Mixed Media Quickie Number Twenty

Social Niceties
photograph on matboard, fabric paper, vintage wallpaper, magazine cutouts
10 x 13 inches

So...this woman was the foremost movie critic of her time (1960s) and she was in a double-page advertisement for feminine deodorant spray.  EW.  Please, pass the frosting, I'll bury that knowledge eating directing out of the can, thanks.

Mixed Media Quickie Number Nineteen

Munsell's Diner
photo on matboard, magazine and catalog cutouts, vinyl
10 x 13 inches

The guy behind the legs was named Harry Munsell.  Nom nom, right?  And that's not just a hamburger--that's a hamburger with BITS OF HOTDOG added right into the patty!  Oh, McCall's, you never cease to teach me new things from the 1960s.

I can't let you forget about Instagram!
Also, you might be able to see my Facebook stuff occasionally if you follow me there.

Mixed Media Quickie Number Eighteen

Small Dreams
photograph on matboard, magazine and catalog cut outs,
atlas
10 x 13 inches

That's a map of Wales.  Seems dreamy under the right conditions.  

I will be taking these collages (and the mini collages framed!) to my first showing at the Vintage and Made Fair in Des Moines in May.  Since the theme of the show is reusing/recycling materials I figured this would be a great place to debut this line of work.  Spread the word if that's your thing.  Thanks.

Mixed Media Quickie Number Seventeen

Worksite
found headshot, catalog cutouts, book tearout, vinyl
10 x 13 inches

These guys.  Really.  What is this scenario?  Thanks, 1969 Sears catalog!  

The next few collages have head shots taken from the old KC Club.  Lots of old white dudes had no idea they'd work their way into the art of the little lady they'd likely talk patronizingly to if they were still around to see it.  

Mixed Media Number Sixteen

How To Catch a Thing
antique sheet music, book/magazine/greeting card cutouts,
fabric paper, vinyl
approx. 11 x 14 inches

I have so many pages of antique sheet music gifted from a family friend, I don't know if I'll ever get through it, and that's okay!  I can try.

Mixed Media Quickie Number Fifteen

Boheme
found typed and writen on paper, vinyl, painted wallpaper,
magazine/catalog/book cutouts, colored pencil
8.5 x 11 inches

I found MORE THAN ONE typed up note like this in a box of travel souvenirs and whatnots from the '60s and '70s.  I guess it's like a diary entry or something. I love the age on the paper...thanks, Marguerite, for being you and unknowingly becoming my collaborator!

Mixed Media Quickie Number Fourteen

Coffee Break
painted found newspaper, book and magazine cutouts,
vinyl
approx. 10 x 13 inches

This one did come together quickly, but in all honestly its components took a while to make.  The building is from a Swiss Modern architecture book that was one of the first things I kept from the sheds at the farm.  The newspaper was painted over the course of weeks as I was making other works and just had it around as blotting paper.  I cut out the strawberry dessert over a year ago from a Reader's Digest scavenger hunt and kept it around.  This is how I work.

Mixed Media Quickie Number Thirteen

One-Directional
found envelope, found typed recipe, painted cutout paper,
book and magazine cutouts, vinyl dots
10 x 12.5 inches

I love this creamy, aged color palette.  Add some shiny gold vinyl dots and ladies and  you have a nice little story in the works.  Who wants some mincemeat cookies?  FUNCTIONAL ART RIGHT HERE.

Yo, I'm still all over that Instagram thing---> @eightyacresart

Mixed Media Quickie Number Twelve

Snacks
cardboard, magazine cutouts, vinyl, painted paper
6 x 9 inches

So!  I made more in this series, adding backgrounds that aren't just packaging but still leftovers from the past.

Mixed Media Quickie Number Eleven

Sandwich Head
found envelope, painted found newspaper, vinyl, magazine cutouts
approx.  9 x 12

This is the last of what I made the first weekend of April, but when I get back to making more (and I will!) I'll be sure to post them here.

All the collages are for sale and mounted on standard frame sized paper (8 x 10 or 11 x 14).  I'm happy to get them framed for you, too!  Contact me anytime, through Facebook, Instagram, Etsy, my website, or email signs444[at]hotmail.com. (I am so cool and retro for having a hotmail account! Take notes.)

Mixed Media Quickie Number Ten

Centerpiece
found book page, painted book page, greeting card parts, vinyl, painted wallpaper
approx. 8 x 9 inches

I love old greeting card imagery.  I greatly admire illustrators and envy their skills.  The floral arrangement here takes me back to my flower shop days--flowers make the table!  But only if you buy from independent flower shops.  If you use those internet conglomerations, you are THROWING YOUR MONEY AWAY and will maybe be disappointed.  Take it from me, be a pal and spend that money locally!

