Sometimes I like to paint backgrounds that are more than just colours for my collages. I painted an abstract landscape on a large sheet of heavy watercolour paper and cut it up into sections. This was the smallest section and I thought it was finished when I added the butterfly. But -- going through my box of trimmed images, the bunny jumped out. It's oversize, so I let it sit on the painting for a while.I usually do that when I'm not sure. This morning I was sure.

SOLD

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 What a difference a day makes...
Sunlight, blue skies, and a benign air. Truly mood-lifting. I'm grateful for days like this.
Today, I stitched paper.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 I hate to neglect my blog, but when I'm feeling poorly I have little to say. Happily I'm feeling much better and my mood is lifting. Making ATCs always makes me happy; I haven't made any [paper] ones in a long, long time. These are my latest.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Tags have been temporarily set aside as I go through a small collage phase.
Strike while the iron is hot, I say.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 I was tempted to call this "orphans of the storm", but this totally unplanned composition, when I looked at it finished, is the story of two sisters who overcame a dark childhood, and overcame it very well.

Watercolour and collage on Arches paper.

 
Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Alternative methods of travel is one of my favourite themes. This is the latest one.

The background: acrylic and washes of Distress Stain.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Collaging my heart out.
This piece was inspired by Catherine Moore's collage of birds piled into a desk drawer.

Cuckoo in the nest.... (detail)

  
Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Alternative ways of travel...

Collage available in my Etsy shop.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Exploring the theme of identity. What do we mean when we ask: Who are you?

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

March is behaving like....March. High winds, snow.... and what will the robin do now, poor thing. Except that our robins come in the spring. Hurry up, robins! I speak of this because I have to go out to an appointment. It's no big deal, I'm used to it, but still....

I soaked some cardboard à la  Hanne Mathiesen (see her article in Somerset Apprentice), to separate the layers and made a couple of  collage postcards with those layers, actually smaller than postcards (great mail art, though!!)

Rescue me

I made this collage some days ago, using layers of old paper. When it was finished, I didn't like it. Something was wrong it; there was a layer of tissue showing that I didn't like because it didn't go with everything else. I covered it with other paper elements and photographed it (photos give me a backup idea of what something will look like), but it still didn't work. So I set it aside, knowing that in the fullness of time, I would know what to do with it, even it it meant discarding it (although I would preserve the old photo because I love it so much.
       Last night, my shadow-self picked up a pair of scissors and cut out the centre, then stitched fabric and lace on it. I photographed it, and put it aside until this morning.
       This morning, I signed it. It worked and I liked it very much. I sign my pieces only when they're finished.

The French note is signed by a dress maker

Friday's child...

.... is playing with paper.

These pieces are from an antique autograph book that I bought years and year ago. The time has come do do something with them. So I'm playing with composition. I'm as seduced by old and frayed paper as I am by old and frayed fabric. When I'm ready, I'll glue everything down. The little red bird is my contribution, like a little signature.

Thursday art

Ghost Circus. It disappeared many decades ago, but its energy still remains and the horse senses it. That's my story, anyway!

I don't know who she is, but I wouldn't be surprised if she were an Irish Canadian or American named Eileen. That's what keeps coming to mind. Her shade hovers across the room watching me as I record her on paper.

Little stories

This child strides confidently towards his destiny. One hopes that he grew up to be an enlightened and good man, that he lived a long, rich life.

This piece is available here.