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.

Small Steps...

I've been in bed for the better part of two days fighting off either a stomach bug or a bad food reaction.  It took down my husband and I - I'm thankful to our kids for continuing to run the household.  This evening I had my first real meal in two days and wanted to get back to making something.   I spent some time on the computer working with images for new transfers.  I had thought I would actually apply the transfers but then felt tired again so for today this small step is enough...

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...

Fall trees

In-process

...waiting for the glue to dry to reveal the photo transfer.

Huntley Meadows

Here is the photo transfer on my collage from Huntley Meadows last Thursday...will add some more layers of collage next. 

And some views from today's walk - I'm loving the light through the trees in the afternoons.

This is a tree in our backyard.  Last spring it was the subject of "backyard sapling" a piece exhibited at Huntley Meadows this summer - thinking I will try a fall version soon...

Salt Marsh Collage

Feeling complete...now I can begin to focus more attention on framing.

Catching up and new space to work...

We had planned to be away this weekend and plans changed so we find ourselves at home.  It's good time for catching up on projects and process toward creating better spaces for working.

Here are a new batch of labyrinth touchstones for Art-o-mat...

Some new frames - the large one was completed today and the smaller ones were cut a while ago and assembled today.

Here is my new workbench space in the carport, complete with a new miter saw for frames.

And the latest layer of photo transfer on this collage - trying to be patient and wait til morning to peel it back so that the glue fully dries and I get the best transfer.

Water collages...

Playing with the color in the water in the foreground in this collage and adding new texture with the white paper that represents a new photo transfer...

Also created some new collages in my water and stones series for Art-o-Mat...

Layers

Alternating between color and new photo imagery...here's the addition of photo transfer today...

Showing up...

Today was largely about continuing to show up to these current collages.  I procrastinated a lot in the morning just not sure what was next.

In the afternoon I set aside the last half hour before going to pick up kids and decided I would just add something and see where it went.  Once I began, there was lots to do.

Here are the latest versions of the collages from today...

This one is still wet from scrubbing a new layer of photo transfer...

Coming along...

Still wet from scrubbing - the transfer is much more workable this time...

And a great afternoon exploring printing with teachers from Emmanuel Preschool.

Time and slowness...

Working on my Bald Head Island collages today.

I added some new layers of color to this one...

This second one is almost entirely redone with a new layer of collage over the entire surface.  The photo transfer came out much too dark in the first try.  I've reprinted a lighter image and will try again tomorrow.  Last week I worked quickly - just needing to begin and get things going.  This week I'm trying to slow down and pay attention to lessons learned in my process last week.  As much as I'm eager to see the new transfer, I'm going to wait until tomorrow to be sure this layer is really dry.  

Oh, and an update on Java's portrait...he liked it so much he wanted to sign it - see lower right corner.

Preparation...

I spent time today in the preparation stage of making.  Downloading photos, printing and xeroxing as well as researching laser printers.

I purchased a simple HP laser printer.  It will arrive next week and will allow me to create photo transfers from images printed at home, taking out the step of needing to go Xerox images.  

For today I played with a new image that will go on this collage once I add some more color...