LAW 144: Never Dine With a Dinosaur

Never Dine with a Dinosaur, a children’s story book, is my "newest" altered book project. Chronologically, Never Dine... follows Jerome; it is a relatively large format book, each double spread will measure 11 x 20”. This is a fairly large piece of blank art real estate for an every day in one sitting project so my normal approach to collage had to be modified.

#1, Pink, 11.5.17

 My intention: 20 spreads, abstracts focusing on composition utilizing the torn edge.


I discovered almost immediately that 'complete' abstraction appears to be beyond me. Virtually everyone of the spreads have ended up with an observer.

For this project instead of obsessive searches for just the right image i am starting with a limited number of 'pages' of color, form, shape and pattern; trying to trust my own judgement regarding "the good enough choice", i.e., artist sanctioned playtime.

#2, Autumn Fire, 11.6.17

Learning to work with a limited 'palette' has proven to be a little frustrating for the obsessive compulsive who resides deep in my art soul; i have been known to search through every folder of collage material in the studio for just the right little piece of......

#3, 11.7.17, Time

Most of my recent work has included text; one of the parameters i set for myself with this project, no text. It took to the third spread for text to creep back in.  i really really did not want....

#4, 11.8.17, Impact

I started working on this project in the beginning of November, dropping in and out of it as the mood moved me. I really did however expect to finish this before now. Yes, life does get in the way.

#5, 11.10.17, Dark Sun

I still have six spreads to do, i came back to this project for the first time since 2017, sounds like a long time ago doesn't it?

#6, 11.11.17,  Untitled

Recently i have found it difficult to procure the type of collage material i prefer to work with. Because of that i found that i had to put this project away; i was becoming to familiar with my material, not experiencing any of the lovely aha! moments that happen when you are looking with new eyes at new material. A month's hiatus is usually sufficient time to bring back a sense of newness to the material.

#7, 11.13.17, Crystal Blue

Since i finished Inner Visions this week, okay so not finished finished. I do still have to make the covers and bind it. But i am done with the drawing part!

Anyway, since i have reached a point of completion with that project i promised myself that i would re-visit this piece, as well as Looking For America.

#8, 11.14.17,  Promenade

You heard it here first!

Anyway, 

more later

gail

LAW 143: The Last of Inner Visions

Yesterday i finished the last drawing of my Inner Visions series. It of course took longer then i anticipated, doesn't it always?

Inner Vision #16

Working with the colored pencil proved to be far more time consuming, and painful then i expected. Life!

I have seen three distinct stylistic changes develop in my drawings during this project. Don't get me wrong, change is good. I'm not grousing, merely making an observation.

I am however loving the simple black and white.

Inner Vision #17

I still have to create covers for this project and bind the drawings into book form; that will take some thought, so i guess i can't really call it done. I am however already working on another new project in my head. Maybe i should make myself finish up some of the other projects that are hanging around the studio; well, maybe one....

Inner Vision #18

I have to admit i have been enthralled by the whole process nature of these drawings. I have always enjoyed working with pen and ink. Some how that practice fell to the side, having a life, a career, a partner seemingly took precedence. So did many other things. But these long winter days aboard Tesla's Revenge have been the perfect incubator for my Inner Visions.





With #18 i started playing around with another technique to get the color on the paper. I was feeling constrained by the line first, color second approach i had started with. It felt a little to much like a coloring book. So i started by laying down random color, practically scribbling all over the page.

Inner Vision #19

Once i have the color laid down i start working into the drawing with ink; looking for shapes and lines to strengthen. sometimes it takes a fair amount of just looking to bring order out of the original chaos i created.

Inner Vision #20

Inner Vision #21

Next up? More pen and ink drawings, but with either ink or paint pre-worked on the paper. Just another way to divorce the color and image.

Maybe monsters, maybe portraits. We'll see.

More later
gail