Loon Lake

Loon Lake (2012)
mixed-media collage: antique map (Natural Advanced Geography,
American Book Co., 1898), vintage illustration (Birds of the World, Golden, 1961),
recycled travel brochures, ink, marker, acrylic sealer, acrylic varnish.
 6" x 6" on cradled birch panel

Sometimes, a piece just comes together. That's what happened when a friend asked me about making a collage on spec featuring a loon. After finding the perfect trio of loons - I had no clue what one looked like and was afraid these were really some other birds, so I double- and triple-checked - the piece fell into place within a few hours. Even so, I let it sit overnight just to be sure I was happy with it.

The map in the background refers to the annual trip my friend makes to Vermont and the top loon was placed so that it's beak would point toward New England. The map is covered by a piece of vellum from a recycled travel brochure. The goal was to tone down the map and inject some dusky colors. I've had mixed success with vellum but used PVA to glue it down and it went on flat, flat, flat without a single air bubble.

After scanning the image into the archive and sitting down to write this post, it dawned on me that I couldn't make the piece part of the Out On A Limb series - the original thought - since there isn't a limb in sight. So, that's why it's titled Loon Lake. Hope she likes it!

Note: the birds are a Black-Throated Diver, Great Northern Diver and Red-Throated Diver.

Mom, you've got mail!

My love of paper began when I was a kid and whiled away hours in stationery and office supply stores. But it didn't really kick into full collecting mode until I began making holiday cards with my daughter using images from antique postcards sent to my husband's family. 

Eventually, we needed fresh images and the hunt lead to an even more expansive search for all kinds of antique paper. The collection is a mother lode for my work as a collagist. Yes, the postcards are used in my collages, but only cards in bad condition go under the X-acto knife.  So, these are safe. Well, the one with daisies might be a goner.

All were printed in Germany and they're part of a series of "dear" postcards that's become yet another obsession. There are cards for just about every family member, as well as for lovers, friends, pets, you name it. The postmarks on these range from 1908 to 1913. I wish I could tell you that there are fantastic messages on the backs - which are scanned into my archive. But they're mostly along the lines of "thinking of you," "miss you," "hope you visit." Come to think of it, those are fantastic messages!

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!