Natural Fibers

The last of the great collage papers I'm going to experiment with. Hopefully I will have something to show for all this tomorrow (besides a huge mess).

Textured Wallpaper, Etc.

Supaglypta and Anaglypta are highly textured and/or deeply embossed wallpapers. I use various wallpapers in my collages occasionally, but usually use handmade papers......... or natural fibers, such as the ones below. I purchase them from whatever source I like at the time, but I particularly like the companies, Handmade Paper (click HERE) and Collage Art (click HERE). Yes, you know where this is going. Tomorrow a couple more collage papers and then.....to the laboratory for some experiments.

Knotted Up

I hate that feeling. Knots in your stomach.

Like being stripped to the bone, feeling raw, but you keep smiling anyway because that's all you can do is push forward.

Can't say anything either. Guess that's where the expression, "Bite your tongue" came from. I love art. I mean, I really love art. Being able to express all that through some knotted up polymer clay and a couple of collages is so gratifying. Whew, feel so much better now.

Three Polymer Collages

Three collages.

Two butterflies.

And one flower.

Wall Art

The little polymer painting is 4" x 10".   Below is a 7" x 11". I layered some wire between the backing and the center piece.

Polymer Painting and Table Art

An abstract "painting" done with polymer clay.

Table art-an abstract textured slab of polymer clay.

Another polymer clay painting.

Table art - View 2 of Abstract textured slab of polymer clay.

I like these shapes. Something unique to set on an end table. Colors are earthy and warm.

Holy Cards

Every Friday night I would get my allowance and every Saturday I would be in the Religious store spending it on holy cards. I loved holy cards; the blurry softness of the colors, the sweet innocent looks of the children, the loving faces of the adults.

There were a few with torturous, sad faces, but even those were beautiful to me. My grandmother gave me a holy card from 1939.

I still have the little wooden box I used to keep them in. The name "McAneny" was already written in it. I just wrote my name under it like I was the second in line to own this little treasure.

I've been laying them out, photographing them, photocopying them and compiling my collage file for them.

My First Communion Book from 1953 or 1954 is in OK condition. Can't believe I scotch taped the sides of it.

The inside is in perfect condition.

After the toe/foot heals up, I'm going to give some collages a try. Something with a "shrine" effect, but with Milagros and modern interpretation of prayer....whatever that means.

I threw in the below photo because this glow-in-the-dark Sacred Heart hung in my bedroom as a child. It glowed in the dark! Seriously. I've always hung onto it because it fascinated me.

Anyway, can't get around too much yet, so am back to organizing pictures and planning out future pieces. Going to try to work on some polymer today.

Collage Images

I had several reprints of tags leftover from the art fair. Hate to waste, so tore them up and

threw them on the copier. The fun of this is not knowing what will show through and what won't and how that will play out and what you can combine it with later.

Looked good to me so this one went in the collage file for future use.