New Work: Back in The Day

Back in The Day
collage
image size 15" x 18" 

These last several pieces have all started with a shape or two. Things aren't necessarily driven by a particular idea though my notes on what I have seen and learned are close by for inspiration. Often I have some specific images in mind or maybe even some words. In general though, and except for the color scheme I select, I haven't much of a clue when I start. It's only as I begin to add shapes that the structure begins to form. I wait very patiently (I like to think) for an idea to take hold. When it does, it's fairly amazing. I can literally see in my mind's eye some physical object sort of digging into and taking hold of a kind of ground. Sort of like the road runner cartoons where the coyote has an anchor behind a truck and it drags on the ground until it jams itself into the cement. The truck comes to a halt and the coyote goes flying out of the cab. Sort of like that. 

For this collage I began with the dark blue and dark green shapes. I looked at them and wondered what I was doing exactly. No story emerged until I added the light blue piece and the white squares. The light blue shape reminded me of a screen door. Then I began to think about my grandma's house. The house must be some kind of a touchstone for me because I dream about it; the mental image is very clear. My grandmother had a back deck with one of those dark green plastic overhangs, the kind that are sort of rippled. The deck was gray and the steps led to a long rectangular back yard. She had a loquat tree on the side of the yard. I began to think about that screen door and blueberry bushes (my blogger friend has a blueberry bush). The rest of the imagery all has personal meaning (not private, just mundane). I wasn't sure I could finish it and then I added the black lines. Once those were down, the rest was history as they say.

While making the collage, I thought about whether or not it is possible to have several ideas that are unrelated as the basis for these pieces. The relatedness could be the overall design and color scheme. This way of working interests me because it would allow me to cull my disjointed thoughts into one collage that is cohesive rather than depending on a specific theme to get things started. I wouldn't have to try and pick a theme in advance.  Since subject matter is always a struggle for me, this way of working would be useful.

The last thing to mention is that I am starting to realize that the writing I do about these pieces is nearly as important to me as doing the pieces themselves. I can't wholly explain this but can only say that writing has always been important to me. The drive to write is stronger for me than the drive to make art; writing comes more naturally. But, the writing and the art together somehow is a great combination, supplying me with something that I wouldn't get from either art making or writing alone. 

I hope everyone reading has a good holiday weekend. Be safe.
Libby

Sales: Libby Fife Fine Art