I found the four vintage images above in one of the pull-out sections in a Somerset Studio-Mixed Media magazine tonight and decided to use them as backgrounds to create a series of collages. My partner and I are beginning to create a Vision Board (more on that later). They are sequenced in order and address some of my goals this year ...plus.
Above by Teri Valequez
Above - All 9 5x5's Tejae Floyd
Martha Brown
Deb Patrick
Priscilla Schrock
Dara Loffland
Kathy Cora
Cindy Couling
Teri Velaequez
The follow up to this project was to display the 5x5 squares. I decided to make them into a book. I chose Deb Patrick's beautiful square as the cover. Here are a few photos:
HTML Color Code Chart (click on the chart to enlarge)
This week's class is all about color. I've added links to recommended websites on color on the sidebar of this blog if you're curious to explore color theory in greater detail. Our exercises (posted above) were:
Above, my final submission for our first major project on Abstract Representation. This piece is meant to convey my experience of composing a photograph. I incorporated 2 photographs (one, a sunset and the other a snapshot of my partner's hands) and one drawing (the mechanical black and white) into it and then adjusted it digitally.
I am patiently waiting for the arrival of my WONDERFUL prize from the One World One Heart Blog Extravaganza. The artist - Tammy - she is tres talented and her blog can be accessed by clicking here. Check it out - you won't be disappointed.
Another collage I did this past week. I had 9 hours of being a passenger to and from Edmonton and brought along, what else? ...a National Geographic magazine, scissors, glue and a few other images from Dover. It was quite a challenge for me to try to put together a collage with only one magazine to use, but a good exercise in 'making do'.
I had the opportunity to see Joni Mitchell's The Fiddle and Drum production at the Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton, Alberta this past Saturday. This is a collage I did reflecting on the choreography, dance (Alberta Ballet Company) and music.
n. pl. tal·is·mans
1. An object marked with magic signs and believed to confer on its bearer supernatural powers or protection.
2. Something that apparently has magic power.
Phew....today, I really tried to go 'outside the box' with my major project for my studio
art class at Emily Carr U. I suspect I've almost entirely lost perspective on this project and can approximate only the numbers of hours I've spent - must be close to 40. I never appreciated how challenging abstracting an experience could be. This is supposed to be and I should emphasis, SUPPOSE TO BE" my abstract representation of my experience of taking a photograph.
For the Blog Banner and Background - Sandra Evertson Thank you to everyone who entered. I've not yet had the chance to visit even one quarter of the wonderful blogs that were a part of this very popular event. But...I have the links! AND, a big thanks to Lisa for organizing!
Back Closed
Back Open
Front Closed
Front with Flap
“There is a road from the eye to heart that does not go through the intellect.” - Chesterton
Above, 3 views of my 'paper bundle' for The Altered Page project (see previous blog post.) I decided to add some rusted mesh (to see what effect it may leave on the paper) and a twig for birds to perch on in case they want to use some of the paper to make their nests.
Today, I was roaming the backyard considering where I might 'install' the bundle of papers to participate in The Altered Page's (Seth) project - The Disintegration Collaboration.
"Abstraction allows man to see with his mind what he cannot physically see with his eyes. . . . Abstract art enables the artist to perceive beyond the tangible, to extract the infinite out of the finite. It is the emancipation of the mind. It is an explosion into unknown areas." Arshile Gorky (1904-1948), Armenian-born American Abstract Expressionist painter.
This week marked the announcement of our first major project - Abstract Representation. It's been a challenge for me to think in terms of how I will accomplish an 'abstraction'. Our subject choices are: 1) a sport of activity, 2) a piece of music or 3) interaction with technology. I've chosen 'technology' and more specifically - my 'experience of snapping a photograph.' Sigh. I thought I was getting somewhere and yet when I reviewed my Several drafts, I still am not satisfied enough to dive out of what I have created digitally into painting. Below is a summary of my drafts so far, along with a larger photograph of my partner's hands! Let me explain. At one point, I had thought I would include somehow an image of hands framing a 'scene'...that's where his hands came in.... Writing about my understanding of this project here, will probably motivate me to understand it better and (knock on wood) I will improve upon my brainstorming thus far!
This morning (Feb 7) I changed direction to this image above in an effort to reintegrate the mechancial element of a camera as well as the 'organic' (ie. me!) back in. The sky is also a photograph I took and I think helped me to reconnect with the experience of composing and photographing it.
Above is the result of a 2 hour exercise this week in "reduction". It started with taking a black and white photograph, and with tracing papers outline the vertical, horizontal, diagonal, circular lines and finally the 'solid areas in different values.' Then place them on top of each other and compose another sketch choosing lines. Finally, crop it and use one color for your final example. I decided to use the shutter mechanics since I had planned to draw them for my final abstraction assignment. My most recent draft is photographed below.
