Savannah too

I have an association to Patsy Cline and Savannah.  Last year I found a great Patsy Cline badge, which I took to wearing on my little travel purse.  I lost the badge just a week or so ago in Florida, but went back to the Savannah bookstore where I purchased it and happily found another. The only one left in the basket!  She is now more securely ensconced upon the purse.

The other day I came upon the grand Savannah theatre and there on  the marquee is Always Patsy Cline, a musical featuring her music. The old-school marquee and theatre sign truly needed to be a collage.  And yes, these are Patsy's boots a'walking through.

Always Patsy Cline collage ~ Savannah

I rarely take photos of people, but these two Ladies caught my eye across the Square. Their colors seemed so impressionistic and they seemed to be laughing with each other,  I like the idea of them sharing Shoney's Hot Fudge Cake together. The cabbage plant flowers were another Savannah photo find.

Two Ladies collage ~ Savannah

Savannah 2018

I'm happy again to be spending time in Savannah - a lovely, vibrant city with a touch of funk.  It's home to SCAD ~ Savannah College of Art and Design, which brings an emphasis on art and a great energy from its students I appreciate.  SCAD has also been instrumental in rescuing and restoring many buildings in Savannah and it is now part of its mission.

Savannah is most known for its many parks and squares, lovely green spaces with old live oaks and other trees and plantings,  and its beautiful old architecture.  But my eye is drawn to the off-beat and other.

I came across both these properties in the same block on Martin Luther King Boulevard. Fortunate I am.  There is renovation going on in the building they are in and I hope they're funky-ness will continue to have a home there.

Obviously  Kustom Hustle Tattoo has a most eclectic shop and apparently that same sensibility is present in the great reputation for ink.

Kustom Tattoo collage ~ Savannah

The Lion and Bear were hanging out on MLK.  The Tiger joined in.  The COA sign is ubiquitous in the Historic District. Certificate of Appropriateness.  Hearings and approvals have to be given for renovations, signage, etc.  I am not sure I would always be deemed appropriate.

Lions Tigers & Bears ~ Oh My! collage ~ Savannah

The Universe Trading Company had all the odd treasures you would imagine and many were surprisingly inexpensive but alas nothing called my name.  Yet.

More from Cedar Key Florida

Although it's the 'Old Florida' architecture that captures my eye in photos and collage, Cedar Key is a place of wonderful natural beauty.  We typically end every walk-about through town with a walk by the Gulf edge, the docks and by the small beach.  There are so many birds here.  This year we live by a flock of Roseate Spoonbills. An Osprey likes a perch right off our deck. And the Brown Pelicans are ubiquitous.  

The 1842 Daily Grind is a great addition to life in Cedar Key and the only place to get a cappucino or latte, with superior brewed coffee as well. Add to this an excellent and unique breakfast and lunch menu and it's a special place.  My personal favorite thing is the retro phonograph spinning vinyl, which I've featured in the collage. Johnny Mathis, Tom Jones ballads & Edie Gorme.  No actual octopi were on the roof last I looked.

1842 Daily Grind~ Not The Country Store collage ~ Cedar Key

Island Arts is one of two galleries in Cedar Key. Cedar Key Keyhole gallery is just  a wander down the block. We always find a treasure in Cedar Key.  And although I've amplified the colors, the bright turquoise and green facade definitely was collage calling.

Island Arts~Cedar Key

Cedar Key Pizza is just the best. Unique pan pizzas loaded with toppings.  A tiny carry-out they're well organized and set up to make pizza. Great to watch them at work.

I am usually attracted to the Coastal colors,  but I came upon this abandoned cottage and just felt the past within it.  

Bygone Cottage~Cedar Key

It was colder here this trip - the 2018 freeze came this far, but the cozy inside warm-up time made a nice space for collage.  The silver lining.

Cedar Key Florida Redux 2018

Fortunate gal me, I am back in Cedar Key once again. This funky Gulf-Coast, or as some say, Forgotten Coast, town is one of my favorite places to rest, renew and be inspired.  I now have an ongoing Cedar Key collage series from the past several years and look forward to continuing it. The Island architecture and colors really speak to me.  Cedar Key boasts two art galleries, so the funky vibe in town has an extra artistic dash to it.

