MAKE NEW FRIENDS Original Collage

Hey Friends,  Somewhere in the last week I came across the Ole Saying  Make New Friends but Keep the Old, probably on the web.  I liked that idea for a couple of collages.  So here is the first Make New Friends.

This is available on my website HERE and prints and such are HERE on FAA.

So in case you have been feeling BAD, sickly, like the flu or something,  SO have I!!  I feel so bad I almost hit this slow pokey computer with the trash can.

A grown woman having a hissy fit.

Happy Trails

FENCES An Original Collage

Hey Friends, The warm weather continues here in SW Virginia, in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Yet here I am indoors on the WEB, trying to write something coherent about this collage.

I like it now.  When I thought I was finished I still had a vague problem with the right side.  So I put down pieces of paper and moved them around, the usual way of finding what is wrong or something I like better.

Now I liked the right side and had to tie it together.  I like the barbed wire and the white ring, which represented the hole you crawl through under the fences, to get to the coveted red block.!

GranBabes are a big help when it comes to using your imagination.

The piece of paper in the bottom right corner is from the Mexican newspaper I told you about in the previous blog.  This collage is available on my website HERE or if you prefer a pillow or print at FAA HERE.

If the warm weather holds on I intend to try some encaustics soon.  Very simple versions of encaustics.  I don't want to invest a lot of money, in case it's not MY THING.

Have a Wonderful Week

Happy Trails

MEXICAN NEWS - Not What You Would Think

Hey Friends,  A favorite produce market is called Reyna Produce on Williamson Rd. in Roanoke, Va. close to Brookside Golf Course.

Mexicans (forgive me if I should be saying Hispanic) own it and they seem to have some of the best pablanos and avocados ever.  And I love their baked goods.

Anyway, I found a small Mexican newspaper, which I could not read but covered it with gesso and acrylics anyway.  Turned out great and I have used them in several collages, this being the first.

Have a grand weekend while it is still warm.

Happy Trails

PRZEWALSKI A new 12" Collage

Hey Friends,  Have you ever heard of the przewalski horse?  Years ago I read about them in equine books.  I believe they originated in the Mongolia region.

They are extinct in the wild but someone saved a couple in captivity.  Not sure if they are only in zoos or farms but that's what I read.

They are a short, stocky little breed and their mane is short and stands up.

The piece above is made from my own hand painted papers.  It is varnished on paper but will need to be framed.

It is for sale on my Website HERE and you can get prints from Fine Art America HERE.

Thanks for stopping in.

Happy Trails

ENCOUNTERS A new mixed media collage

Hey Friends, When I started this one I knew I wanted a bird in it and preferably a crow. I just happen to really appreciate their intelligence. I love it when I can cut out a row of something like the old fashioned paper dolls I made as a little girl.

It sat for a week and I couldn't put my finger on what it needed. I asked a friend what she thought. She said the middle was too empty. So I added the scribbles and circles and a slice of loofah on the piece of center paper. She was right.

This is listed on my website for sale, HERE.  Or if you prefer a print, go HERE, Fine Art America.

FREE shipping within the continental US.

Happy Trails

WINDCHIMES - A mixed media work of Art on Paper

Hey Friends,  As with most of my collages, I just start playing with the papers. Often it takes a while for something to rear it's pretty little head. Usually some sort of thought about the title comes along as I'm working.  With this piece, it was an extra blustery day and the wind chime on the porch was really clanging so the title came easily.

This is varnished and would look great on a cradled panel and varnished again. Or you could just frame under glass.

FREE shipping in the continental US.

May be purchased on my website HERE or reproductions at Fine Art America.  I bought a stretched canvas reproduction last week from FAA and it really looks great.  So you can order with confidence.

Have a fab weekend

Happy Trails

AUTUMN IN MY VALLEY

Hi Friends, For this piece I wanted to use the papers that had autumn colors in them. These are colors that I like the least so I didn't want a lot of them in the final collage.

The top reminded me of a slice of forest, so that is where I got the landscape. title.

This is available in my website, HERE, and prints are available at Fine Art America.

This is varnished but still needs to be framed.

Happy Trails

ICE HOUSE

 Hey Friends, I make my own hand painted papers for collage. When I'm ready to create it is a matter of picking up a certain color of paper and moving it around on the substrate. Then more and more are added, until I have something I want to build on. 

Usually it takes on its own life about this time.

This is varnished but needs to be framed.

This available in my website  HERE  and you will find prints and pillows and bags at Fine Art America  HERE .

Hope your week is great, with out any storms.

Happy Trails

KOI POND New Collage

        

Hey Friends,  I love that black and pink paper up there.  I've used it in one other collage and had to think of another way to use.  Reminded me of something oriental and having made a couple recent collages about water and lakes and fish,  My brain suggested a pond with goldfish !  Thanks BRAIN.

This is listed for sale on my website HERE and you can get a variety of STUFF at Fine Art America HERE.

Have a fab weekend.

Happy Trails

SUPER BOWL

Hey Friends,  I was working on this collage last Sunday while watching the SUPER BOWL.  Needless to say I was distracted a lot.

I cut out the round shape and glued it down and my left brain said 'Bowl' and then my right brain said 'SUPERBOWL'.

So there you have it.  A little glimmer into how THE brain works.

These collages are listed on my website.  You can check them out HERE.

Happy Trails

"DOCK" Newest Collage

Hey Friends,  Sometimes you look back at your work and think "What was I thinking" and in this case, the title surprises me.

It does remind me of a dock at Smith Mountain Lake, here in SW Virginia.  So I guess I won't judge me first impression.

These collages have been a fun way to spend time indoors by the fire.

It's a ton of fun to try new things, so if anyone out there has any new ideas for collage journeys, send a note and point me in the right direction.

Enjoy your winter season.

Happy Trails

FAMILY VACATION New Collage

Hey Friends,  This turned out to be a fun project.  I found a piece of map in my odds & ends stash.   I laid it on my paper and added a few odd pieces of painted paper to the papers.  I moved them around for a while. 

Once I found the composition I liked and glued them down, and let it dry.

The fun stuff started then.  I cut out the paper doll string and the fence posts and the other touches.  I enjoy scribbling with a graphite water soluble pencil.  So that means I must spray it with fixative before varnishing.

All in All, I should be ready for a few shows this year.

I need to work on some bigger pieces soon.

I updated my website with the new upcoming events that I'm aware of.

Check it out HERE.

Have a great weekend.

Happy Trails

FISHING newest collage

Hey Friends,  This collage started life as a black and white mess of papers for a 30 day challenge in Jan.  It was pretty bad so I squirted thick white acrylic on it in squiggly lines and when dry, I rolled a pale opaque green all over.

I looked at the above for almost a week and then something said "Fishing Line".

It did look like the fishing my GranSon would have fussed about.

From there it just came together fairly quickly.  The hut and boats were the accelerators.

This is listed in my website HERE.

Glad you could stop in

Happy Trails

ORIGINAL COLLAGE "MELBOURNE"

Hey Friends,  I'm going to continue with my series of collages even though the 30 day Challenge is over, maybe not everyday.

This one got the title MELBOURNE  because it reminds me of that big, beautiful museum on the sea in Australia.  Unintentional.

Enjoying this process and hoping I can pull it off in a bigger size.               Maybe a 20 x 20 would satisfy me.This is listed in my website if you are interested.  Click HERE to check it out.

Happy Trails