Mixing up Mixed Media with my Personal Photos and Collage

This quick lesson in applying photographs onto canvas sheets. You need a pad of canvas sheets like the one pictured,  Non-Porous Digital Ground, and images on your computer of your original photographs, and collage materials.

When you start, you can paint and apply thin pieces of collage onto the canvas. Then carefully apply the Digital Ground going vertically and waiting until dry before applying a second coat going horizontally. When absolutely dry, then insert into the printer making sure you do not have the printer "flip" or "rotate" the position away from where you want your image.

When the image is printed you can further enhance my collage or paint.

See the link for my new works.Here

The following pictures tell the story.

New Zealand Museum accepts a collage, GIRL TALK

The 15th Annual Collage Exhibition and Sale has collages accepted into the 

Puke Ariki Museum in New Plymouth, New Zealand.

My collage was done on a canvas sheet and then overprinted with a photograph.Then small pieces of paper are collaged over the images. Fitting the canvas sheet into the printer is easier than one might think. It gives a digitized look to the collage.

The Virtual Tart Website

It's been way too long!

I have been battling sciatica and knee problems so the blog has been neglected. I do think I have help with the pain, so my post today will be about a collage.

 I was invited to contribute to an art auction at the Dallas Museum of Biblical Art. This has to be a small piece (8' X 8") which reflects a Christmas theme. This museum also houses some fabulous art like Chagall. It showcases art of the Jewish tradition as well as the Christian. I was honored to be invited to contribute.

The small collage is called, "Shepherds in Awe."

My new collages will be seen on the "Figurative" part of my website.http://www.ashleyfinearts.com

Sensei of Ikenobo

The workshop I attended last week had a most challenging feature which was collage (torn pieces of paper from magazines) to depict a figure. I chose to do a figure of an ikebana demonstration I attended a month ago. He was standing in front of large windows which made him have back-lit lighting.

He is known as a teacher of the Ikenobo school of ikebana. He is also an artist with his pottery which has been featured on the tv program called "Spark". I will probably use the image to advertise the Ikebana International Flower Show in Golden Gate Park next March.

Portrait of Mattie

Rebecca Osgood is a talented person with pastels. She does wonderful portraits and she graciously allowed two of us to a semi-private series of lessons on pastel. Pastel's are chalk-like, and I have had no real experience using them. Also portraits are new. So learning two new techniques at once was challenging.

Yesterday, Rebecca had her daughter, Mattie, sit for us. I did a colorful version of a portrait of Mattie which Mattie said she really loved. Anyway, we'll see if I continue with pastels.Often I use them to highlight on watercolor.It's always good to be learning new things.

New work on Angel Inn and Shangrila

The two recent works are of places that have a special interest to me. The one is of Shangrila, the former residence of Doris Duke, who was an American heiress who built a magnificent home on Oahu. She decorated the house completely in Islamic art. She was not a Muslim, but was an art collector. The house has many courtyards and fountains which are typical of the Islamic art. The house is now open to the public for tours.

The next painting is of a restaurant that friends have enjoyed in North Yorkshire. It is called The Angel Inn. What was confusing is that I started to paint another Angel Inn when I discovered it wasn't THE Angel Inn. Come to find out there are many Angel Inn's, especially in England. I plan to gift this to the friends as they gifted us with something special. She is a quilter and made us a very handsome quilt.  Now off to the framer's place.

PAL reception with SCVWS

These postcards tell about a wine and art reception held at Pacific
Art League this Friday, July 6 from 5:30-8pm. I have two paintings in the two different galleries. Upstairs is the show by the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society called, "Think Big, Paint Small".

In the Main Gallery downstairs is the Pacific Art League member Show. Come and enjoy a light dinner of chicken wings, and deviled eggs and lemon bars. The theme for the reception (upstairs) was one of a "picnic". I hope you can make it!

Pacific Art League is at 668 Ramona Street, Palo Alto, CA