We discovered Cedar Key from an article sent to me by my dear friend Donna about the assemblage art at Low Key Hideaway Motel.  Check out my original blog post here. 


Here's a glimpse of  the two main drags in "downtown" Cedar Key - 2nd Street & Dock Street.

Dock Street

Welcome Center - 2nd Street

Gulf view

Island Arts Gallery - 2nd Street

Island Inn Hotel Est 1859 - 2nd Street

Inspired by the wonderful Flamingo-ed Cedar Key Bed & Breakfast, although the collage flamingo is waaay beyond actual size.

Flamingoed collage ~ Cedar Key

I don't know if this Nutcracker is a full-time guardian of this cottage or just for the Holidays, but I thought he was a perfect invitation for this quartet of vintage boys.

Nutcracker Cottage Boys ~ Cedar Key

Till next time

Diners, Dogs & Don't Forget

A lot of my collages are thematic; ways of expressing a feeling, a situation, what's on my mind.  But others are inspired by what has caught my eye, often a single image.  It speaks to me, shouts out loud and then I have the fun of the search for other images that resonate with the key image.  I really love how the colors, shapes, meanings find each other and emerge on my digital canvas.  I can immerse myself in this journey for a long time.  A few years ago I started calling these collages 'Anonymous Content' and now have a series of them.

Diner began as an Anonymous Content collage and the most wonderful dog was the key figure.  I just love this dog.  He's just alive with 'dog-ness'.  He is actually a working dog who is trained to sniff out a specific endangered Salamander!   The magical red dress woman showed up next and red began to become the link.  Patty Smith & her old-school camera showed up and a little red colorizing made her fit in perfectly. And early Edith Piaf with her accordion found her way to me. When I came across the diner background, while doing a search totally not diner, the collage went from Anonymous to Diner.  And I would love to be in a diner with this crowd.  I have a 16x20 print of this in my office/studio and love coming in the door to see that super K-9 face and friends.

Diner collage

I collect quotes and sayings.  Things that seem perfect little reminders of this and that.  And I have a series of Quote collages as a result.  Recently I was feeling a bit overwhelmed, managing some things and worrying about some other things, when I realized these were not actually my own things.  I was looking only at these stressful aspects and forgetting that, while I was helping, they were not actually mine.  And in that, it was also too easy to forget the  good things present with you everyday.  So these are my two current 'reminders'.

Stay in Your Own Life ~ Quote Collage

When you Don't Get What You Want ~ Quote Collage

Community! Art at the Augusta County Virginia Library ~ October 2, 2017 thru January 6,2018

I'm participating in an art show at the August County Library on Community.  The invitation originally focused on the idea of works featuring the city of Staunton, then the county and then

evolved to varied themes by area artists.

I've contributed along the lines of the first theme, with my Staunton Girls and two pieces from my Waynesboro Series. Always fun to have art out and about.

Ben Thomas is the show coordinator and we had great fun associating the Pinky's collage to Pink Flamingo, John Waters, Baltimore and more.

In the area? The Library is located at 1759 Jefferson Hwy, [Route 250], Fishersville, VA.

Pinky's ~ Waynesboro Series

Staunton Girls

Weasie's ~ Waynesboro Series

Elective Knee, Way Out Back and Love

So I am moving along in my recovery from my knee surgery, or as the docs specifically say, 'elective' knee replacement.  I'm am improving steadily and as my husband pointed out to me, walk better than I did for the few months before the surgery.  It took awhile for the energy to capture the experience in collage to emerge and as I worked, I discovered that the blood clots emerged as the primary point.  I love this robot girl, who I have embraced as my knee replacement avatar.  She is from Mr. Whiskers at Mischief Circus, a favorite image resource of mine.  

The Elective Knee

Awhile back I was taken by a photograph from my friend, Jen Jones, a fellow artist at the Shenandoah Valley Art Center. She called it Way Out Back. She kindly gave me permission to use it in a collage whenever I was so moved.  We both love the kind of 'rusty gold' that you can discover and let it find its way into art. 

