I Like Ike

I really like this pattern but I am nervous about the use of two of the photos. Especially the one of Einstein with the clown nose. I even did a Google image search to try to locate the source.

 I'll be applying this "turn-around" scheme to everything I've done to date no doubt. This one is one of my favorites. I started the original collage in 2008. Perhaps I will finish it next year.

Starburst Swipe

I did not mean to swipe this--I tried to resist--but the urge to see what would happen was too strong! You really can't tell from the final mutation, above. But an earlier version, below, reveals my source.

I was actually thinking of that fabulous Christmas story by Gerald Potterton, The Star (And George). Inspired by the outstanding graphics at Geometry Daily and more on the tumblr.

Flatland Cold, Flatland Hot

I scanned some of my little leftover "flatland" squares which I try to store out of reach of Mica because he loves to chew little holes in things I am trying to save. Lots more Flatland on the tumblr.

Italian Lessons

Yesterday I finished a collage that had been kicking around for some time. I decided to scan the background, an old book page on watercolor paper on which I had drawn a grid. Then I scanned the individual elements and played around in photoshop. You can see the entire development on the tumblr.

3 More Swatch Variations

I'm really having fun with these--can you tell?

Image - Adjustments - Invert

Last night I was playing around in Photoshop creating patterns from some Spoonflower fabric swatch photos. I suddenly discovered how easy it is to create something like the above by inverting a selection of the design. See more of the Swatch Series on the tumblr.

Beyond Roderick Slater

Take a look at this work by Augustine Kofie. It reminds me a lot of Roderick Slater but moves beyond right angles and has me totally inspired. Thanks to Cartwheel Galaxy I made the discovery this morning.

Eric Ravilious

I was surfing on my favorite used book site and I came across a jacket illustrated by Eric Ravilious that looked very familiar! It served to remind me of the book scanned above which has been sitting on my shelf in the front hallway for a few years just waiting for me to make this morning's connection. I have additional volumes and even though the set is incomplete I am happy to have paid .25 for each at a church used book sale.

Here's a nice Flickr Set where I found the image displayed below. Check out this Google image search to enjoy more art by Eric Ravilious. I particularly like his designs as applied to mugs and plates.

Alan Watts and Target Fascination

I have been listening to Alan Watts on YouTube recently.

In his three hour lecture titled Do You Do It, Or Does It Do You? Watts mentions a phenomenon he calls "Target Fascination" whereby skydivers are so involved in gazing at the approaching target that they forget to pull their parachute cord. The target represents doom. How timely.

I started to think about this association of targets with doom as it might be represented in modern art. The work of Jasper Johns immediately sprang to mind.

I did a little online investigation of the concept of Target Fascination and found an interesting article citing a study of pilot errors due to "fascination," concentration on some object or task that caused loss of voluntary control over response. This was called the moth effect.

The illustration at the top of this post (which was found here) is a portrait of Jasper Johns by Shepard Fairey. The second and third illustrations are works by Jasper Johns.

Additional items of interest found:
Artist Eva Lake is looking for targets and has posted some nice images on her blog. I love her mixed media gallery of women and targets.

Check out this video of Jasper Johns discussing his target paintings courtesy of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art site. Unfortunately, I cannot hear the audio as it seems that my cat Frida has chewed through my computer's speaker cable!

Hammerdots No. 3 Revision No. 2

I was browsing though my tumblr archive and decided to do a second revision of my Hammerdots No. 3 because I suddenly could visualize now nicely this cropped version would repeat.

My favorite version is the one in chartreuse green at the top of this post, although I am fond of the golden yellow version as well.

See the entire progression on the tumblr.

Volapuk Follow-up

Back when I was working on my second Divorce Diptych I learned about the universal language called Volapuk. The Public Domain Review just did an outstanding article about it.

Something Old - Something New

 I'll start off with the "Something New" part. I just discovered that Spoonflower is now offering wallpaper and wall decals in addition to fabric. I am intrigued by the new design possibilities, especially for collage. Thus far I have been limited by the size of the paper that I can run through my printer which is only 8.5 inches wide. Now I can get something printed 12x24 inches. I've had some untested designs there for quite some time. I think I will order some of them as wallpaper swatches and see what I can do with them!

The "Something Old" part started off as a mistake. I was looking through my tumblr archive a few days ago and thought I saw the same item displayed twice--this one.

So I deleted one copy and they both disappeared! I really liked the design so I re-posted it. The first time I put it up a couple of years ago I did not have many followers and it was ignored. This time it started getting "hearts" and re-blogs almost immediately so I decided to give it the full Photoshop treatment of repeats, color changes, and artistic distortions.

 I love the results! See the whole series here.

Life's A Beach

I'm liking these diamond mandalas. Amazing to think that to get the above I just tuned into the Beach Boy's and let it flow.

It started with this photo of my little Feng Shui Mishap study.

I just got it revolving around a central point, kept repeating and changing the colors.

More on the tumblr.

Fun in Flatland

I've been playing around with a collage called Flatland No. 1 and created a mandala. The colors make me feel good and I even got to use my favorite spiral brush. See more on the tumblr.

Decoder Dots Revisited

I'm revisiting my collage Decoder Dots No. 1. I keep telling myself I will do one on canvas. (I'm a moron for putting it off.) I love the diagonal orientation. It's just a little unsettling. It could suddenly tip.

You can see the whole development on my tumblr. I wrote earlier about my cool decoder dump find that made this piece possible.

Poster Dots

I was messing around with the Bead Club poster and made Grid No. 2 Sponge Orange (above). The whole thing started with a photograph of a little 12x12 inch collage on canvas called Flatland Spin (below). It is fun to see how one thing progresses into another and then another until something totally new and surprising comes to life.

It started out with a simple repeat.

 

And then a color change along with a distortion.

And then I cropped the dot and repeated and played some more.

This is so much fun it should be illegal.

Art at the Gafney

Win art donated by 58 local artists to help raise funds for the Gafney Library in Sanbornville, New Hampshire. The opening reception is Wednesday July 11th from 4-7 pm. The raffle drawing and chocolate reception is Wednesday August 1st from 4-7 pm. Hope you can join us.

From the Ridiculous to the Sublime?

I went from this hideous pattern painting (Below) to the design above in just a few easy steps!