Collage/Altered Art

This website is a portfolio of my work in collage and altered art. 
( I usually post once a week on Sundays...but no promises. )
All art work is created by me (Unless otherwise indicated)
and I hold the copyrights
Use of my artwork, without my permission, is prohibited. 

I see beauty in everyday objects from the past and like to re-purpose them in  artful ways in my pieces. A trio of old door knobs, well worn from all that opening and shutting, the patina is perfect.An ordinary document, for the sale of a parcel of land, so beautifully written, on parchment paper.

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Huiles Vitesses

He was looking for trouble and everyone knew it. There would be a battle on Le Champ de Mars, of that you could be certain.

Huiles Vitesses c. creartfuldodger

Huiles Vitesses c. creartfuldodger

The ephemera:  Original 1947 map of Paris; high quality reproductions of vintage motorcycle image; natural history illustration of an owl; helmet and glasses; 1914 receipt for Oil.

Size: 7 inches square

Bois de Vincennes

Madame Caille est envoyée par la Société des Agriculteurs de Frances en mission clandestine aux Bois de Vincennes. Que dénichera-t’elle?

Bois de Vincennes

Bois de Vincennes

The ephemera :  original vintage Paris map 1947  of bois de Vincennes ; original vintage stamps;  high quality reproductions on rag paper of natural history image of a quail, vintage bicycle, bird’s nest and Chemistry Lab receipt.

Size 7 inches square

Sold during the Spring Studio Tour

Egg Delivery

We deliver right to your door, the freshest of freshly layed, fresh farm eggs. Madame Ostrich will be along lickedy-split with your delivery nestled in her panier for extra protection.

Egg Delivery

Egg Delivery

 

The ephemera: Original vintage atlas map; original vintage stamps; high quality reproduction of natural history image of an ostrich, egg, nest and vintage image of bicycle.

Size: 7 inches square

Corbeau Devant

Le Département de Courrier par Vélo a déclaré “Corbeau Devant!” C’est avec orgueil qu’il a pris sa place en tête de l’équipe.

corbeau devant

corbeau devant

The ephemera: Original atlas map 1947; original timbre fiscal; high quality reproductions of vintage photo of a raven, vintage bicycle image, vintage bird cage image, legal document from 1846.

Size: 7 inches square

Moto Metro

Motoring in the Metro on his Motorcycle. Pourquoi pas?

The ephemera: Original Vintage Map of Paris Metro; original vintage stamp; high quality reproduction of natural history image of an owl, an antique motorcycle and a French document from the 1800s.

Size: 7 inches square

Studio Tour This Weekend

UPDATE: Wildly successful Studio Tour with wonderful engagements about making art in all its forms.. and bonus…21 Sales! Thank you to everyone who came out on a rainy Spring Weekend to play in the studio.

I am part of the Cowichan Artisans Studio Tour this weekend April 12, 13, 14 from 10 to 5.  Come out and see what we do.  Try your hand a making a paper boat with antique papers and vintage stamps.  Check out my new works.  Enjoy beautiful Maple Bay where my studio is located. Great spot for a walk on the beach or lunch at the pub.  Link to download map and brochure: https://www.cowichanartisans.com/

studio and view

Cycling to the Seaside

Cycling to the seaside on a fine summer’s day. Is there any better way to spend the time of day.

The ephemera: Original antique map from Dutch School Atlas; original vintage stamp; high quality reproduction of vintage image of seagull, vintage bicycle and old church ledger from Halifax.

Par Pigeon

Purple Pigeon,  carrying out his royal duty for her Majesty’s Mail Service. SOLD 😁

The ephemera:  original antique atlas map from the 1800’s; original vintage stamp; high quality reproduction of vintage bicycle photo; pigeon natural history illustration and French legal document from the 1800’s.

Exercice sur les silences

Exercice sur les silences. Pas facile pour ce petit oiseau coloré qui a terriblement envie de chanter sa joie en ce beau matin printanière. SOLD 😁

The ephemera: Original Vintage Map of Central Paris; original vintage stamp; high quality reproduction of bicycle, cage and vintage sheet music; high quality reproduction of natural history illustration of a beautiful bird.

Voyage

The Great Green Macaw could easily be spotted whizzing around on her bicycle in Punta Uva, hunting for fruit, cacao and her very favorite treat, delicious, plump almonds. In her wake all that is left are a few husks and the echos of cackles and squawks of pleasure and delight. SOLD 😁

The ephemera: original vintage map from 1933; original vintage stamps, high quality reproduction of atlas page and vintage bicycle illustration.

Size: 8 inches square

Note: Inspired by artist’s recent cycling shenanigans in Punta Uva, Costa Rica.

Naviguer sur les Flots

Il était un petit navire, il était un petit navire,

Il était un petit navire

qui savait na- na- naviguer,

ohé ohé  SOLD 😁

 

naviguer sur les flots

side view

artist hands

The ephemera: vintage atlas maps and charts, old letters, vintage postage stamps

The found objects: a tiny globe

Size: 18 inches by 24 inches

Naviguer

Les joies nocturnes

d’un marin somnambule

qui navigue la nuit

refroidie par les vents du large.

Guidé par les astres, les objets célestes

bercé par les flots, il se laisse emporter

The ephemera: Original early twentieth century atlas maps; high quality reproduction of celestial objects

Size: 12 by 24 inches

 

 

 

 

 

Jumbo Redhead

They sailed  the seven seas just to catch a glimpse of the elusive Jumbo Redhead.

She gave a graceful royal wave and a sly wink, before she glided off to the briny depths.

