Maxim of the Week

When his cat rode on his lap while he was cutting the grass, Don preferred to use the Snail Speed on his ride-on lawn mower.

Maxim:

Make haste slowly.

A Promise is a Promise

As promised, here is the rest of my recent Buddha-themed mixed-media/ collage work.

(click on images for larger views)

Buddha Bits

These 5 x 7 inch mixed media pieces began as simple collages. Using Photoshopped images of Buddha statuary that I had photographed in a public garden on Prince Edward Island, cut-up motifs from an old wallpaper sample book, bits of handmade paper (not handmade by me!), scraps from an Asian (Korean?) newspaper, and fragments from a book of Zen writings, I glued them onto watercolour paper with acrylic matte medium.

Once all the elements were in place, though, I realized that those wallpaper images were copyrighted. I then had to go at them with my paints to completely alter them and turn them into my own designs. But they'd served as a good jumping-off point, giving me a solid basis for an interesting composition.

There are more four more in this series. I'll be posting them soon.

Maxim of the Week

Although Gayla was very serious about her position as back-catcher on the baseball team, she brought a certain sense of whimsical creativity to her uniform.

Maxim:

Think outside the box.

Not Strictly Speaking

Okay, so I know I said I'd be working in my studio, and I was but, really, it was very hot up there and after I drifted downstairs for supper, I just never made it back up. Instead, I got caught up in another kind of studio...the Photoshop one.

Shirley Temple Sitting in Full Lotus

***NOTE: This image has been altered from the original one I posted and several of my remarks about it deleted due to a warning expressed in the comment box last week. What you see and read here is different from the original, potentially offending, post. There has been a lively discussion on freedom of expression in the comments below this post and on my Décolleté blog.***

The small mandala-like image in the centre, corners, and on the girl's bodice is actually part of a hooked wall-hanging I made some time ago.

Okay, my eyes are fried. It's 1:30 a.m. I think I'll pack it in. I'll be in my studio all day tomorrow--really!

DISCLAIMER! This image has no religious intent or meaning and is not meant to insult anyone's religious beliefs. It is only intended as an interesting art image and is created in the deepest respect for, though without reference to, all Gods and Godesses. And I further do not intend to insult any Christians who may resent a reference to any other sorts of deities other than their one true God.

People! I'm just having fun with images and colours here. If my work has any deeper meaning I'll be sure to let you know.

Update: July 7, 2010

I have decided to include the original "offending" image here below. 

 

See comments to understand the "controversy" this innocent image stirred up.

Maxim of the Week

Jerome was so happy with the big watermelon he'd bought at the grocery store that he completetly forgot to fix his comb-over.
Maxim:
Get your priorities straight.

Budding Buddha Buddies

I started making some small collages on paper and wanted to include a Buddha image so I found a few photos I'd taken of statues and toyed with them in Photoshop. Then I decided to scan my unfinished paper collages and add the Buddha images digitally...just out of curiosity.

I like how these turned out, but I haven't tried printing them. They could make attractive cards or prints, though they won't have that exciting texture of glued papers.
*

I guess it'll be back to drawing table tomorrow, glue pot at the ready!

Maxim of the Week

While Lorna felt confident enough to do tricks on her personal water craft, she still felt the need to wear a personal flotation device.

Maxim:

Better safe than sorry.

The Future Was Now

Jetty by Starlight

mixed media/collage on canvas

16 x 20 inches

Using a portion of a previous work on paper that I had saved for future use, I glued it to a canvas and then created a new composition. The elements used include plastic netting, a bottle cap, broken CD pieces, paint chips, aluminum tape, acrylic paint & mediums.

Lady Madonna 2

I made this 16 x 20 inch collage on paper last year but only just got around to putting it in a frame last week. It's the 2nd in a series that hasn't evolved past 2 as yet. At this point, I'm not even sure if I could still put something together in a similar style. But it would be fun to try!

Maxim of the Week

Rory enjoyed swimming with the fishes but the giant sea worm creeped him out.
Maxim:
Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.

School Days Part III--School is Out!

Here are the final versions of School Daze. You can see they've been on quite a journey. By giving them layers of textured paint and tones, it adds an aged, weathered feeling to the composition rather than the nice new quilty feel in the original fabric pieces. It depends on the look and feeling you're after in your work.

These mixed media pieces are 11 x 14 inches and would look wonderful in a 16 x 20 inch mat and frame. These days I am thinking about presentation when I make an artwork--how it will be hung for display. I want to keep framing simple and inexpensive so that one could walk into an art shop or framing store and buy a ready-made frame for the piece.

Boys and Girls Together

Boys

Hoosier

Seven

Unmixed Doubles

You can compare them to the original fabric pieces from July 22 below.