Hi there. How are you?

In my weekly series "Illustrated Stories" I have discussed my bird series, my abstract collages,  and my long running chair series. Today, I'm sharing some of my earliest mixed media work, my Floral Improv series.

Floral Improv #20

This is one of the oldest unsold pieces in my collection, and I do things much differently now than I did back in 2009 when this was created. As you can see, this piece is framed, instead of mounted on cradled hardboard as I did more recently. And look at how I signed it. I didn't even know Matt at the time. Seems like ages ago now!

Flower Power

The year was 2008. I started an Etsy shop, and ACEO's were all the rage.  ACEO's, short for Art Card, Editions and Originals are small, trading card-sized pieces of art.  Measuring just 3.5 by 2.5 inches, it was an easy and inexpensive way to collect original art.

At the time, I was still teaching, and I could quickly whip up an ACEO during my spare time or even when my students were working. Priced at $12-$20 unframed, my little floral collages sold well on Etsy. In fact,  2009 was the best year I've had on Etsy to date. 

Here is a collection of my floral improvs from 2008:

Magazines and Microns

Shown here at life size,  you get an idea for how small these pieces really are.

With the exception of the the background paper, all of the collaged elements came from magazine. There are lots of old Domino magazine snippets in there! Oh how I loved that magazine.

Once all of the paper bits were glued in place, I would add detail with Micron pens. I was pretty obsessed with stipple at the time. Sometimes, I would also add a little bit of white colored pencil or gel pen. I loved the way the white popped on dark backgrounds. These ink embellishments gave these pieces life, movement, and personality. This was my favorite part of the process. 

Improv

I called these pieces "improvs" as they were never based on real life flowers. Instead they were improvisational riffs on flower like shapes, cut freehand with scissors from colorful bits of magazine. There was never a real plan in mind when I began these pieces, it really all depended on what kind of colors and patterns I'd find.

Just 3 left!

This is one of just three Improvs that still remain in my collection. At $25, this would make a great gift to yourself or someone you love!

Here's the listing. Go shop now!

Collage is calling again

I've recently felt the urge to pick up the scissors and glue again. I want to work abstractly and intuitively, without constraints. I want to work with color. You may just see some collage show up in my Instagram feed soon!

Until next week friends. Ciao!