As I’ve been working through a year of collages, I’ve been wondering what to do with all the results. Some of these exercises in composition have NOT been frame-worthy, but what if they could still be used? When I filled up my first sketchbook, I was willing to try. First, I scanned the sketchbook and…
Tag: technique
New Texture Tool!
I had fun today trying out my new Gelli plate! Sure beats making my own gelatin. Have you wondered about monoprinting? Here’s a quick video demonstration from their site. Here’ I’ve used textures from the Gelli plate to form the basis for one of my daily collages. And I’m thinking next about textures for holiday…
Technology, the Modern Art Tool
From Paul Sietsema’s show at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago: Although there is quite a bit of hand labor in my work, the working processes involve many eras of tools, including of-the-moment ones, and keystrokes as well. I think this kind of interactivity is, importantly, a two-way street: using the hand this way…
Technique: Microscopic Details
For some of the detail layers in my collage, I’m using a new toy: a microscope! A far cry from what I remember in science lab, this is just a wee thing, plugging into my computer’s USB port. And what fun details I can see! So far, I’ve had the most success with currency: bank…
Technique: Complicated Masks
As I layer digital images, I’m trying to emulate physical effects. I love how paint or encaustic wax looks when it’s partially adhered, scraped off, covered again… But, even with images of great texture, how can I do that just with pixels? Here, I’ve started a collage of some of the usual suspects: some texture details,…
Creating and Transforming
Art as transformation: to get us to new thoughts and associations
Layers of Texture with Threshold Masks
I’m still layering textures and color in my collages, wondering where to take it next. I’ve worked out a method, using light thresholds as masking layers, that lets me add more colors. Here’s a breakdown of a recent piece I worked on. I started with a shot of Waverly Station in Edinburgh, from my recent trip….
Texture with Gelatin Prints
After the usual trial & error, I finally managed a printing session at home with a gelatin plate, and the textured results were worth the wait. I followed the steps and tips on Linda Germain’s blog, Printmaking without a Press. Biggest tip: natural-foods-store vegan gelatin will NOT do. Oh, what a blobby mess that was!…