Roz Wound Up

Collage Books Recommended by Collage Artist Terry Garrett

Above: "Child Lerner," a collage ©Terry Garrett. Terry uses scraps of paper, maps, and his own images which he will alter in Photoshop before printing and pasting them into his collage. Click on the image to view an enlargement.

At the end of October and into November of this year, when I wrote about collage and posted various images from my Weirdo Journal (click on “Collage” in the Categories List and scroll down to see this collection of posts, or click on “Weirdo Journal” in the PAGES list at the left). Collage artist and friend Terry Garrett sent me the following list of collage books that are among his favorites. Terry teaches art to university students and these are the books he shares with those students. He graciously agreed to let me publish the list here for all of you. Thank you Terry!

Here are Terry Garrett’s favorite collage books with his comments:

Collage Techniques: A Guide for Artists and Illustrators
by Gerald Brommer 
This is a classic and I think you would like this one—it's organized in an interesting way, sort of by media. You can look into it on Amazon.

Collage Journeys: A Practical Guide to Creating Personal Artwork
by Jane Davies
This one is pretty new—also a fave of mine—I love her approach. You can also peek on Amazon.

Mixed-Media Collage: An Exploration of Contemporary Artists, Methods, and
Materials
by Holly Harrison  I like this one—great eye candy. Also besides a few of the usual mixed media stars—some new faces. Take a peek.

Collage, Assemblage, and Altered Art: Creating Unique Images and Objects
by Diane Maurer-Mathison
This has some overlap to the one above. I love the assemblage and a few of the collage artists.

Living Into Art: Journeys Through Collage
by Lindsay Whiting
This one is very different—not an eye candy/technique book—but an interesting approach these two women use to teach collage. So it's peoples stories—worth a read form the library if they have it.

Image Transfer Workshop: Mixed-Media Techniques for Successful Transfers
by Darlene Olivia McElroy
Lots of collage in this book. It's really the best thing out there on transfers—it's very up to date—came out just a few months ago.

Below: "They Saw What He Did," another collage ©Terry Garrett. Terry sent me two collages to choose from so I would have a piece of his art with his collage book recommendations and I just had to use both of them. I have been after Terry for years to write his own book about collage. I love the mixture of media and methods he uses to create his art. Click on the image to view an enlargement.

Note: Terry Garrett makes the most wonderful little "houses" out of collaged images. These are available for sale in the MCBA shop. (Call 612-215-2520 to check on current availability and price). These would make they perfect gift some someone who enjoys collage art.

Profile Friday: James Jean

Above: Image from one of James Jean’s Moleskines, posted on his blog May 13, 2009, ©2009 James Jean.

Many of you might know James Jean’s  amazing journal work from Danny Gregory’s book on visual journals and sketchbooks, An Illustrated Life. But this talented and productive artist’s work can also be seen in galleries, on bookcovers, and on products everywhere. (When you are at James Jean's website be sure to click on SKETCH in the left column. This will reveal several sketchbooks that you can click your way through!)

Why am I attracted to his art? He draws with such precise grace it actually makes your eyes ache a little (in a good way). And his drawings are intelligent, speaking volumes. His drawings and paintings are filled with an energetic push that keeps the viewer thinking and looking. His journal sketches in particular have an intense energy and movement derived in part from the way in which he is constantly drawing over other images. He doesn’t redraw so much as draw another view right on top of something, often a face, so that the end result is a stop-motion of several views of the subject. There is a careless abandon to this approach—the comfort to draw over images other artists would give their right pinkie to draw. The sketches flow and emerge and just keep bubbling up with creative force. The viewer is rewarded anew with each viewing.

Wanted: Bird Wrangler—Interesting Locations and Hours

Donna Menamin wrote me a note to tell me about the Andrew Zuckerman's book, Bird. Judging from the information on Amazon.com it looks like it is a beautiful book. I definitely have to see it in person! But in an effort to promote the book there are also two short videos just below the blurb about the book. Scroll down at the above link and watch those videos. One is simply beautiful to anyone who loves birds; the other is hilariously appealing. Thanks Donna for finding these gems!

"French Milk": A Graphic Travel Memoir

Left: Cover of Lucy Knisley's French Milk. (Image from Amazon.com)

This delightful book has been sitting on the desk next to the bed for ages. I'd read a little, be captivated, want to go back to Paris and check out the things I missed, and then close the book to save it for later. I finally read the second half of the book all in one sitting simply because I wanted to recommend it to you!

If you like travel journals, travel memoirs, or Paris, or if you are interested in mother-daughter relationships that are nothing like what you might catch a glimpse of on Dr. Phil (i.e. the people are NOT screaming at each other and actually seem to care about each other) then I think you'll enjoy this lovely graphic memoir.

Sketching with a brush pen Knisley captures the sights, foods, and people she encounters on a six-week visit to Paris with her mom. There is emotion but no annoying angst. The pages are filled with delightful sketches, a few photographs, and an impression of her sojourn in Paris that will make you want to book a flight. So if you have been to Paris and want a little bit of "comfort food" or you plan to go and are interested in some offbeat places to visit when you are there (as well as an artist's take on some tourist places) check out this book.

Note: The title comes from the author's love of French milk—she drinks it constantly, can't get enough of it. I didn't have any milk when I was in Paris as I'm not a big milk drinker—I prefer the ice cream manifestation. If I were to write a book about my trip to Paris it would be called "French Bread." In fact I would like nothing more than to return to Paris and continue sampling the breads from the various neighborhood bakeries! Knisley's book contains enough bread for me to reminisce about too!

