Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Surprise packages

It's funny how you forget about whole sections of your
life when you don't do an activity for awhile. I was
going through my files and found this little journal
that I did on watercolour paper for a workshop I
designed and taught a couple of years ago
called Art Bypass: how to get creating again
when you've stopped.

The Workshop journal
Watercolour paper bound in red
satin ribbon

I also teach journal writing in my English classes,
and a course called Writing to Vision for artists.
But Art Bypass combines everything from all my
other courses with the simple idea of having fun,
and starting small when you haven't done
any art over a period of months and years for
whatever reason.

Close up of the journal cover
Watercolour base,
black and white xeroxes painted
cut out images
watercolour crayons
gold sign maker's plastic (one of
my all time favorite things)

It's so easy to get into the Michelangelo, Bernini,
trap -- look at their work, and decide "there's no
hope for me." I'm not really a collage artist, but
I thought it would be a fun way to combine
journal writing and art. So I painted pages of
watercolour paper on both sides, xeroxed some
family photos, cut images out of the newspaper
and started my little journal. It's a terribly
time consuming job -- collaging, so I didn't get
far -- but I like how far I did get, and I thought
you deserved some colour.

Inside the theme continues
collage of a mix of images
coloured stars
sign maker's plastic gold
watercolour crayon

The total queen of this art is Teesha Moore.
http://www.teeshamoore.com/teeshasjournalpgs.html
Her attention to detail, humour and playfulness are
a great cure for a case of art depression.

How it all begins:
watercolour pages folded and held together with
ribbon,
small photo collaged on of my niece, Quincy

Meanwhile I hope you never suffer that disease.
I have been talking to students all day today,
and it's time for bed.

Have a wow-look-what-I-did-I'm-great! day

6 comments:

Melinda said...

Oh, my goodness these collages/journal works are simply wonderful! Indeed, they are great.

I'm so happy that you found them. They will inform your upcoming work, no doubt, and it will be good!

Already this year is better, yes?!
Best wishes always,
M

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Melinda,

Yes! It's been better since the election. Now I don't ask for much -- how about world peace?

Let's see your amazing big painting progress.

Take care,

Barbara

Anonymous said...

Barbara, there is such joy in your work! I love those collages. Thanks for posting them. You are an inspiration and so is your blog.
xoxo

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Flora,
I think I did this workshop either with you, or you were in it. I so miss your artistic presence here -- it
always gave me such an electrical thought charge to be around you!

You take care,

Miss you.

xoxoxoxoBarbara

Melinda said...

I've heard that if two people are in agreement that they can have what they want--as long as they believe they can.

Let us agree that peace will come to the world and we will begin by welcoming it into our homes, while showing it around our towns, introducing it to everyone who will accept it. It can travel from there!

Into the blue of distance!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Melinda,

I love this message. I read it this morning before I went to work. People were tense and I thought of you, and tried to calm them down. I'm pretty over the top when I'm joyous, so it may not have worked.

But hey!

You are an amazing thinker. Let's keep working on it.

xoxoxox Barbara

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!