New Book

New Book
Grandma's Purse

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Images From Black History


This was a trial piece I did for "Let Freedom Sing"
Blue Apples Book for Chronicle.
I did the book digitally, but I kept all the collage pieces
that didn't make the cut. This was the bus scene. They
thought the piece was just a little heavy and wanted
something just a bit lighter. I am looking forward to
doing more traditional projects like this in the near
future. There is nothing like collecting vintage papers
and getting my hands all covered in glue. The best
part is peeling the glue off my fingers he he he he!
Have a sticky day y'all!

41 comments:

Eric Barclay said...

Heavy? HEAVY?? Heavy as in 'kick butt,? Heavy as in 'beyond awesome'? Yeah, I like peeling glue off, too. Beautiful work, V.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hmmm......I think it is very subtle---you have to have open eyes to see what is going on.
LOVE the collage!!! (isn't gluing paper just the BEST???)
Did you ever take glue in the palm of your hand--back in grade school-- coat it, and then when dry pull the whole thing off? Yeah, I was paying a lot of attention to my work..... :-D
Can't wait till you can do more of this type work Vanessa!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

S.E.Minegar said...

Your work is fantastic! I could get lost in each image for hours.

k.h.whitaker said...

Yes, I love playing with glue, good ole Elmer's and peeling it off after is definitely a plus. I have to agree with Eric. Heavy? I love it, it's awesome. Isn't vintage paper the best? I used to do collages with vintage paper and clock parts, sheet rock mud and bees wax when I had a studio, too fun... It was all paper from my husbands grandmothers house, she kept every card, every wrapping paper, every magazine since the early 1900's. I still have a spool of ribbon from her childhood, she kept it in a sewing box throughout the depression and never had the heart to use it. Hugs Vee!

Ms. Dee said...

I love the collage element! It really gives the piece some great texture. And peeling glue off of your hands is way more fun than it should be, haha.

michele said...

Thanks for sharing this one with us! It's always fun to revisit the "ones that get away" for a little perspective later down the road. Lucky for us!
Hope you're up to your elbows in fun stuff this week! :o)

Janine said...

AHHH at last, a new (great ) post of you and a new chance for me to leave a comment, that you may read!!
I left several comment under several post and wrote you an email as well. I almost feel like a stalker( hi hi).
You invited me to paint you as one the "Women of the world", and I did so.
You commented (very sweet and kind)under a digital collage, that had nothing to do with "Jersey girl".
You can find it here: http://joinjanine.blogspot.com/2011/01/women-of-world-5-usa-new-jersey.html
I really would like to know what you think of it, and if you still invite me for that coffee, after you saw it.
Loads of love
Janine

Janine said...

By the way, I love the collage work you do.
I tried for the very first time a digital collage. It is fun and you have a lot of possibilities, bla bla bla but it doesn´t feel very "Natural".
And I agree, to peel the glue off the fingers is the fun part. I usually have to peel it of my cloth to. This is not that amusing but.... who cares

Unknown said...

Beautiful and meaningful. Love this piece. Probably my favorite of your recent work.

Kay Aker said...

Seriously gorgeous!

Tamara Henderson said...

fantastic collage with great elements! i have been getting my hands into some clay this week only for practice.

Ana M.F. said...

so great, I love those little buildings ♥

Janine said...

Oh I am soooooo glad you like it.
I just had that photos, and I find you sooo much prettier on them.
But you like it, yippie!!!
And you put it on your sidebar too!
Oi!!!
I like my coffee with milk and a chocolater cookie (he he he)
Hugs and kisses
Janine

Giuseppe Bianco said...

What a great piece. I really love the way you depicted the city.

aujourd'hui: O'Clara said...

Hello

I love your illustrations:) I spent today just to say hello and by the opportunity to say that I thought you had this morning:) so: hello my champagne rainy

Unknown said...

Very interesting work!

rachel awes said...

your below post is "pinky sweetness" & here, i want to embrace "black sweetness"...
the skin & hearts & history & herstory & your story & mine & all the beauty in what is real.
sending you droves of love from a bus carrying us all. xoxoxxx

brandi said...

~heavy in the eyes of one...yet wonderfully magically in the eyes of another...i adore this here collage...the ability to pick and place and create like this always leaves me in awe...i have been trying to play with collage yet get "stuck" alot of the times in letting my mind run free!!! may your fingers be sticky and your spirit filled with wonder and delight...much love light and blessings always shining brightly upon you~

yoborobo said...

