yes, source material is everywhere!

It's a mod, mod, Modern Vintage world

The trio of Mad Women - below - are part of the Modern Vintage show that opens Friday night at Redtree Art Gallery in Oakley. I'm hoping to dash over for a few minutes from our Open Studios at Brazee - which are happening at exactly the same time, 6-9 p.m. Luckily, Redtree is right around the corner! I saw the show this morning and there are some artists I'd like to chat with. Hope to see you either there or at Brazee.

The shape of things to come?

© Out On A Limb: 32 (2012)
mixed-media collage: antique engraving (The Chatterbox, 1874),
vintage illustration (Birds of the World, Golden Press, 1961); recycled wallpaper samples;
pen, ink, watercolor, marker, liquid chalk; acrylic sealer and varnish; hardwood panel.
Price: $95

© Out On A Limb: 31 (2012)
mixed-media collage: antique engraving (Golden Gems of Penmanship, Knowles & Maxim, 1884),
vintage maps (Atlas of Global Geography, Global Press, 1944), recycled wallpaper samples, tissue paper and file folder; pen, ink, watercolor, liquid chalk; acrylic sealer and varnish; hardwood panel.
Price: $95

The two latest entries in the Out On A Limb series are on 8-inch round, cradled wood panels.

Maybe it was something about hitting OOAL 30 that made me want to change it up. 

I bought a half dozen of the round panels a while back, thinking that, sooner or later,

I'd like to try new shape. The pieces still combine black-and-white and color images of birds, 

but that's about to change, too ... I've been collecting images of people with birds and mulling

over just how to use them.

The pair were created for HUE, the annual summer group exhibition at gallery One One -

the gallery at Brazee Street Studios. This year, the color is blue and these two will join 

three other pieces from the series at the opening 6-9 p.m. Friday May 11 - yes, 

during our Open Studios.

Since my new studio is right across the hall from the gallery, it makes it super easy to pop in

after viewing the exhibit!

Social butterflies: Emma and Marjorie Were Honing Their Networking Skills

© Social Butterflies: Emma and Marjorie Were Honing Their Networking Skills (2012)

mixed-media collage: vintage illustrations (The Delineator, Butterick, May 1923; 

The Butterfly Book, Doubleday Page & Co., 1902; Butterflies and Moths,

Viking Press, 1965); handmade paper; recycled origami paper;

 antique Lotto box (McLoughlin Bros., Trunk Lotto No. 2); watercolor, ink, acrylic sealer;

metal tape; recycled glass

(Sold)

Here's a peek at one of the Social Butterflies boxes in progress. Actually, it's done, but I didn't think to shoot it before putting the glass on top and, well, too much glare to do it now. Memo to self: next time, take the picture before adding the glass. I added a few more flowers and a tiny cricket but that's about it. 

The girls are from the May 1923 issue of The Delineator. As in the other pieces in the series, which also feature illustrations from the same issue, my back story for them has them being more than clothes horses or frivolous party goers. I see them as BF - before Facebook - social networkers, who are honing their skills now that women have the right to vote. That's the story - and I'm sticking to it! 

The ornate paper on the box sides - below - is original. The box housed the pieces for Lotto, a Bingo-type game. I was tempted to add the lid so viewers would have to open it to see what's inside, but decided to try that another time. The lid is wonderful on it's own and, so, I'd like to use it for another piece. The back features a color plate of caterpillars, which - like Emma and Marjorie - will some day morph into an entirely new - and equally fascinating - creatures.  

Out On A Limb: 29

© Out On A Limb: 29 (2012)

mixed-media collage: antique postcard (PFB, printed in Germany)

 and trade card (Lion Coffee, Woolson Spice Co., Toledo, OH);

 vintage illustration (Audubon coloring book, circa 1930s);

 hand-marbled paper; recycled catalog; ink, watercolor, marker, fluid chalk,
acrylic sealer & varnish. 5"x5" on cradled hardwood panel. 
Price: $75.

I thought I'd whip up a companion to complement the two Out On A Limb collages created last month and, well, here it is. I wanted to pick up on the yellow color scheme and spring-like feel of the earlier pieces - happily, the beautiful trade card on the left did just that. It's one of the gorgeous, late 19th century chromolithographs promoting The Woolson Spice Company's Lion Coffee brand.

In keeping with the idea of pairing color and black & white bird images, two birds from a 1930s Audubon coloring book were added. I liked that one is hanging upside down. Next: some papers in the middle to provide a transition between the two. Chalk on the edges added more texture.

I wasn't satisfied. It needed more. The pink flowers - from an antique postcard - were next. Hmm. Okay, but still not there. I rifled through the file and found another bird from the coloring book. Eureka! This is one of those collages that it helps to see in person to really get the effect of the layering.