The first two images are her collage on black paper then her collage on white paper; the third image is the cut marriage of the two. The final images are small area replications of the combined collages.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Her Little Jewels
Sue really spent time on her collage/mixed media piece. She said she carried her small collage replications with her around everywhere and was sewing on them whenever she could. They are just lovely and it is apparent how she truly enjoyed working on each piece. She could easily frame these pieces, as she ended up creating a watercolor background for each. The process is my favorite part of this assignment... there is no end where it could stop!
The first two images are her collage on black paper then her collage on white paper; the third image is the cut marriage of the two. The final images are small area replications of the combined collages.
The first two images are her collage on black paper then her collage on white paper; the third image is the cut marriage of the two. The final images are small area replications of the combined collages.
Kara Walker response
Sue created this wonderful response to the Walker/Ashe assignment. Here is what she wrote about her piece for her colophon - it lends itself to becoming like an artist statement. It is beautifully written and worth the read:
"The concept for this book started with the poem which I found in a children's book entitled There isn't Time by Eleanor Farjeon. This poem is in the inside cover of my book and reads:
There isn't time, there isn't time
To do the things I want to do,
With all the mountain-tops to climb,
And all the woods to wander through,
And all the seas to sail upon,
And everywhere there is to go,
And all the people, every one
Who lives upon the earth, to know.
There's only time, there's only time
To know a few, and do a few,
And then sit down and make a rhyme
About the rest I want to do.
For the last few years I have been feeling the crowding of my spirit, time, and energy. My creative thought has slowed down and the demands of my elementary art position (700 students), family, and extended family has left me feeling like there is no time... for me. The scary thing is that I am just now really entering the deep "service years" when I will be called upon by teen age children to do more, see more, and be more. While the oldsters of the family (5 over the age of 77) are going to start requiring more and more of my attention and help. I expect this to last for the next 10 years which is not a pleasant thought.
While thinking about the poem and reflecting on my own feelings the concept for this book came about. In order to help myself understand what the external and internal pressures were I listed all of the things which take my time and what I would really like to be doing at this point in my life. The interesting point was that for every thing that was holding me back it seemed like I wanted to be doing just the opposite. No wonder I am feeling squeezed by life. In refining my list it came down to the following:
What holds me back What I want life to hold
Household chores Time to be in the mountains or elsewhere for that matter.
Laundry Time to garden and grow flowering plants
My job Doing my own art work
The Oldsters Meeting new people and going to new places
The format of the book itself was another issue. Did I want the silhouettes to be modern people or 1950's images since I a lot of the time feel I am cast into the 1950's roles. Did I want the book to be black and white or colors? Did I want the beginning of the book to be all what is holding me back with the 2nd half consist of what I want... or... every other page of each? All of these questions had to be answered. Eventually, I decided that since the book was about me I would use actual images of myself and the people I am involved with. I'm not much of a black and white person. I like color. So I decided that although the silhouettes could be black I would use color in the backgrounds and behind the cut outs. I also felt that by alternating the pages of what holds me back and what I want from life might make more of a statement in the end.
With all of this decided I had to revisit the color issue. I have always liked the Dr. Seuss book My Many Colored Days. It uses mainly monochromatic color on each page and explores how color can affect moods and emotions. It is a good book to teach color and Imagery along with personal communication. I have often wondered how I could use this book to create a project for younger students. I think the way I have worked this process out would be a good starting place for 3rd grade students.
Once all of the thinking was done I did a good amount of sketches for the images. I ended up putting an extra layer of gesso on the pages to stiffen them more and make them whiter for higher contrast. I will admit that I had to go in and number the images and pages for layout as it was confusing. I think I spent 2 evenings 7:00pm- 11:00 pm or later doing the cut outs. Wow, what a job that was! With those done I concentrated on the silhouette images and went through my picture files on the computer for compatible images. Several had to be posed and taken just for this book. Actually, the silhouettes were the easiest thing of the whole book. I cut those out of black construction paper and numbered them for the pages.
