I Will Fly Away

                                      

Book arts and mixed media combine in this "Shrine Book."   Collage and assemblage techniques are used on the covers.   The base layer covering the cardboard structure is made from pages of a vintage book torn into pieces and applied with a matte medium.   Once that was done, the shrine-like niches were embellished.  I try to let a story or theme unfold without over-thinking it.  The muse leads the way.

White colored pencils are just as I found them in the bottom of my pencil drawer. 

The smaller niches are filled with resin to encase the embellishments.  

A tapestry spine is reinforced with a hidden structural layer and bound with waxed linen.  The book is sturdy and large.

The text line is from a page of an antique book, one of many that I have disassembled to make my journals.   "I will fly away"...... it seemed to add another dimension to the story this book might tell.

Samuel was Answered

For me it always starts with one item. In this case it was the photograph of a young man. I only imagine his name was Samuel... there was no inscription on the back.

The rest took on a life of it's own as I tried to work intuitively on the piece.

A recent class at Valley Ridge Art Studio in Wisconsin with artist Michael deMeng inspired me to try some new approaches in assemblage. He taught us many things about using non-traditional materials and painting techniques to create various effects. Apparently that creative energy followed me home. I do hope it sticks around awhile.

My brother-in-law and husband recently gifted me with an old typewriter, knowing that I would disassemble it for my artwork. The old Underwood was rusted and damaged beyond use and I was told that the auctioneer actually paid them $1 to take it away. What luck!
As I was cutting strips of old newspaper clippings to adhere to the surface, the name 'Samuel' and the words 'was answered' seemed to jump out at me. When you allow yourself to work from pure intuition, little 'gifts' are often presented. In this case, it was the title of the work.



The back ends of the old Underwood keys have such interesting hook shapes!

I must say that during the 2 days it took me to completely disassemble the old typewriter, I gained profound respect for the complex mechanics of the thing.

A work of art in itself.

Beverly Complete

The altered photograph from this piece was posted several days ago. I just couldn't leave it alone and felt she needed a more complete setting. The background is fabric collage and mixed media assemblage. Beverly's new look was stitched onto the background. Beaded fringe was added at the bottom.