"Pop Love", Phase One, Collaborative Collage 1

"Pop Love" Phase One

Packing tape transfer of images from the TV guide,
Valentine week. Tim Holtz scrapbook paper plus
unidentified Michael's scrapbook paper. Glue stick.

I am very excited to begin a Collaborative Collage process with my friends Lisa Kastello (Northern Illinois Art Educator and artist) and Mel Jones Bushner Kolstad (Wisconsin artist, crafter, creative blogger and teacher). I proposed the collaborative collage after Mel gave me the inspiration with a facebook link. Bought the illustration board, but then was not sure how to start. I often have a "too many ideas" problem and sometimes get overwhelmed. Easy Girl.

I had the TV guide from the Sunday paper lying on my craft table and was intrigued by an retro artsy picture of Katy Perry. I'm not usually a "pink" person but decided to start with a packing tape transfer of the image.

For those of you who haven't tried this technique--very fast and easy. Just choose an image or text (newspaper is great) and put clear packing tape over the part you want. Soak it in water, rub off the paper. The ink adheres to the tape, creating an interesting transparent and ghostly image.


I'm mailing the 8" x 10" collage to Lisa today and can't wait to see the next developments. In our round-robin the first person starts the collage and theme, the second person adds layers and their own style and the third person finishes the collage as only they can. Then the third person starts a new collage and sends it to the next person. I like that we get to take turns creating the beginning, middle and end of each collage.

More Brown Bag Journal Pages

Brown Bag Journal 2 (Cover)

I used the Tsukinek Antiquing Solution (Walnut Ink) with
Tim Holtz masks, black stamp ink and metallic markers.
Tim Holtz gear. Tatter Angels Glimmer Mist (Marshmallow).

Brown Bag Journal 2 (pages 3 & 4)

Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist (Marshmallow), magazine clips
Black Pitt pen, handmade paper, quotes.

Brown Bag Journal 2 (pages 1 & 2)

Stencils and masks with Tsukinek Antiquing Solution and
Tatter Angels Glimmer Mist (Marshmallow). Quotes.

Brown Bag Journal 2 (pages 5 & 6)

Magazine clips, post cards cut, quote, brads, with
stencils and Antiquing Solution and Glimmer Mist.

Paper Bag Journal 2 (Back Cover)

Magazine clips, Tim Holtz masks, Antiquing Solution,
Glimmer Mist, patterned tape. Quote.

King Crow Artist Card

Card image cropped from Paper Bag Journal 3

(Cover, below) made with Martha Stewart bird punch and

crown punch, patterned tape, stencils, Glimmer Mist and

Antiquing Solution, heart shaped brads.

Paper Bag Journal 3 (Cover)

These Brown Bag Journals are so fun and fast to make--a great way to try out new techniques. I was remembering a book I made for my sister Jane, many years ago, that had drawings and quotes in it. I love reading quotes and collecting them. These little journals are perfect for adding thoughtful phrases. What a great bonus to be able to crop the pages (digitally) to make a point of departure for an artist card. I think I am going to add faux encaustic to this card.

It has been a month since I have blogged although I have been making Paper Bag Journals, looking at craft books, journaling, making art cards and attending trades, as well as working on my outline for a book that is tentatively called: Creative Collage for Visual Journals, Artist Cards, Art Therapy, Fine Art and Crafts. I was working on writing a book about Artist Card techniques and applications but it kept on expanding. I love collage and it makes sense to me to create a more general "how to" book that also discusses applications such as journals and the other lovely things mentioned in the title.

Tonight I went to a writer's group, my attempt at making myself more accountable in terms of getting this book done. Love the group--the lecture was about "Writing With Heart". I have no lack of passion for art and the book topic so we will see how long it takes me to create it. I am committed to getting the first three topics in my outline written and illustrated by our next meeting. All, send me some good vibes for courage and keeping my feet (and hands) in motion, one step at a time.

Brown Bag Journal

Cover

Stamp from Redlead, clips from Dick Blick art catalog, glass microbeads,
Metallic Rub-Ons from Craf-T Products and map patterned tape.

Pages 1 & 2

Redline stamps, collage, Metallic Rub-Ons

Pages 3 & 4

Collage, Martha Stewart bird punch, Metallic Rub-Ons.

Pages 5 & 6

Collage with magazine clips and from Denver Botanic Gardens brochure for their Botanical Art and Illustration Certificate Program http://www.botanicalillustration.blogspot.com/

Back Cover

Tsukineko Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution, "Java". Tim Holtz stick on letters, magazine clips, Metallic Rub-Ons, map patterned tape.

I tried out the Paper Bag Journal as described by Yoli on her blog at http://sacredyoli.blogspot.com/2009/04/tutorial-brown-bag-art-journal.html

These little journals are easy to make--just cut the bottom from two brown paper lunch bags, fold in half, crease and secure the binding with a line of thread, brads or you have it. This leaves you with a front and back cover, 6 pages to embellish and 4 pockets to tuck secret messages into. I did this project with my son and my landlord's 7 year old. Fun and easy.

Then I worked into the night with collage, markers, stamps and small index cards. The message I had for myself: keep up the blogging, keep up the botanical drawing and continue to work towards completing my artist card book and a career in art full time.

Nourishing Your Creativity

Nourishing Creativity

Collage made with scrapbook paper, Campbell soup ad, stamp (redline) with sepia ink (Ranger).

This card is actually a miniature (ATC sized) version of the cover of one of my visual journals. I am excited that today I proposed two new classes I want to teach for the Colorado Free University. Later today I got an email saying both of them were accepted, and will be workshops offered in the Spring. They are: "Nourishing Your Creativity through Creative Art Journaling" and "Make and Trade Artist Cards".

I love doing workshops like these and hope that my full time work, in the future, will be conducting workshops from my own office/studio as well as around the country, along with practicing creativity coaching, teaching and art therapy. Oh, and selling my art work as well. Fingers crossed.