In The Studio
April 6, 2024 at 10:27 am | Posted in Art Studio | Leave a commentTags: acrylic on canvas, acrylics, Artist's working process, Caran d’Ache Neocolor II, paint palette
As you can see, I don’t use a traditional palette for mixing acrylic paint. Those wood kidney shaped ones with all the colors neatly arranged on them are a wonder to me, so neat and organized. However, they feel small and restrictive to work on. The paint saver palettes that are covered in a box, ones with little round or square wells, the paper palettes, plastic ones, I’ve tried them all. This palette is a 21”x23” rectangle of thick framing glass that was handy. Using duck tape on the edges worked well (why is it named after a bird?). The glass sheet sits on top of white paper that has the circle outline of a color wheel, just in case. I considered using a neutral gray paper underneath as a color grounding element but opted for white instead as a mixing background. The glass allows me to scrape paint off easily since acrylic dries fast, even with extenders. Best of all, there is lots of working room. Speaking of wonders, how about the photos you see of artists painting in nice clothes, that is, with not a speck of paint on them. Often, they are shown sitting at an easel in a living room or such, sometimes on a wood floor or beautiful rug. I’m not one of those either. I feel fortunate to emerge from the studio with no paint in my hair or on my teeth.
The collages are ongoing but recently I started another 48” abstract landscape painting also, feeling the need to hold a brush. Using Caran d’Ache Neocolor II Aquarelles, I begin with a loose drawing of the composition with the color scheme mostly thought out. But things always change during the process…
p.s. see the floor. LOL.
Another World
November 19, 2023 at 9:51 pm | Posted in Art Studio, mixed media collage | Leave a commentTags: abstraction, Egyptian music, Michael Atherton, mixed media collage, music
©Joan Desmond, Another World. Mixed Media Collage, 7"x5"
It’s important to push boundaries in studio work, there are so many wonderful unknowns to explore, always so many new ways to learn and grow. In this case, I’m using an unfamiliar color scheme, neutrals with just some flashes of pure color. I rarely use black in painting or collage. While that shade may immediately create strong contrasts, it can also pull the viewer into a dark hole, leaving the eye stuck there. In the studio, I was listening to “Ankh: The Sound of Ancient Egypt” by Michael Atherton. Using traditional Egyptian instruments he considered how they may have been arranged back then. He created haunting melodies and rhythms, some including voice, with occasional elements of familiarity. I don’t know whether that imprinted on my working process. At the end this abstract, mixed media landscape, brought to mind something extraterrestrial, hence the title, “Another World”. Look closely, it’s there.
Collage Journal
May 2, 2023 at 1:57 pm | Posted in Art Studio, Collage | Leave a commentTags: abstraction, CREATIVITY, mixed media collage
©Joan Desmond, Pages from Collage Journal 2023. Mixed Media Collage on paper, 10″x 7″.
Here’s a new approach for me. Over the years there have been many drawing journals, most included writing, perhaps mixed media techniques. I’m now creating a journal that will consist of collages, perhaps with descriptive narrative, it will evolve as it needs to. My art journals are used to record impressions, feelings, experiment, a place to work out ideas on a smaller scale. They become a reference-some of these images may morph into larger works on canvas.
Small Landscape
April 9, 2023 at 5:39 pm | Posted in Art Studio | Leave a commentTags: abstraction, collage, mixed media collage
With mixed-media works the possibilities are endless. I’ve been working on small collages exploring various compositional approaches.
©Joan Desmond, Cool Mountain Lake With Birdsong, Mixed Media Collage on Ampersand Panel 7″x 5″.
From The Studio
April 2, 2023 at 4:14 pm | Posted in Art Studio | Leave a commentTags: abstraction, mixed media collage
©Joan Desmond, Ancient Voices Roam Here. Mixed Media Collage, 10″ x 8″.
