Gifted

I spent a rainy Saturday afternoon in October creating these gifts for my dear-hearts in the West. My Halloween party was that evening but the rain kept me close to home so I took advantage of the down-time to make something, collage art, for my pals. I decided it might be fun to create something for them this year, a little something specific to each of them that has a little part of me included.

For Ruthie, I created a collage of Sting's lyrics. She has long been a fan of him as a writer and a rocker and I thought it appropriate for her. I had a lot of fun making it, listening to a collection of Police/Sting. It was a killer playlist. Her collage has clean lines and when I started making it I realized Sting often repeated lines so they made for perfect chunks to create the collage. Thanks, Sting.

For Terri, I looked to Thich Nhat Hanh. I made her's a 5x7 size, something she could easily set on her work desk, as a reminder that she is loved and that life is for the lovely, should she ever have those days she just isn't sure. This one was fun to make because as I was snipping and gluing and piecing things together a small poem formulated from some of the things I was amassing. It is hard to see so you can read it below; a poem written by me and Thich Nhat Hanh, just for my sweet friend.

You Are Here

do not 

turn yourself 

into a battlefield

each human being

is a multiplicity

life bursts forth 

with miracles - a glass

miracles everywhere

if you live in awareness

it is easy to see

a speck of dust

a heart that beats in rhythm

ears that hear a bee fly

a ray of sunshine

a flower

a leaf

a caterpillar

laughter

raindrops

or a thunderclap

become your best - 

calm, fresh, solid, clear and free

you just enjoy it

**

In propinquity,
Nic

Collage Art - Rock Bottom

This one is for my friend, Keeks. I created this one from an old copy of 'Rock Bottom' (written by one of her idols, Pamela Desbarres) and striking images of some of her rock favorites from various medias. 

It was fun to create and I adorned it at the end with a well-worn guitar pick for good measure.

In propinquity,
Nic

Collage Art - Ernest Hemingway

Collage number 2 is complete! I had a tattered copy of Ernest Hemingway’s ‘A Moveable Feast’, bought it for a mere dollar once upon a time, its pages were loose and falling out. While framing Sylvia, I came up with the bright idea for this one.

Initially the book’s spine and the back cover photo of Hem were not part of the action plan but when I was dismantling the pages it ripped in such a way that was fitting to piece in. Creative fate if you will.

This one was just as enjoyable and relaxing as the first except I substituted cold coffee for a warm London Porter.

The morning after I was finished I had a bit of a Fred Flintstone thumb from the glue. I bought new stuff so when I was done my hands looked like I had worked on a small engine. Even the wee throb in my right hitchhiker is worth the time spent making something else.

For those of you not familiar with Hemingway, ‘A Moveable Feast’ is a memoir chronicling his days in 1920s Paris as a struggling, young expatriate writer; written toward the end of his life and published posthumously in 1964. It is a tremendous account and made its most important quote one of the focal points of the piece.

I don’t know what’s next. Something will inspire though, of that much I’m sure.

In propinquity,

Nic

Collage Art – Sylvia Plath

This is how I spent last Saturday night. I pulled out all of my art supplies: glue, double-sided tape, scissors, etc, etc and I made this. I had two copies of the same book so I got the bright idea to utilize one of them and created a collage of Sylvia Plath’s collected works.

I sat contented with a coffee and a good playlist being precise and peaceful. I finally found a frame for her last night so it will be on display at home somewhere soon.

I was pleased with myself, to have created something, to have put my idle time to good use. I already have my stash poised to start another!

I can’t wait to get to work!

In propinquity,

Nic