Friday 5 October 2012

Overdue

I have missed so many Paint Party Fridays I can't even remember how many of them exactly! So this post really is long overdue, and I'm glad to be back :)


I'm working on a little "recycling" project, although I don't really like the label. Firstly, the term "recycling" makes most people think of plastic bottles and and recycling containers, and things like that. Secondly, collecting things that inspire us and re-use them in some way or other in a painting, is not really something so very special for a mixed media painter. It's just what we do. But then, we're not all painters, mixed media or others, and some people seem to need some kind of labelling to make sense of it all.


We received a whole bunch of old bound journals at the library, and most of them had those old lending cards in them, with the names and dates of the people who borrowed the books between the 1950s and 1970s. I took them all out and used some of them as a background, adding layers of colour, and some image transfer (book paper, of course) on top of it, before adding the word. "Overdue" just seemed the most appropriate, and it just fitted the size of the canvas perfectly :). And there's even more, less obvious, library related "recycling" here too - I used some cardboard insides of a roll of shelfmark label stickers for the circles. The library is an endless well of inspiration :).

"Overdue" - 30x30cm mixed media on canvas

27 comments:

  1. I remember those old lending cards, tee hee! What a great many layered piece you have created! I too sometimes have to be away but am always glad to come back

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  2. What a wonderful piece, I just love the greys, suits the word overdue!

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  3. I'm jumping up and down with excitement at this piece - it and the whole story behind its creation is just wonderful. I hope they hang it pride of place in the library!! Just fab!!

    :)

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  4. Wonderful and beautiful piece of art. And the story behid is just wonderful.
    Nice weekend and lovely greet
    marja
    (marjascreativity)

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  5. That is a great idea and a smart way to use them up in your art. Looks fantastic!

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  6. da schaut spitze ais! wow.. gefällt mir richtig gut!

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  7. I always love your colour palette...this is beautiful. You have just made me realise that I also do not like the word recycle....time to recycle it and think of a new word:)
    Have a great Friday!
    xx

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  8. smashing wip, look forward to seeing it completed. Happy PPF, Annette x

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  9. Oh my gosh! I ADORE this! It is so complex in its simplicity. Love, love, love. And beautiful colour palette. I also agree with you about the whole recycling thing. To me it comes so naturally to use what I have in my art journals and mixed media that I don't even think of it as recycling. Fabulous Kay.

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  10. This is fantastic! What an amzing find with the library cards! Happy PPF!

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  11. What a great idea - and i love how you make your marks. It's another gorgeous page :0)

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  12. Wonderful piece, like it a lot! HPPF!

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  13. Wonderfully creative art related to the library process ~ (A Creative Harbor)

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  14. Ooooh, I love this! It makes me think of the deepest back of the library stacks, where most people never go.

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  15. Oh, I really love this piece. What a great use for the library cards. This has almost a street art vibe to it. Wonderful. Happy PPF

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  16. Like this piece. Great idea for the library cards. Thanks. Happy PPF!

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  17. Great to have you back for Paint Party Friday!!
    Love the neutral colors you've mixed for this newest creation! :)
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  18. I love this project! Your subtle colors and textures are wonderful. It's always so inspiring to see how other artists use 'recycled' items in their work, and I agree, the terminology is not perfect. I guess we could call it repurposed?

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  19. Wonderful - very thought provoking in its message, I think. Glad to see you back!
    Rinda

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  20. Awesome! I love it! I love recycled work, so fun! HPPF!

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  21. Brilliant!! Absolutely brilliant! :)

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  22. Powerful message with great materials!! Well done!

    Hugs Giggles

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  23. Oh it came together so well. I wonder how many fines were collected from all the over due books? Your piece rocks!

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  24. Wow! Your work is fascinating. Blessings!

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  25. Ooh you sneaky little thing - you popped this up without telling me. See, you do keep secrets all the time ;o) Well, I've read all the comments above and I'm struggling to think of anything that hasn't already been said. I like the colours (or colour, since it's almost momchrome, and the font - it has a real, edgy, urban feel to it. The text reminds me of signs saying "Poison" or "Corrosive" - maybe I'm just remembering getting all those "overdue" letters from the library when I was a kid.

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  26. How smart and creativ of you! I like the green colors in it! Lovely and interesting painting! :)

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  27. welcome back, I've missed a couple of PPFs recently too. I remember those lending cards and think it's a fabulous idea to re-use them - the history contained in just those little squares of card - all those names what they might have thought of the book they selected - so much nostalgia. and yes, overdue is the perfect word! I love what you came up with - gorgeous shade of green too.

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