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Saturday, February 9, 2013

Winter white

The assignment for this week's collage class was white.
To challenge us to focus on composition, Catherine asked us to work within this single color family.
 
Here's my finished piece:
(11x14 canvas board)
Wallpaper sample, magazine pages, book images, tape transfer, handmade paper, mesh bag, cookie package, cheesecloth, fibers, bubble print on vellum, acrylic wash, matte medium, oil pastel, acrylic ink splashes.

The choice of color couldn't have been better, since 48 hours later we were struck with a blizzard that dumped more than two feet of snow on the region. Since I still had all my white materials in a bag, I spent some of last night's stormy hours being inspired by the whiteness.

There's been a lot of talk in the news comparing this storm to the locally infamous "blizzard of '78."  
When I stumbled upon an image of a late 70s Cadillac it seemed only appropriate to bury it in a snowbank.

I was 11 years old during that storm, and remember the joy of a whole week off from school, and towering snow drifts full of the tunnels we dug.  Somehow this storm wasn't as much fun for me.

Nonetheless, as the storm raged on I was still in the mood for white. I started tearing strips from the magazine pages I had collected for class.  Funny how I considered these pages to be whitish when I ripped them from Architectural Digest, and how totally UN-white they looked when I laid them down next to each other.  The sky was so gray I ended up washing over it with gesso, though that only served to emphasize the non-whiteness of the other papers. 
 I didn't set out to create something so beachy, but the green/blue horizon and the sand-colored foreground must be my subconscious' way of escaping the blizzard.

We are finally done digging out.
My toes have thawed, and I'm back in the studio, eager for color.  Any color.
I've had enough of this for a while.
I hope my fellow New Englanders are safe and sound!

17 comments:

  1. I can't wait for beach weather. That first collage is just wonderful, Karen. And isn't it funny how many different "whites" there are? I love the idea of monochromatic collages for just that reason--you really get to know the color.

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  2. How cool, the piece you call beachy could very well be an image of a Norwegian fjord. I love the beautiful colors you used to make it. Not so cool with all the snow though, even if there's nothing to do about the weather.
    Be well.

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  3. Wow, your white piece is absolutely gorgeous! So much texture, and play of light and form. I just sat and stared at it...

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  4. I cannot believe that car in the snow......
    Love the white collages.

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  5. I love your white piece. wonderful. That car picture takes me back. Wow.

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  6. wow all of them turned out great......white is so hard to do, and you seem to have mastered it. My you did a great a pack of snow

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  7. Love the collages, particularly the first and last one. It's such a pleasure when we start out to make something and a 'happy accident' occurs that makes a really good image like the last one. Sounds a marvellous course.

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  8. In the south we didn't get the snow and for a moment I felt nostalgic looking at your white snow blizzards. And then I didn't as I strolled to the car in my fleece "coat". So much enjoying your collages - thanks for the peek!

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  9. White is good, love the buried vehicle.....yes, last shoveled parts today, shoulders sore but not too sore to do some creating. xox

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  10. Glad you got through the storm, Karen. What a mess. But your perfect white card is.. well, perfect.

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  11. I love the white collage!! I hope you aren't still shoveling snow...just stay inside, keep warm, and do lots more art. I love seeing it.

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  12. That is a mountain of snow! Love how you've used texture in your white collage!

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  13. I am so NOT a snow person! Better it fall on you easterners than me - I'll take my gray sky and rain any day. But, if that's what inspired those white collages, maybe I should reconsider. That first collage is extraordinary! Maybe the lack of color even emphasizes the wealth of texture you've used. Holy moly, it's so great to have all those elements and yet it doesn't feel jumbled or unfocused. Beautiful!

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  14. Glad to hear you're finally digging out. But I gotta say, that snow was truly inspirational! These pieces are just stunning Karen. I'm going to have to go have a look at what I have in white...maybe it will inspire some snow around here. Just one day would be nice. Stay warm! xx

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  15. I love the first one especially! We just got power back after 3 1/2 days so it's been too chilly for me to be art-ing! Time to get back at it!

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  16. These are my all time favorite. :D

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  17. I am still quite taken with these. :)

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