SOLD 😁

The ephemera: original vintage atlas maps; high quality reproduction of natural history illustration of an octopus; original antique letters from the 1800’s: original vintage postal and food stamps

Size: 8 inches square

SOLD 🙂

 

Pieuvre flottante

La voilà qui se fait bercer par les vagues, tout doucement, lentement, calmement.  Elle a tout le temps qu’il lui  faut pour se laisser emporter par les flots.

Encaustic Collage

The ephemera: original vintage atlas and marine chart maps; high quality reproduction of natural history illustration of an octopus; reproduction of an antique clock face.

detail of waves covered in encaustic wax

Swimming in the Salish Sea

Swimming in the Salish Sea, the whale, the whale the seal and me.

We frolicked in the swirling tides with stars and sun as our guide.

Heads or tails, fur, feathers, fins or scales.

Differences matter not, when you are happy with your lot.

 

 details: atlas map waves with encaustic wax.

The ephemera: original atlas map snippets from the early twentieth century; high quality reproductions of an antique star chart and natural history illustrations of sea creatures.

Size: 14 by 18 inches

Sailing

Sailing, sailing, over the bounding main;For many a stormy wind shall blow, ere Jack comes home again!

-Godfrey Marks

SOLD 😁

Encaustic Collage

The ephemera: old atlas maps from the turn of the last century; letter from the 1800’s, vintage stamp.

The found objects: antique watch movement.

Size: 6 inches square

Night Owls

A pair of night owls, out star gazing until the wee hours. Charting their collection of constellations, comets and stardust for future generations.

SOLD

The ephemera: original star charts from 1930’s atlases; original french document from the 1880’s; high quality reproductions of natural history illustrations of owls.

SOLD

Old World Brain

Old World Brains stuck in their old stereo-typical patterns, hiding behind borders,  focusing on what makes us different rather than that which unites us.

The ephemera: Original Atlas Map from 1930’s; high quality reproduction of natural history illustrations of human skulls.

Size: 8 inches square

SOLD to Darcie

 

New World Brain

He kept all of  his brains on pedestals. It was the only way he could compartmentalise his new world thinking. SOLD 😁

The ephemera: original vintage atlas map projections; high quality reproductions of vintage anatomy illustrations and decorative columns.

Flotilla

Ohé Ohé matelot, matelot navigue sur les flots.

The ephemera:  Various original letters and bills from the 1800s to early 1900s. Various original snippets of altas maps from the 1940s and earlier.

The found objects: One half of a papier mâché globe

Size: 22 inches by 30 inches on wooden cradle. Encaustic wax and cold wax finishes.

This was a challenge to myself to create a large piece. The composition changed as I began working on the piece.

I started with the boats..I adore making them and have become obsessed with them.

Next came the water and waves. It was quite challenging to get it right. I am not sure I am there yet but will make more in the future.

Finally the composition with the boats, birds and tiny globe and a top coat of wax on the waves.

P is for perfect

Papillon, parfumé, pernicieux, particulier, pénétrant, palpitant et peut-être prédominant.

the ephemera: original page from 1889 French school book; high quality reproduction of a natural history illustration of a butterfly.

The found objects: vintage zipper part; antique royal typewriter key; old watch parts & antique stopwatch face and workings.

Size: 6 inches square

Swallow Tail Watch Guard

He made a fine watch guard, with his quartz crystals ready to hand and his super sharp pen nib in his back pocket. Hooligans beware.

Pen and Ink Butterfly

The ephemera: Original  French document from the 1800s, high quality reproduction of a natural history illustration of a butterfly.

The found objects: vintage watch face and parts; vintage pen nib.

Size: 6 inches square

Churning Butter…fly

Whirling, twirling, fluttering and churning he was determined to make the most of the last dog days of summer.

Churning Butter..fly

SOLD 😁

The ephemera: original ledger page from 1912; high quality reproduction of a natural history illustration of a butterfly.

The found objects: antique small key; various bits and bobs from an antique pocket watch.

Size: 6 inches square

In the Studio: Library Card Catalogue Make Over

At the end of June I retired from my long time teaching job. My wonderful colleagues gifted me the old card catalogue from our school library…Best retirement gift ever!!!! They filled the drawers with all manner of curiosities for me.  The card catalogue was a little worse for wear so I decided to give it a make over. It is now finished and is a wonderful reminder of my years at Duncan Elementary School and my crazy colleagues.

Our school.

Best retirement gift ever!  

Needs some TLC

Removed the handles and after soaking them in vinegar and sprinkling them with salt, I popped them in a hot oven for 20 minutes…Presto beautiful patina.

Then I took apart the cabinet and sanded off the varnish using a palm sander…60 grit so it is rough enough to take the stain. (Had to do it twice, lesson learned) Also needed to brush on a coat of water to raise the grain so it would accept the stain.

Stained the maple cabinet and all 30 drawers with Cherry stain and then 3 coats of polyurethane with a light fine sanding between coats…Lesson learned…first two coats should be gloss and last coat matte or satin.

Huge improvement!

Printed off labels on 200 year old paper.

 

Filled the drawers with all manner of curious art supplies…

 

And voila the big reveal…my beautiful gift from my treasured friends and colleagues.

Spare Parts

She kept her spare parts, neatly organized on the shelf, just in case.

One of my first attempts at  assemblage box, years ago. Gifted to my sister.

The ephemera: picture of a stone angel, vintage sheet music, snippet of reproduction of a plan of the Vatican, fragment of an old love letter.

The found objects: broken cherub, vintage watch parts, crystal and an antique door pull.