Cornered!: David Steinlicht's Book Signing

Saturday, December 12, 4 to 6 p.m. at Big Brain Comics

Big Brain Comics is located at 1027 Washington Ave. South, Downtown Minneapolis (near MCBA).

David Steinlicht will be signing copies of his new comic collection, Cornered!: The best of David Steinlicht's In This Corner comic from the Saint Paul Pioneer Press, this Saturday.

David has worked as a graphic artist and designer for the St. Paul Pioneer Press for the past twelve years. For five years, "In This Corner" has appeared as a weekly comic in that newspaper. The comic is mostly about pop culture. It manages to be thoughtful, funny, perceptive, and not a little wacky all at the same time. Some of the comics, such as his June 7, 2007 mediation on the perfect soft-serve ice cream cone succeed in capturing simple ruminations we all experience in life—only with "crunch." That's no small feat. As you can tell I'm a big fan. I haven't even said anything about the deceptively simple visual style David brings to the comic which he draws on the computer: elegant (see November 16, 2006).

And I didn't mention the book also has many helpful life tips. As we head into another Minnesota winter with snow on the ground it's good to remember: "Food coloring + snow = fun!"

Check out one of my recent favorites: "The five stages of waiting in line at the grocery store."

Come out this Saturday and support David with a purchase of his book. You need it! Especially if you live in Minnesota (which would actually give you a good chance of attending the signing). And if you don't live in Minnesota, contact Big Brain and order a copy—discover what it's like to live in St. Paul, or Minnesota, or actually, anywhere on the planet if you happen to be human and paying attention. Read a few pages and you're sure to find yourself more observant, more curious. Who else could make salmonella funny? (June 15, 2006.)

Tip: This book would be the ideal holiday gift for a former Twin Citean who is now basking in the sun in Arizona, New Mexico, California, or parts even more exotic! Send them a taste of home.

Remembrance Day

Left: Vera Brittain in her WWI nursing uniform. (Photo found at Books to the Ceiling.)

Today is Remembrance Day. It is the one holiday I observe. I spend it re-reading bits of Testament of Youth, by Vera Brittain, and focusing on the gratitude I have for the sacrifice of others.

Since the U.S. is currently involved in war in Iraq and Afghanistan it's even more important that we each take time to assess our views about government policy so that we can come focused to the political debate.

Brittain's work reminds us to not "shrink from [our] share of the Universal Sorrow"—to think of some conscious response.

Ricë Freeman-Zachery Talks to Me About Finding Time for Making Art

Left: Cover shot of Ricë Freeman-Zachery's new book, Creative Time and Space: Making Room for Making Art.

I'm thrilled to let you all know that my work has been included in Creative Time and Space: Making Room for Making Art. Ricë Freeman-Zachery has interviewed 14 artists (various media) and asked us all about how we make time and space for our creative work in our lives. The answers brought out are informative, helpful, and instructive. You will pick up this book and find solutions you didn't even know you were looking for, all while you get to peek into the lives of 14 working artists.

You need to read this book! The artists included in the book are: Traci Bautista, Theo Ellsworth, Lisa Lichtenfels, Chris Malone, Thomas Mann, Teesha Moore, Judy Coates Perez, Kelly Rae Roberts, Pam Rubert, Lori Marsha Sandstedt, Carter Seibels, Susan Sorrell, Judy Wise, and me. (On Ricë's blog you can find links to the websites and blogs of these artists.)

While you wait for your copy to arrive in the mail, or before you head out to pick it up at the local bookshop, through the marvels of digital "stuff" you can actually listen to Ricë interviewing me about finding time for creative work.

It's exciting for me to have the opportunity to reach some more people through the book and the interview, and with luck, to get them to think about visual journaling, and taking ownership of their brains and their creativity. Ricë's book really does provide insight into the issues of finding time and space to make art. As I said above: read the book. 

Also, in honor of this new podcast I thought it was time to work out a way to put podcasts on my blog "page." If you look in the left column below the "categories list" and the "pages list" you'll find "Podcasts with Roz." If you ever want to hear my cartoon voice, or hear me go on and on about visual journaling and art media and such, head over to this list of links. You might want to revisit the podcasts I did with Danny Gregory in 2008. These podcasts will give you something to do on days when I don't post! (It's going to happen someday.)

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.

Minnesota State Fair Prep—#8: Information and Inspiration

Left: Minnesota State Fair: An Illustrated History, by Kathryn Strand Koutsky and Linda Koutsky, image ©Coffee House Press. Read below for more details.

I can hear the groans of faithful readers as they click on the blog today, “Another Minnesota State Fair post? What has happened to Roz?” Well, this is after all a blog about my enthusiasms—but I have saved the best in the “preparation series” for last (notice I didn’t say “last Fair post”!): information and inspiration.

It’s time you looked at what other people are writing and thinking about the Fair. And there is no better place to look than Minnesota State Fair: An Illustrated History, by Kathy and Linda Koutsky. (Disclosure: the authors are my friends, but even if I didn’t know them I would have to own this book and give it repeatedly as a gift to people who haven’t yet caught the Fair bug, or who have but don’t know about this book.)

Blogging Has Changed My Life: Or How It Has Made Me an Even More Obnoxious Correspondent

Every so often I have dinner with 4 other women, ostensibly to have dinner and a chat and catch up. (I like to think of these meetings as opportunities to have dog time because there are dogs involved.) Originally we set out to have a book club—something I loathe, but one of the women makes great lasagna so I'm powerless to resist.

Perhaps I hate book groups because it brings to mind the parts of graduate school I didn't like, reports and pontification, instead of helpful information on how to assimilate "Jude the Obscure" into you thought process so you can continue on your happy trail!