Two Tuesdays - collage #2

2012 Collage Challenge

© K. Johnson 'Cup of Tea' - 5"x7" collage on paper

All the collages in this series can be seen here.

Two Tuesdays - collage #1

This is the beginning of a challenge to myself that I've been thinking about for 2012 - to post a new collage on this blog every other Tuesday. Last year, I enjoyed getting back to working with collage and want to keep exploring the process by using different materials and trying out some new color palettes.

© K. Johnson 'Winter Visitors' - 5"x7" collage on paper

This is the first collage using some left over holiday napkins and other scraps of paper. Cardinals are one of my favorite birds to watch in the winter. The red is so striking against a white snow background. They always show up in pairs. If I see one at the feeder I will look to find its mate who is never very far away. I keep the bird feeders full and am rewarded by many daily visitors that always put a smile on my face.

All the collages in this series can be seen here.

Spring in January?

We haven't had any snow or even a really cold day yet this winter but still all I can think about is Spring and getting back in the garden. With spring on my mind I had fun working with these soft colors to create this fabric postcard for a Cloth Paper Scissors Reader's Challenge. I've never made or tried to mail a fabric postcard before but I dropped it in the post box this morning - I hope it gets there in one piece and before the Friday deadline.

I sprayed liquefied acrylic paint onto a gelatin plate and used a stencil I cut to get the print. Then embellished with a sharpie marker, thread stitching, circles and dots of pearlescent paint (doesn't show in this photo) and edged it with some lacy trim.

Merry Christmas!



Ocean House, Watch Hill, RI

   It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air. 

~W.T. Ellis

Circles, Dots and Spots - Paper Swap

Right about the time I heard about the chocolate swap, I found out about the paper swap that is also hosted by LaWendula. This swap was based around the theme of "circles, dots and spots". She has been hosting paper swaps with different themes for several years and has people from all over the world that take part. You receive the name of your paper swap partner and you then contact each other by email to exchange mailing addresses. 

It was pretty easy to collect papers for this theme. Once you start looking circles and dots are everywhere - a tea bag, the inside of a birthday card envelope, scrapbook papers, a coffee cup stain on a napkin, even the wrapper of the new "air delight" candy Kiss. I neatly packed all the papers I collected in the 2-3 weeks allowed in a handmade folder (keeping with the theme, of course) and shipped them off to Karen in Hannover, Germany. I hope she will have fun finding uses for some of these papers. 

 

I really miss getting all the cards and letters that used to come in the mail. It's not very exciting going to the mail box to collect yet another bill or credit card invite so waiting for my package to arrive from Karen was half the fun. Here's a look at the different papers (along with a few other circular odds and ends) that she sent.

  

Can't wait to use some of these papers in future collages. I've been thinking on a project involving lots of collages for the coming year. More on that once I get my idea (and my courage!) together.

 

Chocolate makes everything better, right?

I agree so I just had to take part in the Chocolate Swap at the Paper Swap Blog organized by LaWendula when I heard about it.

I was paired up with the swap organizer LaWendula and this is what I received, all the way from Germany:

Delicious chocolate and great quote:
"To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong."

 ~Joseph Chilton Pearce

I found the chocolate bars I sent at Flavours of Life a great the Fair Trade store in New London, CT.

"Winter Relief; Burnishing the Cold"

postcard design by Sarah Martin

The opening reception was December 10th so, yes, I am a little late telling you about this show by the Stonington Printmakers Society at the La Grua Center in Stonington Borough. It features a wide variety of printmaking techniques by local artists and runs through Feb 15th so it's not too late to stop by and see all the wonderful works. The show can be seen during all the centers events and will also be open January 22nd for a special viewing from 10am-12pm.

I worked on a few relief prints...

transferring sketches to printing plate and starting to carve image

inking the plate

basic system made from cardboard to register the colors

'Weed' K Johnson 2011

and still working on getting the hang of the gelatin plate printing technique - getting better but going through a lot of paper in the process!

'Lily Love' K Johnson 2011

Good Tidings, Great Art

Thanksgiving is over and December is just 4 days away - hard to believe we are closing in on the end of another year. In my last post I mentioned that there were several upcoming events I was getting ready for. The second is less than 2 weeks away so I was working away over this nice long weekend getting as many things as possible finished up.

I am really excited to be a guest artist in the Good Tidings, Great Art event at Above Elite Studios in Westerly, Rhode Island. This is always a fun and festive event and each year it just gets better. I will be in very good company with a group of local artists whose work and talents I greatly admire.

postcard design by Millie Donovan

Above Elite Studio artists Laura Gaffke and Millie Donovan have been working non stop to make this the most spectacular 2 day event. Other guests artists include Sarah Martin, Juli Rankin Mancini, Jaclyn Murphy, Ian Newbury and Diana Sartor.

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Above Elite Studios

{over Elite Dry Cleaners}

181 Main St., Westerly, RI 02891

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Here's a peak at some new work I'll will be showing for the first time.

'Homestead' K. Johnson 2011

'Almost Gone' K. Johnson 2011

'Horizon I' K. Johnson 2011

Busy, Busy, Busy

Aren't we all this time of year?

There are several upcoming events I've been getting ready for. These are some of the new "mini" mixed media pieces in progress for the ART=Gift show at the Hygienic Gallery in New London, CT.

A few of the finished pieces I dropped off at the gallery yesterday morning.

'Gounded' K. Johnson 2011

'Taking in the Sun' K. Johnson 2011

'Tumbling' K. Johnson 2011

 Opening Reception is Saturday, November 19, 7-10 PM 

photo by Millie Donovan

Welcome Tigger & Belle

Finally decided after a year and a half of no cats that it was time to have some furry critters in the house again. A week ago Sunday we paid a visit to the CT Humane Societies beautiful new facility in Quaker Hill to see who might need a home. I've been telling my friends and family for months - no kittens and no male cats. Well, I managed to break all my own rules. Look who we came home with...

Tigger, a one year old boy who was abandoned by his original owner and came to the facility with an upper respiratory infection. He is friendly, outgoing and has the cutest squeaky but very loud purr.

Belle, a three month old girl from a feral litter had hypothermia when she was found but is doing fine now. She still spends most of her time hiding under the bed. She is quiet and shy except when chasing Tigger up and down the stairs at one o'clock in the morning!