Mini-Collage Art Journal

Here is my newest art journal. It's a hardback medium-sized Piccadilly journal with with plain pages. I got this at the Borders closing sale for 50% off. The strip above says 'Celebrate Creativity' and the 'distressed' sticker at the bottom says 'Recenly Discovered'.

I haven't done any mini-collages in quite some time now. I usually went through the Sunday paper and cut/tore out any pictures that appealed to me, even on a subconscious level. Later, I'd arrange and glue them down in arrangements and added sparkly glue, stickers, etc. When I was short on time (with 3 kids, that was normal), it was a quick and easy way to make art.

I want to get back into the 'habit', so this will be my mini-collage journal. I'll post some of these mini creations as I do them. 

From my sketchbook...a snapshot of my creative process

Countryside (Draft)

rough draft of future painting

 

I don't normally post sketches or rough drafts because they rarely look anything like the finished product. This time, I'd like to share some aspects of my creative process when I draw or paint. It shares some similarities with my writing process, with a few differences.

"Countryside" will be a painting, either oil or acrylic (haven't decided yet). A river runs through a small settlement in the mountains. The landscape highlights the daily life of the inhabitants and their simple, yet mystical architecture. This is connected with a new fantasy novel series that's in the planning stages right now. The first book takes place mostly in a land similar to Ancient China, with some touches of ancient Persia.

Here's another page from my sketchbook, this time dealing with some architecture:

 

Architecture1 (Draft)

I've always been fascinated by the structure of buildings, gardens and fountains. In fact, I had serious considered becoming an architect/graphic designer type while in college (I was at the right place for it: Virginia Tech). For this project, I've consulted books and internet sites about East Asian temples (like the Vietnamese and Thai pagodas, the sketch on the left), Chinese and Japanese Buddhist temples, and Roman temples. The small pyramid on the bottom right was borrowed from the Egyptian. History has given us plenty of skilled and innovative architects, from Imhotep to Frank Lloyd Wright. 

When I imagine a fantasy culture, I make a list of important Things To Keep in Mind (capital letters). Setting is an important component, as well as character (what does he/she/it do for a living? What kind of personality do they have? How do they interact with other characters?). Language plays a role and social structure, like a class system, influences the characters and the plot. Painting and writing have to convey this through visual means, either on the canvas or on the page.

I'll post updates on this process as they happen. :-D

 

A Writer's Paris by Eric Maisel

I've had this book for a while on my writer's shelf: A Writer's Paris by Eric Maisel. He describes a writer's six-month sojourn in the City of Lights: strolling through the streets, (flânerie, in French), patronizing cafés, and drawing inspiration from famous writers that came before. Some of his advice can be taken anywhere, from a small town to a huge metropolis. Others are more flamboyant and risk-taking. Yet the sense of joie de vivre shines through the entire book.

Can you write a novel in six months? Maisel offers encouragement regarding the creative process, all in the backdrop of Paris and its various arrondissements (suburbs). The illustrations in this book are definitely breathtaking. Danny Gregory drew many of the pen and ink sketches, while Claudine Hellmuth did the collages.

The only drawback to this book is its tiny font. Those with bad eyesight (like me), might have trouble reading the typeset without a strong glasses prescription or a magnifying glass. If you can get over that, Maisel's book is a good resource, not only for the creative process, but for the Paris itself.

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2011