AWLOC #28 - 32

It's been a while since I posted some collages for my A Whole Lot of Collages project for this year. As you can see, I haven't really made very many. Good thing I didn't make this a one-a-day project. Well, I knew why... It's not that I don't enjoy making them (although the glue bit sometimes gets a bit too much, I'm just not very good with glue), but it's just that there are other things that are more important to me right now, such as drawing. And there just isn't enough time for everything. 

I did these back in June already, actually, and they've been sitting on my desk since then. I just couldn't come up with names for them, let alone editing them in Lightroom and Photoshop (I can't even remember last time I properly edited some photos). But this morning, I tidied up my desk, and finally got them done.

For these, I printed the vintage images on tracing paper and glued them over different backgrounds made from pages from a Japanese journal, patterned papers and Washi tape. I like the slightly haunted look this gives to these beautiful old portraits, but they can be a bit tricky when glueing on to the backgrounds. Although they don't look quite as wrinkly as in the photo in reality.

There might not be any more collages for this year, but I hope to find time and inspiration now and again to do some. It's quite a different way of creating than with pencil, pen or paint brush, and a bit of variation and experimentation is always a good thing.

AWLOC2014 | #24 - #27

The last batch of last weekend's collages, again with vintage black and white images. I like using old images, and I'm sure I had a whole folder filled with them, but I just don't seem to be able to find it anywhere on my computer. Maybe it didn't make the move from my old laptop to my new Mac last year... Ah well, I guess I just have to start collecting again. There are loads of free images out there.

I also want to experiment with printing on different papers, and generally experiment more and explore different techniques and styles. So far, it's all been a bit of the same. But then, this is all still new to me, and I still got over 300 collages to do...

AWLOC2014 | red and green (#20 - #23)

More collages, and I'm almost finished with January already. I'm sure that there'll soon be other things coming in the way, so I better make the best of it as long as I'm so into it. For these four, I played with different patterned papers in red and green shades.

Coming up with new collages isn't a problem at the moment (still so much to explore!), but coming up with suitable titles is already turning into a bit of a struggle! I'm not even sure if that second flower really is a passion flowers...

AWLOC2014 | vintage series (#11 - #19)

I was very busy this weekend creating a whole bunch of collages. I'm way ahead at the moment, but I just can't stop. I like creating several collages at the time, because you can turn them into mini series, with variations of a certain theme. This series turned into a vintage one.

I used a different glue medium this time, and now that the collages are dry, I can see that I applied it far too thick. It does not seem as transparent as the one I used before, so I have to remember to apply thinner layers and/or wipe off excess medium. For this vintage style pieces, I think I can get away with it, though.

AWLOC2014 | #4 to #10

Sunday was a quite grey and damp day again, and we were quite lazy after a late Saturday with guests for dinner. Staying in and keeping ourselves busy with creative projects was the perfect thing to do.

I got another few collages done, seven altogether. I used bookpaper from a book I happen to have two copies of for most of them. It's just great how flicking through the pages and finding a certain sentences gives an idea for a collage. I also kept the colour scheme pretty much the same for all of them, almost monochrome. But there's definitely going to be some colour soon too.

A new project for 2014: A Whole Lot Of Collages

At the end of 2013, I've completed my first project365 - taking a picture for every day of the year with my iPhone and some different apps.

For 2014, I've decided to add a new project to this. When I took part in the DIY postcard swap a few weeks ago, I really enjoyed making my collage postcards. I've used collage techniques before, but mainly as part of a mixed media journal page, and not in their own right. Inspired by the swap, and by iHanna's 365 Collages, I want to make collages.

I've got so much stuff that I love, but don't use very often in my artwork. Patterned paper, stamps, rub-ons, stickers... Time to use (up) some of those supplies! And I ordered a copy of Randel Plowman's "The Collage Workbook" to get some additional inspiration for my collages.

I was thinking about making this project another project365, but I know I won't be able to produce a collage every day. There's no way I'm going to sit down to create after coming home later after an evening class. But I want to try and do as many as possible, hopefully one one for every day of the year. But I don't want to put myself under too much pressure, so instead, I'm just calling my little project A Whole Lot Of Collages 2014. And the first three collages are already done:

DIY Postcard swap: Finished and on their way

My postcards are finished, and they're on their way. I posted them yesterday, to Germany, Scotland, England, New Zealand, and different corners of the United States.

 I just hope that I got all the addresses right, and that they're all going to arrive.

And now I'm looking forward to what the postman will bring for me :)

DIY Postcard Swap: Work in progress

More details added to the collage backgrounds of my cards for the DIY Postcard Swap. A little bit of paint, texture, stamps, and some washi tapes. 

And I could finally make use of that postcard stamp I bought about two or three years ago. Isn't it just perfect?

They're almost finished but there are still some details I want to add over the coming weekend. I really like how they're coming along, and I can't wait to send them out into the world. I received the addresses yesterday. So exciting! The creative juices are definitely flowing again.

Linking up to the wonderful Paint Party Friday as well, even though there's not really much painting going on in these. But I've missed a few weeks, and it's always a great and inspiring place to to go.

DIY Postcard Swap: Getting Started

Fuelled with new creative energy after having signed up for the DIY Postcard Swap, I sat down on my desk on Saturday afternoon to get started. I wanted to make collages using (up) some patterned paper and stamps - both things that I have loads of but hardly ever use.

Me and white glue have never been friends, I just can't manage without making a complete mess all over the place. Especially when having two pieces of paper the same size, that need to be stuck together. But the result wasn't too bad.

The patterned paper are from a give away I won a few weeks back. I meant to blog about that, but somehow never got round to it. The past few weeks/months haven't been very good blogwise, but I hope to make up for it again.

Some collage bits added to the backgrounds.

The back sides needed a bit of colour too. The mess I made with the glue added some nice effects.