Mixed Media Quickie Number Nine

Amnesia
staples, box, vinyl, magazine cutouts, painted found newspaper
approx. 9 x 14 inches

We are also a box-loving family.  There's always the potential of organization with these containers, but often failure, too.  

I had to staple another layer of cardboard behind the box to keep it semi-flattened.  Again, the dimension is lovely here.

Mixed Media Quickie Number Eight

Let's Be Friends
found envelope, book cutouts, magazine cutouts,
handmade paper scraps, vinyl
approx. 9 x 14 inches

I love the original imagery on this envelope, and so crinkle-y!  You can almost taste the passage of time here.

These are all for sale, of course!  Contact me through my website: www.80acresart.com for inquiries.  They might go on Etsy sometime, too, and I'll be working on getting that site more up to date.  Thanks, friends, for sticking with me.

Mixed Media Quickie Number Seven

Box 381
found envelope, catalog and magazine cutouts, painted papers,
poster paper
approx. 11 x 14 inches

I used a guy!  Men/dudes/boys don't work their way into my art very often because I obviously connect with the ladies more, personally.  And as soon as you put a male and a female together there's a whole new narrative there and it can get in the way of the pure design.  But, whatever, interpret it however you want!  

Mixed Media Quickie Number Six

Four Footed Folk
found paper bag, magazine cut outs, book scrap cutout
approx. 6 x 8 inches

The next six pieces were made starting with other craft colored paper I had around the studio, as I had run out of the original material from the framed old dudes.  My ancestors LOVED bags and envelopes, and I am no different!  

This is a whole little paper bag.  I thought about cutting it in two but that would have taken away some of the nice texture and dimension.  

The title obviously comes from the book page, which was left over from an early 1900's kids' book that I already cut apart (there was a dandy tiger on this page).  But I found the cat and dog images first.  Simple but I really love it.

Mixed Media Quickie Number Five

Blue Undies
craft paper, wall paper, magazine cutout, catalog cutouts, sticker, vinyl
approx. 6 x 10 inches

This is the most deconstructed collage piece I've ever done I think...might be the best one for a starter.  Another collaboration with an unknown framer, this time from Langley's Framing Corner in Westport (closed).

Yo!  Instagram!

Mixed Media Quickie Number Four

Fashion Scewer
craft paper, sticker, vinyl, soil survey paper, coupon paper,
magazine cutout, fabric paper
approx. 11 x 14 inches

That turban, though.

Mixed Media Quickie Number Three

Queen of the Castle
craft paper, painted found newspaper, vinyl, marker, painted paper
approx.  11 x 11 inches

I'm getting a lot of traction from the negligee section of Sears' 1969 Spring/Summer catalog.  Who can sleep with all the scratchy lace on their skin?  Remember, this is before Lycra was blessedly mixed into every fabric on Earth.

Mixed Media Quickie Number Two

Sleep Walking
craft paper, book cutout, magazine cutouts, painted paper scrap,
catalog cutout, wall paper, vinyl
approx. 11 x 14 inches

You can see that the craft paper here was on the back of a framed piece because the framer smartly labeled it with their sticker and info.  I like to think this one is a collaboration with the person who placed that sticker there from the Colony Bistro Art Gallery and Frame Shop sometime in the '60s or '70s.

Mixed Media Quickie Number One

Traveling Light
craft paper, book cutout, magazine cutouts, painted paper scrap
approx. 11 x 11 inches

Here's a new series!  I made the next ten collages (plus this one) in a short amount of time with mostly scrap I had or images I've already cut out along the way.

A friend gave me several 11 x 14 framed head shots of old dudes that were being removed from her office.  The frames weren't anything special and since it's easier to stash a bunch of paper flat, I worked on removing the pictures from the frames.  These were professionally framed over the last 50 years, so there was a thin back cover of craft paper on most of them.  As I do, I kept the pieces I thought were large enough to do something with.  This sparked something in me, and as I had a little pop up this weekend in town I decided that I needed something to do for crunch time, so started on these collages.

My idea was that they could be collage starts for another artist, or stand on their own if that's how the beholder eyed them.  This forced me to work quickly and edit.  Sometimes I clam up if I start thinking too hard about themes and filling the space.

I'm glad I did this and might continue--stay tuned!  I'll be posting a new collage everyday, but you can get a preview on my Instagram feed of a few from the weekend.

Hello, Spring!