Experimental Collage Class Lesson 1 Which Bob shot?

I have really been busy going through piles of images I have stored for years. I may have to come back and work on this one. The class is Cut and Paste Collage. No digital. I have been starting with cut and paste and scanning that in to add digital elements. Now the dining room table is a glue site.

5x3.5 inches

"YOUR NEW YEAR BEGINS ON LABOR DAY"

"Introducing a new concept in timely living" YOUR NEW YEAR BEGINS ON LABOR DAY

This is from Letterology. "It was on Labor Day, September 2nd, 1957, fifty-six years ago today, George Giusti's celebrated cover design for Holiday magazine took center stage on magazine stands across the country. Labor Day is about celebrating our work, and I can't think of a better way to celebrate this Labor Day than share this work of George Giusti (1908-1990); one of the most innovative designers and illustrators of the last century."

http://letterology.blogspot.com

I wasn't familiar with his work. Very fresh and bold collage covers. He understood how to keep it simple (looking). Not so easy to do though.

So here is to celebrating our work and being able to work.

Rock Pick, Area 5

This is an old photo and I wanted to give it new life and try out some different framing ideas. This picture was taken several years back but the wabi sabi Rock Pike/Hammer is still around someplace on the property. If you want one there are several being offered on eBay but they don't have this nice rust.

The summer is almost gone and I feel the excitement of returning to school. eSchool that is. I will be taking a photography class with Carol Leigh in late September so maybe that will give me a kick in the pants to embrace my camera. 

This next weekend I start a class "Experiments in Collage" and e course with Randel Ploughman who is also the author of the "Collage Workbook". I am not quite ready to get my hands dirty with glue and paint but I have cleaned out the outdoor studio formerly belonging to my late husband (sorry Marty) and will initiate that space with some hands-on collage. I am so spoiled by using Fusion 4000 as my adhesive. It is a heat process and very clean. I need more backgrounds to feed the digital urge so nothing will be lost.  Food for the scanner and maybe the camera.

My joy is in the learning.

Tea House Door Latch, Area 6

Cloudy, rain threatening. The Tea House is secured by this piece of bent metal. A true example of Wabi Sabi right in my back yard. Does it need painting? Probably, but it is just getting good. Have I used it as a tea House recently? No, but it still has the tatami mats and my neighbor wants to have a tea ceremony this fall. Yes!

I have been cleaning out and rearranging my studio to accommodate the use of a tripod more easily. What to give up or move out is a bit of a quandary. I am going to take a class with Carol Leigh this fall and my current attempts at High Key Photography have been very poor indeed. Check out her site for inspiration.

http://carolleigh.blogspot.com

Envelope Circa 1943

My how time flies. I have had a lot of company and it was good seeing old friends. Now I will try to post more frequently.

Ephemera from Area 15 in the Amt Dig Site.  Love this grungy envelope. I found it with glue stains really dark in color. The glue had burned the paper with it's acidity. It was an empty envelope so the stains show through to the front also.

"Reach...Beyond Your Head..."

This collage began with a juxtaposition of two paper scraps. I first think of them as horizons. I really don't think they need a subject but it adds to the challenge.

"Cancelled" and Bulletin Board Collage

I still return to my pile of wabi sabi paper scraps for therapy. I have been away from this blog site so I am catching up by posting these two scraps. The top collage background is a 1655 map of old London. I have a 1864 reproduction of it that I scanned in to use in this collage. The bottom collage is a photograph of papers on my bulletin board.

To frame or not...?

I been mulling over all the Flickr changes with their new Format that began the end of May and I have been trying to like it. One of the things I could not learn to like is when one goes to a page the overview line up of pictures looks messy to me because they are separated by small border. I haven't found a way to override the size of the border so I am considering adding a frame around each pic to give each a space to breathe. Carol Leigh has been doing this forever and was kind enough to share some info on her frame technique. So these are similar pictures with different formats. If you go to the Flickr site you will see it posted.

PS  Carol Leigh has just announced a new class. "Mini-Developing Your Creative Edge" photography class. Carol gives excellent critiques.