Color, color, color. I had to spend some time thinking about colors, how they made me feel, and how they related to the images I had chosen. Then for each page I mixed the desired color in acrylic paint and used a coffee filter to sponge the colors onto the pages to create a textured area. I also had to use the same color for the corresponding cut out on watercolor paper. The tricky part was figuring out which sheet needed a color on both sides and what colors went where. That done, I glued in the silhouettes. The cut out pages were glued the next day using Modge Podge with a separation sheet of wax paper to keep pages from sticking together. I did have to weight the book to press the cut outs firmly and re-shape the pages.
All in all I am very proud of this book. It has been a definite challenge and growing experience. I did have to think, take notes, refer to notes, and create clear images. All of which I haven't applied to an artwork of my own for years. Each step I took with this book brought me closer to the artist I used to be.... and a realization of what I can still do. it was time well and fruitfully spent."
"The concept for this book started with the poem which I found in a children's book entitled There isn't Time by Eleanor Farjeon. This poem is in the inside cover of my book and reads:
There isn't time, there isn't time
To do the things I want to do,
With all the mountain-tops to climb,
And all the woods to wander through,
And all the seas to sail upon,
And everywhere there is to go,
And all the people, every one
Who lives upon the earth, to know.
There's only time, there's only time
To know a few, and do a few,
And then sit down and make a rhyme
About the rest I want to do.
For the last few years I have been feeling the crowding of my spirit, time, and energy. My creative thought has slowed down and the demands of my elementary art position (700 students), family, and extended family has left me feeling like there is no time... for me. The scary thing is that I am just now really entering the deep "service years" when I will be called upon by teen age children to do more, see more, and be more. While the oldsters of the family (5 over the age of 77) are going to start requiring more and more of my attention and help. I expect this to last for the next 10 years which is not a pleasant thought.
While thinking about the poem and reflecting on my own feelings the concept for this book came about. In order to help myself understand what the external and internal pressures were I listed all of the things which take my time and what I would really like to be doing at this point in my life. The interesting point was that for every thing that was holding me back it seemed like I wanted to be doing just the opposite. No wonder I am feeling squeezed by life. In refining my list it came down to the following:
What holds me back What I want life to hold
Household chores Time to be in the mountains or elsewhere for that matter.
Laundry Time to garden and grow flowering plants
My job Doing my own art work
The Oldsters Meeting new people and going to new places
The format of the book itself was another issue. Did I want the silhouettes to be modern people or 1950's images since I a lot of the time feel I am cast into the 1950's roles. Did I want the book to be black and white or colors? Did I want the beginning of the book to be all what is holding me back with the 2nd half consist of what I want... or... every other page of each? All of these questions had to be answered. Eventually, I decided that since the book was about me I would use actual images of myself and the people I am involved with. I'm not much of a black and white person. I like color. So I decided that although the silhouettes could be black I would use color in the backgrounds and behind the cut outs. I also felt that by alternating the pages of what holds me back and what I want from life might make more of a statement in the end.
With all of this decided I had to revisit the color issue. I have always liked the Dr. Seuss book My Many Colored Days. It uses mainly monochromatic color on each page and explores how color can affect moods and emotions. It is a good book to teach color and Imagery along with personal communication. I have often wondered how I could use this book to create a project for younger students. I think the way I have worked this process out would be a good starting place for 3rd grade students.
Once all of the thinking was done I did a good amount of sketches for the images. I ended up putting an extra layer of gesso on the pages to stiffen them more and make them whiter for higher contrast. I will admit that I had to go in and number the images and pages for layout as it was confusing. I think I spent 2 evenings 7:00pm- 11:00 pm or later doing the cut outs. Wow, what a job that was! With those done I concentrated on the silhouette images and went through my picture files on the computer for compatible images. Several had to be posed and taken just for this book. Actually, the silhouettes were the easiest thing of the whole book. I cut those out of black construction paper and numbered them for the pages.
