Thoughts from Alison that might at least entertain you!

Circle Of Art 2012

Today I find myself thinking about the Circle of Art auction to benefit Food Gatherers, that I presume will happen again this year in May - although I can't find a date posted anywhere yet.  I've got a couple of collage ideas brewing, so I think I'll try to get a jump on them.  The COA auction at the Saline Picture Frame Company has become one of my favorite events of the year!

Cow collage updates!

After further thought, I decided to add photos to the posts below - to show you the photos I was working off of for each collage!  These are the first pieces I've done when I was working to recreate an actual photo, instead of just working from inside my own head.

These two pieces will available on the Circle of Art 2011 Auction on May 15th.  This is a fantastic fundraising event dreamt up and hosted each year by the Saline Picture Frame Company, to benefit Food Gatherers.  Online bidding has already begun, although it will take a few days for my pieces to make it onto the website.  I hope to raise a few dollars for Food Gatherers' good work with these cows!

Piebald Cow is finished and ready for her snack

(She is a little bigger than her sister, Brown Cow, but this photo fits best here)

Brown Cow seems to think she's finished

I worked off two photos for this collage.  I liked the image/angle/close-up of the black cow nose below, but love the red-brown coloring of the fuzzier photo:

Before Creating

With any luck, the things in these four pics will become four pieces of artwork before too long.  Can you picture it?  Me either...  except kind of in my head right now.  And yes, I am working on an idea built entirely out of candy!

New Projects Brewing

Good evening, Friends!  I've got a few new projects on tap.  John tagged along this weekend as I went hunting for a few crafty things for some collage ideas that are forming in my head (if not on the collage table quite yet).  He was not terribly surprised when I was sidetracked by soft fleece fabrics on the way through the fabric department. 

I had no plan to consider, plan, or start a fabric project.  But how could I resist this fantastic dog fabric?!?  I couldn't, and before I knew it I had a plan for one of those simple no-sew double-sided fleece blanket things.  I do love blankets, and I do use them frequently.  And so...  this is the beginning of the new blanket: 

 

I also have 3 forming collage ideas that I hope to begin to execute yet this week.  I'm thinking of 2 pieces specifically for the Circle of Art auction to benefit Food Gatherers, and a 3rd piece that's just an idea I like with no specific purpose in mind.  I'll share progress reports once I get moving on this.  I'll also share a pic of the completed blanket, possibly tomorrow. 

Be Well, All!

Purple Vegetable Collage Work

Good evening, All.  How about this?  I'm not blogging about farm animals!  I have many more to talk about, but thought I'd take a break today to finish two collages I've been working on.  These two will make their way soon to the Saline Picture Frame Company for the 2010 Circle of Art event to benefit Food Gatherers.  Both of these - purple carrots and purple asparagus really exist in the natural world (as food, not as collages, although the collages now exist too)!

Pockets of Beauty in Chaos

Some flowers currently housed in the kitchen at Prune Ridge for you...  And some insight as to why I haven't been collaging in a while.  I can't get to the table!  Granted, the drying rack is temporary and appears when I do laundry, but still.  As of this afternoon the table is a bit more accessible, the clothing seen piled on it in this picture has been moved (for mending), and a few collage ideas are swirling.  I need some fairies or elves or something to do these sort of things when I'm not looking.  Just imagine how much more productive I would be if I weren't my own obstacle!

Bits and Pieces of Art, etc.

I can't remember the last time, practically, that I actually worked on a collage.  I rearranged my collage space a few weeks ago, sorting and cleaning a bit as I went, but I still haven't ploughed into anything new.  I'm not sure exactly what the holdup is.

Things I'm "working on" on some level (but not any actual activity for ages) include a gift for friends of my mom's, a piece worked around some friends' wedding invitation (the wedding was in January '07), and my Sun piece that was damaged and needs to be re-framed.  Also in my thoughts is a piece based on a line of hymn text I love.

A bit of my mind is waiting to re-focus on collage work when we settle into a new home.  A bit of my mind also knows that I might just be avoiding the commitment to it by saying that!

It occurs to me that I probably need to have a more consistent, or at least "more planned" outlet for the pieces I create in order to keep making more.  They're only so wonderful if I keep finishing and then storing them.

Now She Thinks She's A Lyricist

So I find myself writing a new verse to an ages-old folk tune.  It's for a collage piece I'm just conceiving - a commissioned piece!

I'll share the new verse here eventually if I decide it's a "go."  What's funny to me about this is that I'm writing a verse for "This Land Is Your Land" - and what in the world makes me think I should screw around with that classic?!?  (Thank you, Woody Guthrie!)

After

Just an update here:

You can see the "Before" pictures from a few days ago.  I have actually made good headway this afternoon in cleaning up my collage space!  Most of the clutter is back in a home, my very original piece is hanging on the wall (for the first time since we moved into this house 2+ years ago), and a magnetic dry-erase board is up now too.

Now to make the time for new work!

Before

This is supposed to work as motivation for myself:

Here's the collage room before I force myself to get up there and clean it.  What in the world has happened in there?  On the one hand, you might be thinking "well, it looks like and artist's space..."  On the other hand, you should know that I don't keep my space like this!  It gets a little out of control while I'm working on a piece, but I haven't done anything new in a while.  So here I go - off to try and make a difference.  I'll report back when it's better!

Peace, Dear Friends!

The Original

I decided to share a photo of this collage.  I realized a few weeks ago that it's my original piece - even before I took the workshop that "got me started."  This came from a class I took while living in Boston called "Building Your Spiritual Home."

I haven't quite figured out how to take a picture of a framed piece without the glare from a straight-on shot.  Sorry for the angle!  I left John's name tag hanging on the edge on purpose - He being an important part of my spiritual home at this point!

First Show!

Good evening, Friends!

John and I spent the day in Toledo, starting off with hanging my small collage show at Georgette's Grounds & Gifts in Maumee.  There are a few pictures here, but consider stopping in to Georgette's this month to see my pieces if you're in the Toledo area!

I have 6 pieces on display, 4 of which are  for sale.  I'm interested simply to see what kind of feedback I get from a little public showing.  As most of you know, this is the first time I have shown several pieces together like this.  2 of the pieces on display are not for sale, but I'm hopeful that they might generate a little interest in what I do.

We rounded out the day by purchasing a bike lock for me, visiting the Old West End Festival (a quick visit since the weather became scary-looking), and yummy dinner and desert with my mom and Bernie.  A longer day than usual for our laid-back weekends, but all fun and good!

Peace to you all this first weekend of June, Dear Friends.  Be Well and Be In Touch!

Joy in the Garden

Greetings, All!  I hope this holiday Monday finds you rested and well.

This is a new collage piece I've just finished (in less than 4 days - a new record) as a donation for Food Gatherer's annual Grillin' event auction (in less that 2 weeks!).  Joy in the Garden is the first piece I've done that is almost entirely one media - paper.  There are just a few stones.  The pictures may or may not let you pick out the stones.

I'm pretty sure this piece has come out of my vision of greatness for my measly planting (container planting) efforts undertaken this past week.  Maybe in a few months my porch will look like this garden? 

Ok, maybe not...  but I can dream, right?

Take care, Friends - May your roots reach deep and your branches high.  And may your fruits not go unappreciated!