Starts September 29,  4 assignments over 6 weeks.

 http://shop.carolleigh.net

Rusty Spout

This little spout reminded me of the WWII guard towers on Rehoboth Beach and leaves me wondering if they are still standing. 

I found a reproduction drawing of Forli 1600 with it's walls and towers for my background. The spout's  actual size is one and one half inches.

Brass Cap, Area 11

Another Sunday rolls around...Solstice has taken place as well as a super moon last night. Everything has been in flux here so I haven't taken as many pictures as I would have liked. Here is a smallish brass cap I found on the railroad tie holding my flower bed together.

Collage Workbook, Exercise 12 Typography

I have completed the first sweep and sorting of Marty's studio. I hope I will find new energy for my own work. I am still using the Collage Workbook Exeercises to jump start the process. This was packing tape found in the parking lot. It had some of the mailing info stuck to it...glistening in the sun.

Box Area 5 Item 1

Another week has passed and after the storm the sun is shining today which raises my spirits. I have recycled huge amounts of papers, carefully keeping some for collage, saving some for the school and purging all personal items. In Area 5, there was a sagging shelf with partially used boxes of brads, nails and other commercial items from the hardware store. But this little box was empty so I took on the challenge of using it in a collage.

Developing Your Creative Edge Alumni Group

I belong to this very talented group established by Carol Leigh my instructor and photographer extrodinaire. Classes are over and I am starting to join in the fun by responding to her monthly challenges or assignments, The word was HA and after many false starts I decided to keep it simple so I  photographed two game die and then had a little fun with some iPhone apps. The last two versions were done in BeFunky.

Candlestick Holder

Another great find from the Amt Dig Site.

Face Recognition

I have been working with black and white engravings and digital layering. This is the fifth face I have completed but the second I have put on my blog. Please go to my Flickr site to see more.

Amt Dig Site Area 3, Figure 1 Number Six

Another week of sorting. Photographing this item felt like I was trying to make something out of nothing…maybe so but looking at a macro shot of this one inch high number I realized it was not just a "stamped out of leather" number but a hand cut number. Someone really wanted that number. I rescued it from the bottom of a pile of rusty screws. 

Collage Workbook, Exercise 11 Numbers

Randel Plowman wrote this informative and well illustrated book which has appeal for novice and addicts alike. Last year I set a goal of doing one exercise a week and I failed miserably. Now I do one when I need a little creative exercise. My collages generally start with cut and paste techniques and then they are scanned into Photoshop for a little play time. I am sure I will revisit Numbers many times.

A new project, Funnel from Amt Site Dig

May 11

Saturday and raining here on the slopes of Mt Rainier, Maryland. 

My current read is "Facebook for Dummies" because it might be a way to keep in touch with family and friends.  I have successfully put up a picture, a cover and filled in a few blank profile items.  

Okay, so reorganizing and cleaning up can be a chore but it became a meditation each day...and I was learning how to use my camera, but these activities could hardly be of interest to my Facebook Friends

Then, a very good friend came over last weekend to help with my TO DO list, so we did a walk around the area to see what other projects he might be of assistance with and after repeatedly saying " I have to photograph this before I move it." an idea began to form. Click.  A project is on the horizon. Photograph the items and make them important. 

The Amt Dig Site Project is born.

The Amt Dig has been divided into 14 areas where likely treasures might be found. Area 1 is at the front end of the sculpture garden where I spotted this funnel. Immediate Wabi Sabi love.

Could be fun. I'll let you know what else I find later. Gr8plunder!

Dive In

I have been away for awhile but I am back to work. This is a collage I did for the 2013 calendar but it shows what my intentions are. One has to reinvent ones self occasionally so this blog will be dedicated to current and miscellaneous explorations. I follow several blogs and groups and will use this space for archiving my responses. 

Sealed

I feel the tape has been ripped from my lips and I am ready to

rejoin the world. The process of hospice and loosing a loved one

has changed me forever. I am slowly adjusting to a new rhythm 

and I am looking forward to getting back to work.

Belated Holiday Greetings

I sprung my husband from the hospital ICU so this is a little late for the holidays. We are beginning the New Year at home and glad to be here.