Cay Denise

For the fun of it, I took a black Sharpie (chisel tip) and filled an 8"x8" piece of mixed media paper with random shapes over the entire page.  Then, the shapes were colored in using a variety of markers with no limit to the colors used. The Sharpie outlines bled through to the back side of the mixed media paper.  So, those shapes were also filled in but this time with a limited palette--5 colors only. It's so interesting to see the results.  Just for the fun of it -- here are some questions.   Which one looks busier?   Which looks quieter?   Which looks more organized?  Which draws you in or repels you?   Is there an emotion(s) that comes up for you when you look at either one of these or both?   How does your eye travel around each piece (where it enters, the path it moves along, and where it exits), if it does?   Is there a particular shape you love?   Is there a particular color you love?   Do you think the limited palette ...

After finishing a great book, The Soul of an Octopus, I created this zine with things I want to remember from it.  Due to a couple pages glued together, the photos are a walk-through of the pages from front to back. One of the images was created as part of a comic-making art diary and another was done for fun in a painting class.  This zine only capture tidbits of the book's 'deep dive' into the life and behavior of octopuses in captivity as well as those less visible to man in the wild.  They are elusive creatures who are so much more than smart and clever. I highly recommend reading the book!  It is such an impressive piece of narrative non-fiction and well-researched.  Thank you, Susan W., for suggesting it. 

From British magazines, I find interesting and sometimes classical imagery.  These are the sources I like to use for collages.  The images I cut out can include drawings, costumes, buildings, patterns, colors and text -- but I only harvest things that appeal to me.  There is seldom a plan or idea in mind at this point of the process.   The collage below came from clipped Tatler magazine images.  It looks a bit like a theatrical stage set with a somewhat off-beat message.  The main problem putting this piece together was bubbling of the magazine paper--though not too noticeable in the photo.  It seems the problem may have been the adhesive...matte medium.  It caused the collage pieces to immediately stick to the page and they became difficult to move and to smooth out.  Next time, I'll return to using glue sticks.   I've heard the suggestion of dipping magazine pieces in water to remove any coating on the paper before using them.  Ha...