Growing

So, in trying to make doing collage be more than a "craft". I decided that while I'm pouring through the diverse subject matter for elements that I would actually take the time to read the books (sections), magazine (articles), etc. that accompany the graphics.

Wow - there's some interesting stuff out there. And...one book of art that I found at DI is all written in German. I can make out the artists' names, but not what is being said about their work.

And from my experience in newspapers - It is way more fun to be a generalist. It lets me rub elbows with experts and enjoy just about everything.

The View From My Head

This one is about me.

The left pane is my past. It has become obscure and the pain faded. I've loved four men in my life - two had been in seminary at one time...they share "faith". The raven with the wedding band represents a window decoration I saw at a very sad time in my life, the bird had a ring in its mouth and was ready to take flight. To me it represented the end of my marriage.

The center pane is the present. My painting, the dedication note from MyArtist (generous heart), my travels.

The "desk" is my "trail" from the past through the future....my favorite places to go. My newspaper career and my favorite coffee....following me from Seattle to Utah.

The future - who knows? It is yet to be fully revealed and I'm positive it will be "rosy". The yoga dude is in my favorite pose. I fully intend to carry my practice forward.

And always - my gossamer-winged dragonfly. He never ventures far from me.

Onion Man

I was telling a friend/co-worker about a guy I used to work with who made it big in the .com era and retired to Hawaii and his own avocado farm. The friend is a surfer. As we chatted away he said he'd want to raise onions and he owned a pair of overalls. He also picks up and saves coins he finds on the ground. Those little tidbits, Christmastime and you get this from me:

First Real Project

Simple message: Christmas wishes of the recipients which might be love, gifts, travel, jewelery, birth/rebirth, world peace or the great outdoors - all things I love.

Artistic message: The Nativity. Role of the images - Jesus (baby, love and peace/dove), manger (tent), northern star (tree topper), angels we have heard on high (music behind star), wise men (travel, gifts and bling) and prayers (wishes). And St. Nicholas.

And missing from this picture, but present on my Christmas cards is a dragonfly cut-out in the lower right hand corner.

Undertaking

My sister-in-law teaches collage. You'll hear me talk about her a lot in this blog. She's encouraged me for a long time to take this on. After visiting her this year and reading the book written about her, her teaching partner and some of her students, I decided to dive in.

I've set up a space in my house and the magazines and ephemera are mounting. I'll share my journey along the way. Hopefully, between all of us, you'll give it a try too.