A Peek Into My Collage Process
March 29, 2023 at 7:53 pm | Posted in Art Studio, Considering Ideas | Leave a commentTags: collagraph, Golden gel, intaglio, Jonathan Talbot, mixed media collage, relief printing
Today, I prepped some previously printed papers for collage and other mixed media work. The procedure is to coat each side of the paper, letting it dry in between, with gloss polymer gel. That way they will be ready to use in the future. At that time, after arranging the usually torn paper shapes, I apply a tacking iron which seals them to the prepared surface, using a silicone coated paper between the iron and the art paper so the iron doesn’t stick. For that I recycle the glossy, easy release papers that postage stamps or address labels are attached to. Unaltered art papers may also be added at that time to the collage. However, the basic approach can save much frustration in working with glues and sticky fingers. This is a method developed by the collage artist, Jonathan Talbot, that I’ve been experimenting with. My preferred adhesives are the Golden Acrylic Gels.
It’s fun to experiment with different printing materials using relief and intaglio techniques. Clockwise here are: a relief collagraph plate using found items to create 3-D texture; three stamps, the top one is carved from soft Safety-Kut material; the bottom two are incised foam designs mounted on foam blocks; a larger incised foam design and a print from it; a print created with a Gelli plate which is more or less a mono print approach; a plate with a raised surface made using dripped gel or glue on lino; then three more carved Wonder-Cut linoleum blocks.
This rolling print drying rack was a splurge item as I wasn’t sure how much use it would get, but it has worked out nicely. Otherwise there would be papers scattered about on every studio surface on a day like today, as I prepped multiple papers not just printed ones. It’s also handy for drying small paintings.
Postcards for Democracy
May 23, 2021 at 10:48 am | Posted in Art Exhibitions, Mail Art | Leave a commentTags: Mail Art
Postcards for Democracy opened on May 17th in the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery at Florida SouthWestern State College. I’m participating in this rotating (as there are so many postcards), mail art exhibition which runs through August 8, 2021. http://www.rauschenberggallery.com/
Reset
May 16, 2021 at 5:56 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentTags: Art Studio, oil on canvas, oil paintings, Spirituality Series
I have been missing in action here on my blog. WHAT A YEAR! this past one has been! Likely you will all agree. Many artists, myself included, tend to self-isolate anyway in order to focus on the work, so that wasn’t much different. Nevertheless, it was a distracted, fragmented year for me for numerous reasons, and there was loss, sadness, and depletion of energy. Not sure yet if I am back. Just wanted to share that lately I’ve been revamping the studio: switching out funky old cabinets and replacing them with bright white new ones; purging that which has been dragging me down; tossing that which no longer serves. It’s been a tearing process, painful in a way, as I can always think of a creative use for something so end up saving stuff & thingies, not wanting to waste. Often resolution never comes about and the item just sits there, nagging at me. Much of that is now gone. With a clearer perspective, I’m drawn again to paintings like this one from the Spirituality Series, which is on one of the studio walls. It is large, 56″x45″, and it was never titled as I didn’t think it was done. But it is done. Yes, it is as it should be. I may do more such. Hope all is well with you.
Connecting Through Touch
March 24, 2020 at 5:06 pm | Posted in Art Studio, Considering Ideas | 2 CommentsTags: collage on paper, hand, mixed media collage, pandemic, touch, Touch Collage Series
© 2020, Joan Desmond, Forbidden Touch
“Forbidden Touch” is from a recent, mixed media, collage series about the human touch. We respond to human physical touch emotionally, psychologically. Infants blossom under gentle, comforting touch or may be stunted without it. Touch can sooth, invite, inspire, and rouse. Touch can also hurt, deaden and repulse. Currently we are experiencing a time where human touch is being restrained and censured. Many people are wearing masks and gloves, creating barriers to touch. In the series I use the most fundamental vehicle for touch, the human hand.
Bloom
February 16, 2020 at 5:24 pm | Posted in Art Studio | 2 CommentsTags: collage, collage on paper, printing, serigraph
© Joan Desmond, Bloom
Here is a collage created by cutting up one of my early serigraphs. I didn’t start out thinking “botanical”. It just came together like that as I started placing the pieces.
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