Roz Wound Up

A Pop-up ATC from Terry Garrett

My friend Terry Garrett sent me one of his recent ATCs (Artist Trading Cards), and it's a pop-up with a cool surprise inside. I wanted you all to see it but my friend Ricë, who is also friends with Terry, saved me the trouble of photographing this little gem. See it on her blog Notes from the Voodoo Cafe. She has taken photos of it from every angle so you will be able to see it in detail. Go check out this marvelous card.

And a thank you to both Terry and Ricë. I don't get a lot of mail art any more, but you two are making feel more than a bit lazy!

More Collage with Ephemera

Above: another page spread from my "Ephemera" journal of February 2000. Click on the image to view an enlargement.

I took a moment to review this journal for its nostalgia while scanning the spread I showed you yesterday. Before leaving this journal I thought I would share the above spread. These two weeks in February 2000 I was a bit annoying, to say the least. I gathered ephemera everywhere. Here I ventured into Dick's study, which always has the appearance of mess, but from which he can find the smallest thing immediately (go figure.)

Since the room contained his ephemera I couldn't just walk away with anything I wanted, but I did manage to get him to part with a couple labels. And I took photos on out-dated Polaroid film (which I found in the basement fridge—more ephemera of a sort.

The entire spread is covered with a sheet of Bugra, as described yesterday.

Because of the variety of subject matter and technique in this journal it is one I always take with me when I'm teaching. (It saves me taking 20 journals, each with perhaps only one collage.) Children especially get a kick out of the title.

On this spread I also wrote down the conversation Dick and I had as I scavenged. It reminds me of how snotty I am, and how patient Dick can be.

Go on an archaeological adventure in your home or studio and see what turns up.

Ephemera Collage Map

Above: Page spread from an “Ephemera” journal I kept for two weeks in February 2000. Size: 16 x 10 inches; rubberstamps, paper scraps, receipts, etc. (There’s a scanning artifact at the base of the image—the spread was scanned in two segments.) Click on the image to view an enlargement.

In yesterday’s post on collage I wrote about using collage in journals to create “something wholly new, abstract or concrete, which has meaning for you, even if its meaning lies only in the fun you had playing with those materials.”

But I also mentioned another aspect of journal collage: including bits of ephemera from your day. That’s what today’s post is about. In the above image I used bits of ephemera I picked up on my errands, along with scraps of decorative paper and rubber stamps, to create a map of my day.

Collage—Some Thoughts

Left: mixed media collage explained in today’s post. Journal 8 x 8 inches, handmade with 140 lb. hot press watercolor paper. Click on the image to view an enlargement.

When I posted my bantam chicken with people one reader wrote in to say, “I've haven't had much success with collage (I never seem to be able to figure out what to put where), but I have accumulated lots of collage stuff over the years. This piece is inventive and fun. Maybe I'll sift through my stuff and give it another try.” 

I’m glad she’s going to give it another go, and I thought it would be a good idea to write a post with some resources for everyone in a similar position—ready to give it a second chance. Keep it fun and just go with your instincts.

To begin, we can of course ask ourselves "why collage in the first place?" But I think that’s a silly question. I think humans by nature acquire bits and pieces of stuff. If you are inclined to keep a visual journal those bits and pieces are going to make it into your journal, either as ephemera from your day, or as something wholly new, abstract or concrete, which has meaning for you, even if its meaning lies only in the fun you had playing with those materials.

It's Official—Chickens Are Popular!

Above: Guinea Hen study in Holbein Gouache in my current journal which has Gutenberg pages, page spread is 13 x 8 inches. This study was painted over a prepainted background. Read more about this painting in the post below. Click on the image to view an enlargement.

This study of a white guinea fowl is based on sketches I made at the 2009 Minnesota State Fair. (You thought you weren't going to hear any more about the Fair didn't you—Ha, I live the whole year off my Fair visits!) I painted it on a prepainted background that I wrote about earlier. The morning after I painted this study I opened my New Yorker Magazine (Sept. 28, 2009 issue). I found a delightful article by one of my favorite writers, Susan Orlean, about the rise in the popularity of raising chickens. I love it when serendipity slaps you in the face!

The Sullen Hen: This Time a Border

Above: As the text on the page says, a very sullen hen. Shown here because I wanted to make a comment about making borders on pages. Stabilo Tone over a Pentel Pocket Brush Pen Sketch. 13 x 8 inches on Gutenberg paper. Note there is a vertical line near the gutter on the verso page. This is an "impression" from a page tab on the previous spread. When you blend this stuff around with your finger the pressure is going to create interesting artifacts from the previous spreads. It's not very noticeable in person because of the way the eye compensates for glare. Click on the image to view an enlargement.

Working ahead in my journal I created this border with a flat brush and a round brush. I used Flame Orange FW Acrylic ink to make the orange lines and let them dry. I added some strokes with the round brush using Indian Yellow FW Acrylic Ink. When everything was dry I used Turquoise FW Acrylic Ink to make the dots. Then I left the page alone until I worked up to it in my journal.

