Cinnamon Pink

New Collage Completed

Here is a new collage piece that I just finished. I created it using my small paper bits process. I love making collage art with small pieces of leftover decorative paper, fabric scraps, sheet music, vintage text, stampings and my own designed paper.

I really do not do it for green or frugal purposes. I just enjoy putting these paper snippings together to form a whole. The process is time-consuming but also very relaxing.

To finish it off, I think I may add some white highlights, using a marker, to the collage.

 

Heart Collage Canvas Panels In-Progress

I'm thinking of making a series of Heart Collage Canvas Panels. So far, I've chosen three color themes for each of the panels: blue, pink and white/beige.

Here are some of the collaged hearts in-progress. I plan to add more embellishments, ink, paint and maybe oil pastels to these hearts.

As I've mentioned before on this blog, there is something calming about cutting papers, assembling scraps and gluing. The repetitive nature of the process seems to soothe the soul and slow one's thoughts down.

What do you do to invite tranquillity into your life?

Vintage Angel Collage

I recently finished this mixed-media art collage. The vintage Angel image has always been a favorite of mine. I used various shades of blue in the collage to add a blissful feeling to the piece.

Summer Bliss & Contrasts

Today, I was looking through some old magazines, and catalogs, and came across this image of a window box - and decided to create a simple collage.

The image reminded me of today's beautiful, sunny and warm day in North Carolina. It is a definite contrast to the  hurricane winds and rain of a few days ago.

My prayers do go out  to all of the Brattleboro, Vermont residents who experienced flooding. It was sad to see all the destruction, in their town, on the news.

Collaged Postcard

Since I've been doing a lot of painting and needle-felting recently, I missed working with collage. That's why I took some time today to create this collaged piece.

I find it very relaxing to compose simple collaged postcards. What type of art work do you do when you want to create without pressure?

Weather Update: Here in North Carolina, we didn't get any repercussions from today's earthquake. But now it looks like Hurricane Irene could be headed toward the Carolinas. Time to take my two Shih Tzus - and Hide!!! I'm not as brave as my husband. Stay safe!

Vintage Car Collage

Instead of a sepia tone, I decided to stay with a realistic photograph of the vintage car. The background consists of a vintage map - and an old neighbors stamp. The substrate is cherry wood.

I may add some tacks or nails to the corners of the wood.

The Power of Art

For the past few days, life has been hectic. So to wind down,  I decided to work on a collage. I'm always amazed at the Power of Art to soothe a person's soul - and provide a sense of well-being.

The collage background paper came from an old book, entitled, Harrington's Spelling Book with a copyright from 1895. Wow - the book is 115 years old! I recently purchased it at a local antique shop. The book is wonderfully aged - and also contains some beautiful pages of script.

When life is hectic, what do you do to relax?

Creating Inspiring Text for Mixed-Media Art

When we travel, I always reap two benefits from the Visitor Guides that I pick up. Typically, I read them to get details on area landmarks and sites. Later, when I'm back home, I'll search the Guides for inspiring phrases, and words, that I might use in my mixed-media art.

You can always find a lot of positive language in these Guides. And usually interesting images too. (But be careful about copyright issues.)

First, I cut out the phrases and paste them onto index cards. The latter provides additional support for the thin pages usually found in Visitor Guides. Since many of the pages are also glossy, I use Crafter's Pick - The Ultimate to make sure the small pieces of paper stick to the index cards. In my experience, I've found that glue sticks, or plain white glue, don't always work with glossy, slippery pages.

This afternoon, after looking through the Guides, I gathered enough phrases to fill four index cards. I may use them to enhance my Art Journal pages. But sometimes, I use the phrases as art prompts (similar to how a writer uses word prompts) to jumpstart a new collage - or mixed-media art piece.

Where do you get your text for mixed-media art?

Welcoming Warm Weather: Collage

This afternoon, I created this collage to welcome the promise of warm weather, sunny days and beautiful blue skies that await us in the Southeastern region of the USA.

I used one of the Darling Girls from Paper Whimsy.

At Home Collage

  

I began this collage about a year ago. Whenever, I wanted to play at art instead of make art, I would work on this piece. I might cut out images that caught my interest or arrange - and rearrange - the paper/cloth ephemera on the stretched canvas.

Today, I decided to finally paste the pieces onto the canvas. After I completed that task, I decided that the collage needed more embellishment. I laid the canvas aside to let it simmer for a while  - and to let new ideas bubble up for my next play at art. I wonder....Do you ever do this with your art?

Houses and hearts seem to play a big part in my art. When I see other mixed-media artist's work, I often see hearts and houses incorporated into their work. I think that when one creates art, the work comes from the heart and the soul...our nest...our home.

Hunting & Gathering Small Treasures

I think that people that work in Mixed-Media Art are forever hunting for, and gathering, small treasures.

The elements of this collage come from many sources, purchased at different times, and in different places. I bought the tin tile a couple years ago from Jaime's ART-E-OLOGY Shop. She offers the greatest vintage items.

The sweet little girl image came from Paper Whimsy. Gale's images are always too tempting. I purchased the fabric (a fat quarter), and trim, from a local fabric store. The bead came from Ornamentea, a fabulous bead store in Raleigh.

I bring my treasures home and let them simmer for a while in my Studio. Then, the right moment arrives and these little gems seamlessly come together and result in an art piece.

What art treasures have you found lately?

Time for Me

I'm done with my short-term work assignment. While I was working, the biggest challenge I faced was finding Time for Me. The long work hours filled up my day so that I couldn't squeeze in enough time for my art, blog or Etsy shop. I did manage to get in some sketching time at night.

When I create art in my Studio, I always experience a feeling of contentment and healing  On my work days, I missed that connection to my creativity. But now it's time for me to renew my artistic efforts both for today and in the New Year ahead. Here's a collage that I completed last night.

Collage: Contemplation

Sometimes, I'll find an image that pulls me in so strongly that I have to create some type of art with it. This is what happened with the female image that you see below. I named the piece Contemplation because the lady seems so deep in thought. I wonder what she is thinking.

Do images ever call to you in the same way?

Small Botanical Art

Here is a small Botanical collage that I completed  today. The tomato image actually came from an old seed catalog. I used a page from a little vintage dictionary for the background paper.

A Small & Quick Collage

When I work on a collage or mixed-media art piece, I can spend countless hours (even days) cutting, pasting, rearranging and sorting through my ephemera.

Today, I decided to create a quick collage with the scraps on my Studio table. It was fun to experiment and the exercise gave me ideas for future bigger and more involved mixed-media pieces.

Here is the little house with the Ocean View

Finishing Up a Collage

I had this unfinished collage lying on my studio table for the past few weeks. Today, I decided to finish it up so that I could claim one artistic accomplishment for the morning.

I'm not entirely satisfied with the collage. I used clothing pattern paper for part of the background. Since the pattern paper is beige, it gave an off-color to the entire collage. I also used pink velum paper to cover the word GIRL in the collage.

But, the good news is, I leaned something from my art today. Pattern paper does not always work with other colors in a collage.

Have a Creative Day, Darlene

Collage - Do You Still Believe?

Somehow, I missed the deadline for an Inchie challenge. So, instead of posting a couple of Inchies, I decided to post a Collage that I completed.

Have a Creative Day - and Make Some Art, Darlene

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

I hope you all have a Happy Valentine's Day. Make sure you eat lots of goodies.

Have a Creative Day, Darlene