11th Hour

One last collage for 2016...

The messy stage...

...of the photo transfer process.  It feels raw and pieced together - going to let it sit for a while to wait to see what might come next.

Tweaking

Additional work today, adding some drawing to the images to help blend the branches.  Then also coating with new acrylic medium to help bring it all together.  

Today's work

I continue to work to blend the images as I piece together parts of the photo transfers...

And here's a new collage inspired by a photo of a sunset at Huntley Meadows...

Surprise

I find I am drawn to processes and materials that have a sense of surprise.  With photo transfers, it's the excitement of seeing the photo and collage colors come together when I first begin to peel back the paper...

...here are some photos of the process...happening right in my kitchen sink...

...and then drying on the baking rack once the cookies are put away.

The next step is more tedious as I try to piece together images from different pieces of paper to complete the image...

I'll have to patch a couple places where image rubbed off too and work to blend the seams in the already pieced images...

And a family outing tonight for one more visit to celebrate and participate in the "be the light" installation in Del Ray.  Seemed like a good way to honor the longest night of the year...

Working big

Preparing new collages for photo transfers inspired by colorful winter skies.  Completed these two in a little over an hour, working large and fast to the music of the Saw Doctors this afternoon.

These panels are 16 inch squares, the largest I have done in collage...

 

Here is some of my process tonight piecing together the photos to transfer...

Photo transfer

My latest photo transfer on a collage from several weeks ago - next step is more collage but going to sit with this a while first.  Really liking the lines of the bare trees - enjoying those in our environment again too as we head toward the first day of winter.

Making time

I made time today to connect and converse with friends.  A bit of making fit in the in-between spaces in my day - a frame for my latest collage...

...and glazes for these small pots - they will be cream and lavender colored when they are fired.

Skies...

This morning...

And in this collage with newly added photo transfer...

Collage...

I haven't done much collage in a while.  It is good to get back to it.  Here is a winter sky I am creating for a friend who liked one of my images that sold at Huntley Meadows.  This one will be similar.  Black branches are the next step...

Glazing

Today I glazed labyrinth balls - a tedious process, particularly when the glazes all look the same unfired.  In theory these will be three different colors...soon to be revealed.

I also framed this little collage for my niece's birthday. 

Small Handmade Objects

Here is my completed collection of 50 mini collages for Art-o-mat...

...spent the morning signing, adding stands on the back and then wrapping and boxing with a note.

Here's my collection of boxes to mail tomorrow - need to find a bigger box.

First layer

Clay and collage

I spent an hour on the porch this morning working with clay - it was just warm enough with a jacket to enjoy the fall light this morning.

This evening I began my first collage in a long time...

...inspired by this photo of Huntley Meadows this week.

Light...

Tonight I led a gathering to create prayer candles for the Sanctuary Studio at St Aidan's.  It was lovely to come together with others to share a time of creativity and quiet.  

Final four...

Collages complete this series for Art-O-Mat.  One more here with a small stack of rocks - maybe a theme to continue in another series.  

Also my afternoon of experimenting with printing with teachers at Emmanuel Preschool.

And a couple photos just appreciating the colors of fall in the woods behind my house...

...this sapling is a favorite spring and fall.

More practice

Mini collages completed tonight - added a cairn to one.

And the last four in this series - will add the ripples to the water tomorrow.

Also a photo of branches and light through leaves from my lunchtime walk at Monticello Park in Alexandria.

Practicing...

New mini collages...

...and sand and water ready for stones and ripples.  I'm liking these color combinations...sort of makes me want to paint with similar colors.

Incomplete...

These are in process.  Since the commitment is to the making not to what's made - even small things might happen in stages.  In that spirit, I share these here even as they are: half complete...

Moments for practice...

I continue to work on mini collages for Art-o-Mat, enjoying the way I can fit in small moments of making as a practice in otherwise full days.