I was anxious to work some more with the Stabilo Tones so I did a quick sketch of a chicken head referring to some State Fair sketches. In hindsight I think I would have preferred the minimalism of the black ink sketch with the border. But I'm a firm believer in pushing things to see how they work out.

If you're new to the blog check out my Thursday and Friday posts for additional information on how I use these pencils. Also checking the "colored pencil" category will turn up several more posts on this medium, as I wrote about it this summer at some length.

Calling all Minnesota Artists: Minneapolis Institute of Arts Foot in the Door Show

Above: journal sketch using Stabilo Tones on page spread of Gutenberg Paper (13 x 8 inches approx.). This isn't related to today's post, it's just a continuation of my on-going discussion of Stabilo Tones. This started as a quick gesture sketch of a bird too small to see clearly, made with the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen. Then Stabilo Tones were applied. I started sketching at the head and when I finished my brush pen sketch I knew the head was too small so I enlarged it. The Stabilo Tones cover the first head's lines. See yesterday's post for more details on how I use these soluble wax pencils. Click on the image to view an enlargement.

My friend and indefatigable artist Mimi Holmes sent me a notice about this upcoming show. If you're in Minnesota—do it, have some fun, exhibit in the MIA.

Tip from Mimi—What I learned last time: there are a lot less sculptural works; and, making it smaller than 12 x 12" for a 2-D piece allows it to show up better on the wall.   Have fun!

Here's the information:

Calling all Minnesota Artists!
Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program (MAEP)
Opening Reception: Thursday Feb 18, 2010

Foot in the Door is an open exhibition for all Minnesota artists, which takes place every ten years at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Since 1980, Foot in the Door has celebrated the diversity and enthusiasm of Minnesota's visual arts community. Submit your work and be part of the state's largest art exhibition.

Who Qualifies: Anyone living in Minnesota who considers him or herself and artist. Limit one (1) artwork per artist.
What Qualifies: Any visual media that can fit completely into a 12-inch square box. Check the MAEP website for more information about A/V submissions.

Art drop-off and registration
Thursday, Feb. 4: 10:30 am–4:30 pm
Friday, Feb 5: 10:30 am–4:30 pm
Saturday, Feb 6: 10:30 am–4:30 pm
Sunday, Feb 7: 11:30 am–4:30 pm

For details and registration information, visit the MAEP website.

"Brick City" on Sundance Channel

Sundance Channel is airing a 5-part documentary on Newark, New Jersey called, "Brick City." (I am behind in my television viewing because of my cold, or I would have mentioned it earlier.)

I just watched the first two hours and have to mention it. (Sundance has the times listed for replays and other new episodes. I think you will want to watch them in order because the filmmakers follow people in their daily lives and you get to know them and what is happening to them.)

The show raises some interesting questions about change and about how we can all be agents for change in the world. Much of the first two episodes shows charismatic Newark Mayor Cory Booker in meetings and at neighborhood events pushing for his vision of a better future. 

The website also contains lots of profiles and additional videos you can look through.

Backgrounds and What Goes on Top

Left: A mixed-media page spread (the journal is turned so the head and tail of the book are at the right and left, making the image 8 x 13 inches). Read below for more details about this spread. Click on the image to view an enlargement. When you do you'll also be able to see the lovely texture of the Gutenberg paper.

I’ve been showing you backgrounds I’ve made while I’ve been recovering from a nasty summer cold. Today I’ve posted a spread with background decoration that was actually used for journaling already. It represents the return of my ability to concentrate, a happy day.

Here’s a Breakdown of What I Did
1. I started this page spread with flat brush strokes of Turquoise FW Acrylic ink around all the edges. Then I took a soft sumi brush and trailed Indigo FW Acrylic ink through the still wet strokes. And while things were still wet I spritzed everything with clean water to spread color even more. I let it sit for a couple weeks because I had a cold and because I wasn’t on this page spread yet.

To iPhone or Not To iPhone

Above: Tom holds his iPhone and shows how he marked the location of his favorite Cinnamon Bun stand at the Minnesota State Fair using one of the map apps available for this phone. Click on the image to view an enlargement.

Something happened to the world that I knew in August. Almost everyone I knew went iPhone crazy—or so it seemed. A group of 4 other women with whom I correspond regularly as a group, started breaking out in iPhones like a rash. I admit it is awfully fun to get short videos of them out and about on their travels, but I wondered about all the chatter about apps. There seems to be an ap (or is that ap? I'd know if I had an iPhone) for everything. Frankly it amused me (and continues to amuse me no end) but it also seems dangerous. A lot of time seemed to be going into the selection and learning and application of these apps. These are all sensible, hard-working, highly productive women so I wasn't worried about them, but I did worry about what black hole I might get sucked into if I were to buy an iPhone.