Copyright: All artwork/content protected under ©2007-2011 Lynne Ciacco

All content herein copyright © Lynne Ciacco


Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Medieval Series, #1

In an ongoing process of cleaning out a lot of accumulated possessions.  Pulling things from cupboards, drawers and boxes in my studio often reveals things I've had on hand for years..."just in case."  For example, four Medieval Women-themed calendars from the latter part of the 1990's.  Of course, I couldn't just chuck them in the garbage, nor could I justify keeping them on the shelf.  So I ripped them to shreds and then put them back together in various new configurations, adding some other bits of papers from another stack of "just in case" materials.  The result is a series of fifteen small collages with a rather quirky medieval theme to them. 


A different headpiece for a face that perhaps had long hair, new draperies added to the hat, a different arm than the original,  hands from another body, 
handmade papers from painted paper towels...
And then in Photoshop, a layer of a watercolour effect from Shadowhouse Creations.



(click image for larger view)

This is the image without the "watercolour" overlay. 
The collage is approximately 7.5 x 5 inches.
I'll be sharing the rest of the series with you
 over the next few weeks.


16 comments:

  1. i love this idea- fun to clean up/out in this fashion! can't wait to see the rest.

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    1. Not much goes to waste around here. Thought it's a bit disconcerting to come across tote bins full of supplies that were intended for projects long forgotten. But calendars...pure raw material! Have to be careful about copyright laws, though. rip rip rip

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  2. Funny how a series is born? I'm looking forward to seeing these beauties in the next few weeks! I like the watercolor overlay effect....nice way to tie it all together in a subtle way....I like!

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    1. It seems to me that a series comes about from excess...too many ideas, too much raw material, too much curiosity about a particular subject/theme, to keep it limited to one expression. It feels good to put some confinement around the scope of the ideas; to take the energy as far as one can until the impetus is spent. You must be very familiar with this phenomenon, working in series as you do. Thanks for the feedback on the overly. I like, too! Must try printing it...

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  3. I do understand the compulsion towards working in terms of a series. And I wonder if some day someone far into the future will run across my picture with the skulls on the hat and say what I'm saying about this woman's hat, "What was she thinking?" Anyway, I really like the tinted watercolor overlay, but I'm crazy about the irregular border in the original.

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    1. You've hit the nail on the head, using the word "compulsion" together with "working on a series." Towards the end of the Medieval series, I really wanted it to stop!...but had to continue on as long as I kept finding juicy pieces to be used. But when it was done, it was done. All the rest went into the garbage. So now instead of four calendars, I have 15 collages. Hmmmm...odd sort of a clean up.

      As for your own headgear, there are probably some folks right now who are wondering what that's about, but these are people who obviously have no sense of adventure in expressing one's self uniquely. Maybe we could get a new trend going of skull-patterned hats in a double-coned shape with black netting hanging down the back and sides???? You first!

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  4. It's a kind of beautiful discovery... I'm glad you kept her.

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    1. I spent many hours of discovering fun ways to recombine the elements into something new, yet old. I'm glad you like the results.

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  5. I like this collage and look forward to seeing more of your series.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. I'm hoping to post one a week, probably mid-week.

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  6. especially like the snake sleeve which from a distance just looks like satin. nothing like a good clean out to inspire new work. that sounds like one of your maxims

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    1. If it isn't a maxim, it should be! (Do you think anyone would notice if I started making them up?)

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  7. Recently I have been engaged in a process in my life similar to that which you have been conducting in your studio. I would like to bring closure to and clear out many ambitiously undertaken but unfinished projects. Some of these hark back to youthful grandiosity. I think that I would like to restart Spartan, Swedish simple and minimalist. And yet some items like long neglected children speak out for a second (or third or fourth)look, one more chance.

    I think in this life our pilgrim's path is circular. Sometimes there is peace and even joy to resting and refreshing at a spot paused at and passed long ago. A thread left hanging is sewn in. Completion. Or nearly.

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    1. Often times those hanging threads need to be snapped off...the risk is the whole cloth falling apart at the seams. That is where I am in my life. Is it too late for mending??

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  8. Replies
    1. I understand very well your urge to start afresh with the Spartan, minimalist Swedish approach. How I see it: sell everything on Kijiji, rent a van, and drive to the nearest Ikea with your pension cheque in hand.

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