The Lass With The Delicate Air

I matted this collage the other day, so thought I'd post it. It began as a test in adding a mitered border, something picked up in a bookmaking workshop. The border is made from antique endpapers, which I clip from books soon after buying them and now put in an archival sleeve with the name, date & publisher of the book attached. Now being the operative word there! The butterflies were cut from a recycled wrapping paper sample square and the flower is an antique print.

The girl is an illustration from the Chatterbox, which along with St. Nicholas, is among my favorite 19th/early 20th century children's magazines. I blew the image up a few of times on a photocopier, because I was thinking of turning her into a rubber stamp. Still might. After that was done, I painted her with watercolors. Oh, almost forgot to mention the sheet music that gives the piece the title: yes, it's a vintage page. {SOLD}

Note: just found a Time magazine feature about the cherished Christmas annuals that British magazines published that also touches on the history of the Chatterbox.

Spring

This is one in a series of long, narrow collages that are part of an effort to try new shapes and sizes, and to - literally - make my work grow. It's a mixed-media piece that includes a vintage book jacket, hand-made lace painted with acrylics, a postcard back, an image transfer (bird in nest); and antique embroidery engravings at top and bottom from Peterson's Magazine. I'm wrestling with presenting these, that is, whether to mat them or make them wall hangings. 4.5" x 11.5" on canvas.

Dream house: before & after

This collage on paper took off from the central image of the doll's house, which came from an elementary school art manual published in 1905 by Prang Educational Co. I strive to use images out of copyright, which I own the rights to or which someone has given me permission to use. This was an attempt at layering - and there are quite a few, composed of vintage geological survey maps, endpapers,   engravings, diagrams and, topping it off, a section from a vintage yard stick. 

The original (top), excluded the girl (below). She was added at the request of the client. I was unsure about the addition. I wrestled with various images until landing on her. In the end, she adds a touch of humanity to a work that was a bit sterile. She also opens up thoughts - at least in my mind - of daydreaming and gender roles, which were only hinted at via the "residence for Mr. & Mrs." label in the top left corner.