See what I mean?

Who is that? And that?

What I meant to do was to paste down random scraps and then paint over and around them ... but I get out the brushes and can't figure out where to put it. Aghhh.

Don't quit your day job

Gosh, this is frustrating. I thought by now, I'd have crashed through this stuff, but I find myself avoiding the studio – making a sandwich or writing an email or cleaning the bathroom – anything to not have to work at this frustrating thing they call collage. I can sort of hear all those little pieces of torn paper whining back there when I pass by the open door ... ha.
Observations:
The switch to black paper has a sort of elegant quality, but feels like cheating.
Why does collage almost automatically go figurative? (I'll post a few more examples tomorrow.)
Black on black is intriguing. Will push this next.

Growing and changing

Spent the afternoon again with Lorraine. She's making huge works on canvas, recycling old drawings as collage and then going in with paint. Very lyrical and beautiful. She makes it seem so easy.

In contrast, I'm struggling with the medium. I love the idea of using old works to make new works, but it comes slowly and I feel like I have to reach way down into myself for every little decision ... and then second-guess it.

I suspect it's difficult because it forces me to think in a different way. Instead of creating negative space to define positive elements – as I am most comfortable working – I must compose with positive elements. Agh.

Change is good, right?

Found art

Looking for a big brush in the studio this morning, I came across a batch of 8 x 10s I made last summer when I wasn't posting (why wasn't I posting?). I'd forgotten all about these, and am happy to rediscover a couple of good ideas. They're inspiring me as I work on a new 8 feet x 5.5 feet drawing.

Postcards from the edge

Spent the afternoon with my friend Lorraine. Helped her work on some monotypes and then collaged these small pieces. Good Spring day.

Back off

Epiphany: In an effort to marry the two main layers (paint and graphite), I often go way overboard, filling in EVERYTHING. Working on this the other day with graphite, I actually stopped early. And saw that I was making a big (60 x 50 inches) drawing as if it was a small drawing. I had been covering up all the cool huge brush-stroked washes with a blanket of (small) texture. Got out the eraser.

I heard you the first time

Color. New camera (much better image). Allowing much more of the randomness to show through. Need to ramp it up.