New series: city collages

Dublin, Ireland, 24 x 18 cm, found paper and acrylic on panel.


Tampere, Finland, 24 x 18 cm, found paper and acrylic on panel.

I really enjoyed making these, and I'm pleased with the initial results (I'll do a little more work on the Tampere one, at least). The collage elements consist of paper (maps, fliers) from the cities themselves that I've collected on my travels. I need to buy more panels so I can continue the series.

I think this one is finally finished (although this photo of it is somewhat out of focus):

Piran, Slovenia, 40 x 30 cm, mixed media on panel.

Back from a travel break

My in-progress Slovenian collage, last seen here.

I've been on the road for most of the past month and a half, which is why this blog has become neglected once again. I've missed having time in my studio, but at least I have been staying creative. Every day while traveling I write and take copious photographs. I've also been keeping up with my other blog, posting travel reports and photos.

To jump start my return to drawing and painting, I've just signed up for Rowena's 100 in 100 challenge. I'm a few days behind, but I'll catch up. First I'm trying to work out exactly what these 100 things will be. Sketchbook pages, perhaps. I'd love to say paintings or collages, but that's not very realistic (most pieces take me a week to a month to complete). Or perhaps it can be anything visual, as long as I post here about it. That would be a whole lot of blogging... I'll sleep on it and let you know what I decide (and by "you" I mean the one person who still reads this blog).

A Slovenian mess

I love the beginning stages of a collage, when everything is so chaotic, various materials slapped together in disharmony. At least that's how mine usually start out.

This collage-in-progress is inspired by my recent trip to Slovenia. The background consists of pages from an old Slovenian book my friend and I bought for a euro (it's about flowers). The foreground is layers of charcoal, conte crayon, and gouache. The imagery is inspired by various photos from the trip, mainly those taken on the coast.

Like I said, I love beginning a collage. The process is infinitely enjoyable. It's making it into a finished work that I've yet to master.

I'll let you know if anything comes of this one.