Recently I came across a wonderful photograph of Howard Finster, truly one of the giants of outsider art.  I discovered him years and years ago and am ever drawn to and moved by his work. Although he is no longer with us, his art is more present than ever before.  Howard and Way Out Back made a perfect match. The background in this collage is Jen's photograph, amplified and altered and all the other images, except for my signature spirals, are of Finster's art, some amplified, others just as they are.

Howard Way Out Back

This collage emerged from a conversation about the movement to share is it's own expression of love. 'I was deep into this book and I kept thinking that I wanted to share it with you.'

Bacteria to Bach Love

Local Landmarks & Landscapes, Millennial Barbies and Out of Action

It's been awhile since I've been here.  I had knee replacement surgery in June, had a few set-backs with it and am just now feeling energized enough to collage and blog.

But some of my art has been out and about.  I was delighted to learn that both of my 'gothic'  pieces in the Shenandoah Valley Art Center members show sold!  WooHoo.

LOCAL banner

There was another great group show at SVAC, which I'm sorry I didn't let you know about at the time.  The concept was art based on local landmarks and landscapes.  The project used an interesting device, in which artists chose from a list of locations.  50 in all.  I chose a wonderful home on Cherry Avenue and went with that 'Cherrified' inspiration in a big way.  Literal can be fun!  A book of the show was produced as well.




A few favorites ~

Assemblage - Jen Jones

   

Ice Tower - John Ball

    

Downtown Waynesboro - Caro Mayo

Cherry Avenue collage

Art took a back seat while recuperating,. I did do a couple birthday cards, but it was just recently that I had the energy and ability to stay at my computer, to do a collage.  Came across this image of the new line of Millennial Barbies - and their Kens - and off I went. I do like the retro baker accenting the hipsters. A bit of fun.  Eclairs and donuts too!

Millennial Barbies collage

Member Show 2017 - Shenandoah Valley Art Center

Shenandoah Valley Art Center - SVAC - 122 S Wayne Ave, Waynesboro, VA

I was especially geared up for the annual SVAC member show because I had two collages from my new vintage-gothic palette that I wanted to feature.  These pieces also called for more interesting framing than the simple lines I like for the large prints of my amplified retro collages.  So I had a frame hunt and a bit of embellishment as well.

At the opening of the show, I was greeted with the lovely surprise that my new works had garnered an Honorable Mention.  So nice indeed.  A new image palette, a new image vocabulary and an award. Cool beans indeed.

If you're in the area, do stop by.  And coming June 16th is another show in our 416 Main Street Gallery, LOCAL - all images of Waynesboro and the area. 50 participants, including myself. More on that in a next blog.

RadioReactive collage

Sestra collage

Honorable Mention

It was a great turn out with heaps o'art.  Check out some friends' work. 

Behatted Miss Betty and Friend

This striking portrait by Deborah Rose Guterblock really caught my eye.  If it was for sale and I had more wall space, I would love to have this.

Untitled  by Deborah Rose Guterbock

Jessie McCoy and I often talk art and life at lunch at the wonderful Silk Road restaurant in town. These hammered torsos are so compelling.

Torsos - Jessie McCoy

Jen Jones photographs really speak to me.  And - woohoo she's given me permission to use 'The Out Back' in a collage.  Lucky me.

Please Don't Call Me A Terrorist
The Out Back
by Jen Jones

                                      

Another Image Palette

When things get stressful, my art self seems to hunker down.  She'll arise for special occasions, birthday, celebrations and the like - 'Time to make a card!', but otherwise I sit with a blank digital canvas and after awhile, go look at cute animals on the internet.

I was drawn to do some free-form collages for an art journal, and got the cover going in my usual style, but still had the 'blank canvas block'.

Terms of Use collage

Then I got my weekly email from Mischief Circus and was inspired by their image collections. Many of the images are more Victorian-ish or gothic that my typical Retro, saturated colors, hyper-realism palette. It came to me that it might be an interesting device to do some work only in this other image language. And indeed, it has been refreshing, another travel.  Hope you like the trip as well. Bi-lingual!

Withdraw collage

Guardian collage

Sad Hope collage

She Need A Little Travel collage