Twist Party!

I can't believe a month has passed since I posted last.  It is hot, humid and hazy here in metropolitan DC and I am not feeling like twisting right now.  I hope all my friends are staying cool.

Mocha Java and Rio

I like the elements of "Fresh and Hot" so this is a bit of a redux.

Fortune Magazine 1944 June

I have been scanning in images from older publications and started with Fortune magazine June 1944. It has some great illustrations and I soon realized it was the month of …D Day. They never mention that because the magazine had to go to press before that time but it is filled with bombing…beach scenes, heavy military equipment…Then I went to the other issue from that year, the April issue  and it is mostly black and white.  So how did Fortune Magazine know ahead of time that the event was going to take place? There must have been wide knowledge of something being planned in order to have so many great colored illustrations.

I chose this illustration because of the Russian flag being included. 

June

Not only is it June... it is a week into June. What happened? I have been scanning in images from older publications and started with Fortune magazine June 1944. It has some great illustrations and I soon realized it was the month of the Normandy beach landing…D Day. So I will add a page from that publication.

I have been gardening and binging on International Mystery programs I had taped a year ago. I have avoided the computer and phone calls but after reading Carol Leigh's blog and her plans to commit to collage I thought I better get back to work.  Thanks Carol!

Siren...for a Day

All images Circa 1950s.

Fresh and Hot!

I found this lady in a "Glamourous Lingerie" ad in a 1950s magazine. I am having a good time making up stories for these ladies.

Breathe

I did this for the Photoshop Artistry Group Challenge 23 where we were to create a piece of art that expresses a kind of contented timelessness.

It started out cut and paste and then to Photoshop to add the history of the world civilizations and an engraving of islands etc.

Misadventures

Just a hint of green for St.Pattie's Day.

China Watch

This is a cut and paste collage of vintage screen papers and brought into Photoshop for the vignette and chop signature. The red is an older map of China in red and pinks. Marvelous! The watcher is from a comic book.

Red Raven

The wonderful ad I found in a 1907 Cosmopolitan magazine had a full page Red Raven ad. It is the Egyptian looking blue bird in the background. It seemed very familiar to me so I searched through my Victorian Trade Card collection in the medicinal section and found one advertising Red Raven. The chromolith is featured on the digital pin I made for this collage. It was a mineral water that was very healthy for you hence the Red Cross armband.

Glitches

It took most of the year to recover from a major computer crash but I now have a new computer, a new printer and a better backup strategy. They are now playing tougher very nicely...sigh.

With the computer down and tending an ill friend I turned to paper and scissors. There is comfort in hand work that I have missed and I still don't love "messy" but I did enjoy the cut and paste class with Randel Plowman.

Here are a few works completed after the class.  These were all "cut and paste" paper.

Venus Rising

Expectations

Lady Moon

Chart a Course

An Odd Number

I continue to go from the "physical" to the "digital" cut and paste and then back and forth again.

Love layers, love exploring and the magic involved.

White on White

I was taking photos for the Amt Dig Site project but this photo turned into a digital montage.

 The glove mold was a ready candidate for more digital exploration.

Porcelain Containers ADS Area 6

I liked the idea of this series, Amt Dig Site, but I got overwhelmed by the number of items. I do plan to return to this project this year. Please see previous posting for more information.

Catching up and clearing out.

My first year as a widow has been like an engine trying to start with more of a load than it was designed for. Each attempt to start a motion forward has resulted in two jerks back or so it seemed. I am gathering steam and purging files. I will be putting up work from this last year. I was trying to do more with my photography and this a small group of dirty bottles I found during my cleaning out of the studio. It seems to be out of focus but I checked and I had used a vintage filter on the photo.

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.