Art Journal Diary Spread 2

The second spread in my unused 4 x 6” 2020 diary. All stencils used are by StencilGirl Product

Stencilgirl® July 2020 Project

As I’m writing this post (back in mid May on completion of the pages) we are still in full lock down here in Scotland, cast adrift on stormy seas and driven by a ferocious wind with no land in sight just yet. As least that’s what it feels like at times. But at the same time I'm also enjoying all the beautiful signs of spring, the new lambs and calves in the field surrounding us and the flowers popping up all along our rural little country lane. Can you be sad and happy all at once? If so, that describes best how I feel from day to day.

In all this Ben Okri’s poem remains a solace to my soul and we have reached the lines: And as we travel on this life that is a sea, we can glimpse eternity”. It’s a bit unnerving to find his words so very appropriate for our times. But this too is hopeful!

As ever you can find a full tutorial for these pages (done in the large art journal by ArtbyMarlene) on the Stencilgirl®Talk website today.

Linger Longer

As I mentioned when the #52collage2019 was finished by the end of last year I was going to continue making collages to fill up the 5 x8" Moleskine journal in which I made them all. A few weeks ago I made one inspired by some imagery found in newspaper adverts and magazines that somehow seemed to belong together.

The background for this collage is, of course, Venice. A place where lingering longer is definitely a must although perhaps not just at the moment! Instead I can take a mental break there by looking at this collage that also has an Italian stamp on it.

Christmas Collage

There are so many delectable Christmas themed magazines around at the moment that I found myself tearing out all kinds of imagery, temporarily forgetting that I had finished my 52 collages already. But as I mentioned there are some empty pages in the Moleskine 5 x 8" journal I was using for the #52collages2019 project and it was fun adding one more. I was particularly happy with the Flora look-alike watch image!

Collage 52

I have reached the end of the #52collages2019 project and here is the last one, showing a stampede into 2020 (see postage stamp), pencil at the ready. I have enjoyed making these weekly collages but it's good to reach an end point. Still, there are some empty pages left in my 5 x 8" Moleskine journal so I will try and fill it completely in the future, and when I do I will of course share them here too.

Collage 50

For collage 50 I have used a picture of my of my favourite paintings: The Birth of Venus by Botticelli. She is still standing on her shell with some fish for company and against the background of a moody shed (from an advert by Cuprinol). There are 2 postage stamp that seemed to fit the rest of the imagery.

The words "think outside the present" are the final ones of a quotation from the Icelandic author Andri Snoer Magnason. The entire quotation reads: "One of the fundamental flaws of our civilisation is it's inability to think outside the present". 

Collage 49

A reminder (to myself if no one else) that imperfections are not necessarily a bad thing! Done as are all the 52 collages this year in an 5 x 8" Moleskine journal. Someone asked me recently if there are hidden messages in my collages, and the answer is that yes, there are in some of them (such as this one) although not in all. Sometimes the message is very direct but this blog is not the place where I proclaim my own opinions about the world today unless in a very oblique fashion. So read in them what you like and just maybe you capture my message just right!.

Collage 48

Time for another collage and I know I will miss making them every week once this year comes to an end but I also know that next year I don't want to commit to many (or in fact even any) regular commitments so that I have more time to just do what I feel like at any given moment. Needless to say I will continue my work as Guest Designer for Stencilgirl Products (it's just so much fun!) and I have signed up for Wanderlust 2020 as you may have noticed in the side bar, but there will be no daily or weekly art projects for the time being. My productivity in making my art quilts has been dismally low this year and I must really "do better" in 2020.
However although the collages won't come every week once I have finished the 52 in 2019 I do hope to fill my Moleskine notebook that I'm using with some more collages if and when I feel like making them.

Collage 47

Collage 47 came together after I found the picture with the stairs as seen on the bottom of the picture. It needed the other mysterious and dark looking imagery to accompany it. As often happens I then found the perfect text as well as the Russian postage stamp to accompany it. Although of course it was not called Russia in those far flung days (1968!). The woman with hat originally was part of a Dior advert, just in case you're tempted.

