Mischievous Mary

quite contrary. How does your garden grow?

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Monster (Unfinished)

This is a negative of a scan of some arranged collage pieces. I really like how the areas in shadow take on a glow and red becomes green when reversed. Now I would assume all opposite colors would do this: yellow and purple, blue and orange. I really need to learn more about photography and color! It is unfinished because through the cut out windows I really wanted a red sky (green in this case), and on the top some sort of triangular frieze. I haven't been able to find these images in magazines I have on hand. And you can see the monster is unfinished as well. ;) This is the unretouched original scan. I'm happy how the pieces fit together. I cut out the windows, completely around the monster (well, they're all monstrous really), and around the top half of the reclining woman. Too bad you can't see all of the woman, then you would clearly see that her hair winds up into a ball. I was thinking about putting an eye above the crotch of the monster. I dunno... might be a bit much. This is just a photo of the separate pieces. I'm just getting started in collage but I think I'm leaning towards creating imaginary scenes. I like how the subject matter, differences in scale, perspective, and projected shadows can really throw the observer off center. With digital collage you can cheat by resizing pieces, changing colors, adding shadows, etc. This is fun too but real collage gives you a sense of accomplishment when you find just the right pieces and layout. The only problem I see is coming across just the right finishing touch after you've glued it all down and called it done. (I don't know if readers like this much documentation but I know I do when I read other blogs.) Click images for a larger view.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

First Spread, First Collage

This is my first spread. I'm pleased with it for the first time around but I would like to get how to blend the pictures and the background. These pictures look like they are just sitting there. You can also see, in the larger view, the bleed through from my first journal page (below). I didn't prep the page with gesso first! The problem is I live in the middle of nowhere so it's next to impossible to study technique outside of books and websites. I think you sometimes need to see the real thing for it to click and say, oh yeah, that's how it's done! I did discover you don't need to iron the pages once they are dry. When you work the other side it buckles the other way!
This is my first true collage, no background, just images. It's on the inside front cover of my composition art journal, opposite my first journal page (below). This one I really had fun with. The "fairy" is from a Campari ad. I cut the image between her thumb and glass of Campari and soda. Then I slipped in the Altoid tin cut from another ad. Click images for a larger view.

Journal Covers

These are a couple of journal covers I finished recently. One is a full size composition book, the other is a mini one. They are cheap and fun to work with. There's no fear of making mistakes in an expensive journal you bought or one you spent hours and hours constructing from scratch. Just make sure you buy compostion books that have sewn signatures, not glued ones. Contrary to the general school of thought I think you should leave your mistakes and not rework them. I have taught a calligraphy class and I feel it's more important to see the progress you make over time than get rid of mistakes or cover them up. The larger journal cover (not the spine) is splitting apart and needs to be glued back together. The smaller journal cover has some stray pen marks due to the carelessness of not working on a cleaned up table. Also the images glued on the inside covers have bubbles and wrinkles. I'll just call them character flaws. ;) Click image for a larger view.

Thursday, March 09, 2006

My First Journal Page

Every post I've ever written about my artwork has something negative in it. I need to be less drab, loosen up, have some fun, live with making mistakes and keep pushing on. I covered a composition book some time ago, wrote some things-to-do type notes in it, and then ripped out those pages (and the then the loose ones on the opposite side). It's now perfect to experiment with. It's somewhat thinner than it was so there's plenty of room for collage.

This is my first page using some tried and true, no talent required, quick journaling prompts: My first name, a blind contour drawing of my hand, an outline of my hand, some doodling and some splattering. Can you find the unintentional snail image?! Over all it's too still drab, constrained and boring but it's a start! Click image for a larger view. Some notes on the process so far:

  • Just do it.
  • Use a cheap marbled compostion book.
  • Collage the covers and inside covers. Or do it later... Or not at all!
  • Join the Yahoo! Group CompositionArtJournals
  • Make mistakes and keep going. Do not rip out the page.
  • While work on a page protect the opposite page and the next page with wax paper.
  • Go beyond the edge of the page.
  • KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid. Do not over work the page.
  • Gel pen ink is waterproof.
  • Pages will buckle when using watercolor (and probably gouche too).
  • Live with buckled pages and waves around watercolored areas.
  • Or... iron the pages to flatten them and have fine waves around the watercolored areas.

Friday, March 03, 2006

I'm Late for Tea!

"Tea" was last week's Illustration Friday theme. I like using a black gel pen, sorta looks like pen and ink, and then watercolors. I also like the bit of calligraphy as an added touch, could this be a signature style?! I need to do this everyday. It is both satisfying & relaxing. An added plus would be some improvement in technique over time! It's really not quite this muddy looking though. Scanners don't ignore the wrinkles that are left after watercoloring in a cheap sketchbook. I did a lot of digital erasing in Paint Shop Pro. ;) Click image for a larger view.