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Saturday, July 8, 2023

2023 07 Sparks Carry Within Them the Wish To Be Relieved Of The Burden Of Brightness

Andrea Matus deMeng and her class sample at Shake Rag Alley

In an earlier blog (2023 06 Explorations of the Wandering Mind with Andrea Matus deMeng) I talked about my experiences in her class making a triptych collage.

Here is my process photos for the triptych I made.

We started with 2 12"X12" and a central 12"X16" cradled board

The opening collage

Audition #1 of the central figure

Planning the triptych

Audition #2

Audition #3

By the time we had our critique at Shake Rag with Andrea, this is as far as the triptych got. It was the fourth version of the collages and while I was happy with the work I knew when I got home I would have some work to do.

Thus we have Sparks Carry Within Them the Wish To Be Relieved Of The Burden Of Brightness. The two smaller panels are 12" x 12" while the central panel is 16" X 12".

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

2023 07 In Recent Years There Has Been a Wholesome Revival of the Ancient Art of Storytelling

Yesterday Denice and I were walking in our neighborhood when we came across two things. By the freeway bridge we walked over we found what I think is a part of a brake rotor, rusty and laying in the road.

The metal piece got a coat of spray primer when we got home

Later on the walk, by the park for the Fourth of July celebration tomorrow the County had parked a dumpster that neighbors began to fill with stuff from their homes that they were too lazy to carry to the dump. Yes, I dumpster dived and found this little cabinet door.

There were two but one stubbornly remained out of reach

While walking home, I happened to hold the two together and an idea sprang up in my mind.

Image transfer

In addition to the rust dyeing on this handkerchief, I tinted the sewing

Thus we have In Recent Years There Has Been a Wholesome Revival of the Ancient Art of Storytelling. It is 14"H X 12"W X 1"D. It consists of a Cabinet Door, Rusty Brake Remnant, Rust Dyed Handkerchief, Nails (3), Paper and Paint.

Sunday, July 2, 2023

2023 07 Bare Ruin'd Choirs, Where Late The Sweet Birds Sang

This was an interesting piece for me. I found the slaw cutter and knew I could trust it to make a good piece of art. All along I knew I would create a collage that would go in the window created when the slaw cutter blade was lifted above the grater.

My goal was to not manipulate the object too much, but that kind of went out the window. I guess at the end, I can not trust myself. I still want to do this with another object but this one ended up in a pretty satisfying work of art once I got done modifying everything.

All of the work below was done at Shake Rag Alley at night after working on my projects for Andrea Matus deMeng's Explorations of the Wandering Mind class.

Once I got home, I worked more on the piece until it was done.

Thus we have Bare Ruin'd Choirs, Where Late The Sweet Birds Sang. The quote is from Sonnet 73 by William Shakespeare. The piece is 24"H X 11"W X 3"D. It consists of a 22"H X 10"W Cradled Board, Slaw Cutter, Wood Disc, Drawer Knob, Jewelry (2), Nails (32). Plaster Cast, Paper and Paint.

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

2023 06 Wisconsin State Fair Amateur Photography Competition

2023 Wisconsin State Fair Amateur Photography Competition

Every year I enter the Wisconsin State Fair Amateur Photography Competition which gives out a Best In Show, Judges Favorites (4), and 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Place Ribbons. On June 27th, the judges awarded the ribbons at a judging that is open to the public and I attended. The winning photos will be on display at the Wisconsin State Fair from August 3rd to the 13th.

I attend the judging each year with good friends and fellow photographers: Bob Crocker, Lynn and Chris Prober. Denice comes along as moral support and to fetch the photographs that are not selected, or as we affectionally call them--"Fifth Place."

DID NOT PLACE