I love it! It doesn't seem heavy to me at all! It seems full of action, with all those patterns and fabulous people moving around. So you did this digitally? Or did you do this one by cutting and pasting (my fav!)? As usual, I am confused - hahahaha! xoxo Pam

Juan said...

Wonderful! I love your line work!!!

Cassandra said...

I love that image! There is so much to see! A real feast for the eyes! :)

Nicola said...

Wow this piece certainly tells a story and had me staring at it for ages, the longer I looked the more it revealed! I love all the details you have put in there, so much going on and the use of print in the collage. Lovely piece!!! :0) Hope you're having a great weekend! oxox

Bella Sinclair said...

Hmmm. We shouldn't sugarcoat the past.

Oh wow, I love the buildings! LOVE love love the collaginess. This is super fantastical awesomeness times a million!

And glue hands! Yesssssss. Remember pouring glue all over your hand and trying to get it all off in one piece? Hehehe, fun.

Hope you're staying warm and dry. What a relentless winter!

MWAH to you!

Dear Fireflies said...

Oh, I do love this, Ladybug! I like how rich the details are, but still has that distinct style of yours. And that portrait on the sidebar?? ME LUVVRREEE IT!!! Janine did such a fine job, didn't she? (^_^)

Tomás Serrano said...

You must publish "Let Freedom sing: the illustrator's cut"...

Ginger*:) said...

It is wonderful Vanessa, I have missed seeing your work and I love this piece. I remember when I first saw a piece of work in a gallery that was a type of collage for a city scape that would be featured in a NY magazine.
This is such a wonderful example of your tremendous talent. I could look at this for hours!

Michaele Razi said...

I love how wonderfully bright it is juxtaposed with the serious subject matter. So wonderful. This needs to be framed on a wall, it's so gorgeous!

SaraLynnArt said...

I love this and don't think it is heavy at all. (and heavy kind of goes with the subject matter, so I'm not sure why they were against it...)

Anyway, I think the colors and textures are fantastic and that you truly portrayed a great city atmosphere. Lovely work.

Brad said...

fantastic! this is beautiful, i love you design sense and your feel for the textures you incorporate. this collage is fab!

jazzlamb said...

Looks beautiful! I love it, I love peeling glue off my hands too! Put I can never seem to do collage work! Rock on, V!

Lisa M Griffin said...

Oh you crack me up. Yes, what artist doesn't love getting all sticky with paint, and glue and whatever other medium is at hand.
I really like this piece of work as well, I don't think of it as heavy, more vivid and full of life. Busy with life actually and texture. Thanks for sharing my dear and have a great week. :)

Megan Coyle said...

I think this is FABULOUS! and I know what you mean :) I LIVE for sticky fingers covered in glue and pieces of paper hiding on my desk and floor :)

Shirley said...

GGGGoorgeous, Nester!!! I'm tellin' ya, there's nothing you can't do...nothin! I love your work and you just have to know that it is top-notch..THE TOPS!

I love your blog header too. (you always give us that wow-factor and this header is just tres-chic).

Hugs to you and yours..I've missed ya!

roberta baird said...

You are awesomeness, defined lady!!! It's a wonderful, sticky creation! Ok... I'm sure it's dried by now! :)

Hope you're warm, healthy and happy friend!!!

Peter Breese said...

Loving this V! Magnificent work. Though I'm not sure I understand the feedback you received on this piece, I am very happy you shared it with us.

Cheers my friend!

Indigene said...

Hmmm...heavy? I will not go there! Wonderful imagery! Sometimes, I can't wrap my mind on the status quo and the establishment! Oh, well, keep on creating with your amazing self! Adoring you, baby girl! :)

RuAn said...

I have no words to describe how I like. It's fantastic. Like how to apply the collage. You know, I feel a fraud in seeing his work ... I wish I had your skills. I know that each one has his style, but yours is beautiful. Kisses, excuse my bad English

donny* said...

Well, I don't understand what they mean by heavy, but it *is* beautiful. Of course it is. You know how awesome you are! :) I absolutely love this piece and thank you so much for sharing.

Taccolina said...

Hi there, don't think I've commented before but I'm such a fan of your work. It's rich and lovely and I think this collage goes straight to it. Totally inspired in Australia. *great stuff!*

Sarah Harkey said...

This is amazing! Love it so much!

Sarah Harkey said...
This comment has been removed by the author.