A Road Filled With Collage and Mixed Media

It seems as though any time I find myself on a writing spree, leaving procrastination and writing blocks in the rear view mirror, I also find myself engaging in other creative pursuits as well. Once the creative juices start flowing, they flow in all directions.

This summer I am taking an art class at the Art League of Houston on Collage and Mixed Media. What fun! It is taught by Sasha Dela, who is very good at simultaneously giving us direction and letting us have artistic freedom both at the same time. For three hours every week I can go into the classroom and create to my heart’s content.

One week we focused on color and another week we focused on composition. At some point I will attempt a 3‑D collage. Sasha encourages us to bring in whatever materials we would like to work with. So far I have found old photos in my home, I have shopped 2nd hand stores and Half Priced Books, among other places, to find interesting pictures and articles for my artistic creations. Every week I try to get a bit more creative and experimental with what I make. It is a very comfortable space for experimenting.

Here is a collage showing people who I do not know and am not related to. I just thought they looked interesting. Don’t you? The lotus came from a picture I took while vacationing at a spa in Austin, Texas. I used to visit that spa at least once a year, but then they were bought out by a large hotel chain and I haven’t been back. But I still like looking at this lotus and remembering the peaceful and wonderful times I had. The material came from scraps of paper I had and then I inserted brads on three different levels. Three different pictures, three different pieces of paper and three levels of brads. I think I was working on the rule of thirds that you hear so much about in art classes.

My favorite collage of the week involves a wall from the very same Austin spa. The wall surrounded a delightful and peaceful meditation area where I have spent many hours in mindfulness. This collage involves nine different pictures of the wall (did I mention that I liked this meditation area?). They are pieced together and overlapped hopefully in an artistic manner that leads the observer to introspection and thought. Are you thinking and introspecting?

And finally, when I am not writing or experimenting with collage, I am playing with Alcohol Inks. I don’t really strive towards an absolute realist picture with these inks, but I love the different color combinations. Again, what great fun!

And just recently I have been introduced to Brusho! Stand by for future experiments with this material.

But enough of all of this artistic expression. I have two writing workshops this weekend with Max Regan at the Spectrum Center. And, oh yes, I am in the middle of writing a book. I better get going!

Until next week.….