Collage 46

This collage contains some of the same images as no. 45 i.e. it's the same Buddha but smaller. The postage so exactly matched the message of the collage that it felt quite eery! An other great example of synchronicity in art.

The collage was done (as were all of the others) in a 5 x 8" Moleskine journal.

Collage 45

A mix of different imagery with a message just for me! Time for tea in any case.

Collage 44

With the arrival of Collage 44 also comes the realization that there are only 8 weeks more to go this year! How did that happen?

This one was partly inspired by the text which came from a variety of sources but somehow came together as reading: "I wish I was a butterfly, I'll dance every day, flying in the past". In the background the prone figure is from a self portrait by Frida Kahlo, while the head came from the painting Portrait of a Young Girl by Petrus Christus (approx. 1470). Her head was placed onto a golden butterfly.

Collage 43

This collage turned into a very surreal one, almost unnoticed by me, till it was done. I do however like the end result. All the imagery comes from a variety of magazines.  The queen's head came from an image of a pottery jar and it was placed on the body of a statue by Anthony Gormley. It's modesty is protected by the strategically placed fox, a piece of sculpture by Barbary Franc. The other figure comes from a Gucci advert and there is a final surreal touch in the shape of the Dutch postage stamp. Along the edge is a piece of washi tape with hand writing on it.  Make of this what you will!

Collage 42

A new week means a new collage as part of my #52collages2019. And here it is, full of sunshine and there is even a bit of that outside at the moment. This one however is still full of the joy of summer. Not difficult to see the light then but it will be a bit more challenging in the dark winter months that will soon be upon us.

The blue figure comes from a painting by Picasso, while the postage stamps is an Israel Arbor Day one that toned in well with the spirit of the collage.

Only 10 more collages to go now!

Collage 41

This collage is a very colourful mix of images that started with the yellow skirt which I spotted in a magazine and immediately fancied. I even went so far as to check out  the website concerned but fortunately common sense prevailed when I asked myself the question: when would I actually wear it? Definitely not the kind of outfit for dog walking in muddy terrain specially as it is maxi length. Nor is Scotland the sort of place when the weather is suitable for such a sunny skirt. So instead I simply cut out the picture and made it the centre piece of this collage so I can enjoy the image on dark, wintry days and daydream of summer delights.

Collage 40

Time for another collage and this one features a portrait of the Russian poet Anna Akhmatova, painted by Nathan Altman, accompanied by more rather dark subject matter. It came together rather easily unlike some of the other collages, that can be a bit of a wrestle. I guess sometimes serendipity comes to my aid and provides me with imagery that sort of belongs together in a new arrangement.
How amazing it is to realize there are only 12 weeks left till the end of 2019 and thus this project!

Collage 39

Another collection of images  found their way into this collage 39 for various reasons. The background image is Paradise, 2015 by the design duo Emma Biggs and Matthew Collings. Looking at their work always cheers me up and makes me happy.

Collage 38

Posting these weekly collages on a Monday here seems to have become a bit of a habit so here is the next one. In the background is a picture of a sunny seaside landscape (definitely a favourite view of mine, although I seldom get to see it nowadays, specially in that kind of weather). The focal image comes from a painting by Renoir, entitled Lise Sewing (1867-1868) and is rather typical of how I spend my days too.  The quotation is by Mae West. Also in the background is a vintage image of Otto Lilienthal and his biplane glider with elevator on his last fatal flight (1896).

Collage 37

I love how the various elements of this collage (no. 37) came together almost effortlessly. Finding the Italian postage stamp was just the right finishing touch. The hand looks like a Fornasetti design. Wouldn't we all like to write the story of our lives?

Collage 36

Collage 36 is a bit darker in subject matter than most of my collages, but as you can notice on the date stamp bottom left, was made at the end of July, now already in the past, been and gone. I was very happy to find the Czech postage stamp in my stash as it forms the perfect addition to the rest of the collage. It features Bozena Nemcova, someone I was unfamiliar with till now. But no longer. I have the book the link refers to on order already!