Collage of a Boy with a Kitten

Sometimes I will start a collage with the background thinking I know exactly how I want it to look but after finishing the background I'm unhappy with it.  It has happened several times.  In this collage, I wanted a dark blue sky with the ground and greenery at the bottom but after doing it that way, I could see that background was too busy.  If I had left it, it would have competed for the attention of the viewer.  I wanted the boy and cat to be the focal point, not the background.  So I had to redo the background using black instead.  Although I wasn't originally envisioning such a dark background, the black did work better.

A Charcoal Drawing of a Little Blond Girl

The charcoal drawings of children help me stay limber and focused.  It's too easy to forget how to draw if you don't do it every day.  It is like any other muscle.  If you don't use it, it gets flabby and weak.  Children, in particular, are so important to me because I illustrate children's books and there is very little out there on drawing children.  Books on drawing focus on the adult face.  So I have to practice all the time.  Never let up.  Keep the practice.

My Grandson and His Sidewalk Chalk Art Show

Sidewalk Chalk inspired me to create this collage.  My grandson was about 8 at the time and was drawing on my patio while I took photos.  I love this pose.  It is so like him.

I started with quite a few photos and had to Frankenstein them together to get the hands just right.  In most of the photos, his hands were blurred.  Then I drew the sketch out on paper and began searching for the collage pieces to glue on.

The process took me a week, working on and off for several hours.

My final video is sped up so that the hours of work only last about 8 minutes.

Recycling Grocery Store Circulars into Paper Bowls

With the amount of trash that comes through this home, I get really upset that so much is not recycled.  So I keep trying to find ways to recycle rubbish.  These grocery store circulars come in the mail every week and are just discarded.  I have no idea how many trees are going to the landfill but I just can't stand it.  

Here is my way of reusing at least part of the newsprint that cycles through my home.  You will need only white school glue and occasionally a paper clip. 

 

First, tear the pages into uniform pieces that can be rolled.

Second, take a knitting needle and roll the pieces into straws.  Then flatten them.

Third, begin rolling the flattened straws into a disc.  When you come to the end of one straw, insert another into the end and continue. 

Fourth, when the disc is the desired diameter for the bottom of your bowl, begin pulling up the edges as you go around creating the sides of the bowl.  Continue until the bowl is the desired height, then glue the end down.

To finish these, I painted the bowl with another coat of white glue to seal it.  You can paint it with acrylic paint if desired but it isn't necessary.  The bowl is ready to use for fruits, breads, onions, potatoes, or any dry storage.

A Collage of My Brother on Dad’s Shoulder

Finding these older silent 8 mm movies my mom and dad shot in the 50s and 60s has been a real charge.  I have made several portraits using them as references and this is just one.

I started by taking a still photo from the movie.  Then drew the composition onto paper and began the collage process.  

Halfway through the collage I discovered I drew dad's mouth wrong and had to adjust it.  The drawing part of each project is so very important. 

How I Sew These Cloth Dolls by Hand

Among the many crafts I am constantly working on, are these little dolls.  I found using a sewing machine at night in front of the TV was just to loud and intrusive but sewing by hand wasn't.  So I began sewing these little dolls for gifts.  They turned out so cute I've put them in my Etsy shop. 

I'd love to know what you think about the little dolls, ballerina dolls, fox dolls, bunny dolls, gnomes, and mouse dolls.

A Charming Sightseer from an Old Photo

This collage is different from the others.  I usually have a color photo to work with but this one is using a reference in black and white.  Also, there is a car in the collage and usually don't like to have mechanical things in my collages of children. 

As I always do, I did the background first and then used tracing paper to trace over my main subject.  Then I collage her face and clothes directly onto the tracing paper.  Why not?  It's all paper after all.  I found this one fun because of all the different elements that I don't usually include.  I hope you find it so also.