Color, color, color. I had to spend some time thinking about colors, how they made me feel, and how they related to the images I had chosen. Then for each page I mixed the desired color in acrylic paint and used a coffee filter to sponge the colors onto the pages to create a textured area. I also had to use the same color for the corresponding cut out on watercolor paper. The tricky part was figuring out which sheet needed a color on both sides and what colors went where. That done, I glued in the silhouettes. The cut out pages were glued the next day using Modge Podge with a separation sheet of wax paper to keep pages from sticking together. I did have to weight the book to press the cut outs firmly and re-shape the pages.
All in all I am very proud of this book. It has been a definite challenge and growing experience. I did have to think, take notes, refer to notes, and create clear images. All of which I haven't applied to an artwork of my own for years. Each step I took with this book brought me closer to the artist I used to be.... and a realization of what I can still do. it was time well and fruitfully spent."
Cornell Pieces Hail from Wichita!
In the first piece, I like how she limited herself to images only, emphasizing the textural motifs within the found images. In the second piece, the layering of collage, then drawn images, then 3D objects over top creates nice physical texture as well. The shells and composition become complex little still-lifes of their own, just waiting to be drawn by the artist. This is why I love mixed media work; it can easily move from 2D to 3D and back again, becoming a series of pieces.
The contrast of visual texture in one to actual texture in another could be a great assignment for students of other levels...
Finished Pieces...
The finished pieces from the Altered Books course turned out beautifully! The gals put so much of themselves into their pieces. It is hard as an art educator to find time to pursue one's own artistic endeavors; it is great to see that these ladies found a way again to make artwork of their own.
Each of the following blog posts will be the pieces they created in the course (and then potentially finished after the end of the course), and then further pieces they created for course credit.
Each of the following blog posts will be the pieces they created in the course (and then potentially finished after the end of the course), and then further pieces they created for course credit.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Altered Books: Reflection
All were altered through art! Most finished the Cornell piece and had to wrap up the Walker/Ashe and Sewn Collage book at home. In all, time was spent making in a flurry to spark imagination for future lesson plans! Hurrah!!! As I receive images of completed pieces from those who took the course, I will post... in the mean time, happy art making, art taking apart, and re-constructive fun!
The next course I will be teaching through KCAI will be this summer... Mixed Media Drawing, June 4 - 6. Oh what fun it is to be artist and art instructor!
The next course I will be teaching through KCAI will be this summer... Mixed Media Drawing, June 4 - 6. Oh what fun it is to be artist and art instructor!
Day 3, February 26th
Working, working, working, and more books to be made!!!
Finally!!! Most all were finished with the Cornell book. Walker/Ashe books would need to be completed at home. Demonstrated today was a "Paint Chip" book with found materials. In the morning was where the real fun began and where most found their stride with abstracted forms. Abstract imagery took off and left little time in the end to get to the Mark Rothko/Agnes Martin/Barnett Newman book project. Oh well... will be able to add that lesson to a potential advanced Altered Books course?!
The Sewn/Collage Altered Flag Book: (in brief)
Drawings and collages in chaos on two pieces of paper
Images with textures as emphasis
Re-drawing, re-scribbling, re-working
Drawing A cut horizontal in strips
Drawing B cut vertically
Drawings woven, glue, Modge-Poged
Taped areas chosen
3" x 4" miniature collages began
Watercolor, sewing, lines abound
6 images flagged for importance
Cover of collages
Did we finish? Of course not.... homework!
Finally!!! Most all were finished with the Cornell book. Walker/Ashe books would need to be completed at home. Demonstrated today was a "Paint Chip" book with found materials. In the morning was where the real fun began and where most found their stride with abstracted forms. Abstract imagery took off and left little time in the end to get to the Mark Rothko/Agnes Martin/Barnett Newman book project. Oh well... will be able to add that lesson to a potential advanced Altered Books course?!
The Sewn/Collage Altered Flag Book: (in brief)
Drawings and collages in chaos on two pieces of paper
Images with textures as emphasis
Re-drawing, re-scribbling, re-working
Drawing A cut horizontal in strips
Drawing B cut vertically
Drawings woven, glue, Modge-Poged
Taped areas chosen
3" x 4" miniature collages began
Watercolor, sewing, lines abound
6 images flagged for importance
Cover of collages
Did we finish? Of course not.... homework!
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