Mixed Media Collage-EXCAVATIONS

Finally..

 gentle readers...

all the work has reached 

the Gallerie and I have it loaded in the shop

142 Bis Gallerie

for pre sale..

I chose to call

the show EXCAVATIONS because

I noticed

that I had been doing a lot of 

collage

in my art journals..

layering the torn pieces,

chewing on relationship

issues and stressful events...

metaphorically digging by

 ripping and tearing..

to find out what was really at the crux of the 

matters..

As If, Mixed Media Collage,  5 x 7 Caterina Giglio

I used mono prints and painted papers..

old book pages and antique ephemera..

Detail from A Bridge Too Far, Mixed Media Collage, Caterina Giglio

it took me a year and a half to work on this collection

from my 

Ripped and Torn Series..

A Bridge Too Far, Mixed Media Collage, 12 x 12, Caterina Giglio

and just now...

I feel as though I might have a bit of 

understanding about the process..

Caterina Giglio, Two Sides Of The Same Story, 12 x 12 Mixed Media Collage

But there is still so much to learn..

I feel quite humbled by the experience

Detail from Natural Remedy, Caterina Giglio

Caterina Giglio, Natural Remedy, Mixed Media Collage, 8 x 10

EXCAVATIONS

Excavations is an attempt to rip through the layers and sort out the truths...

The center always reveals what has been hiding there all along..

As I rip, tear and study, the dimension 

of the relationship comes clearly into focus..

and 

I am always reminded that harmony 

and congruence is born from

chaos.

Detail from Moonlight, Mixed Media Collage, Caterina Giglio

Caterina Giglio, Moonlight, Mixed Media Collage, 8 x 8

and I have lots of new ideas about paper manipulation...

Caterina Giglio, The Story Teller, Mixed Media Collage, 8 x 8

But when I land back to the studio..

methinks I am headed back to some painting..

Caterina Giglio, Compensation, Mixed Media Collage, 8 x 8

Caterina Giglio, Light Through The Forest, Mixed Media Collage, 8 x 8

This collection took far longer than even portraits..

Detail from The Distance To Harmony, Caterina Giglio, Mixed Media Collage

There was so much to understand..

not just about the application..

the paper and the products..

Caterina Giglio, The Distance To Harmony, Mixed Media Collage, 11x 14

but my emotional process as I worked on each piece

of art..

Caterina Giglio, The Origin Of Hope,  Mixed Media Collage, 11 x 14

Detail from Origin Of Hope, Caterina Giglio

coming to terms in my own heart..

and moving forward in peace..

The Gallerie site lists the prices and details..

as well as a detail of each piece..
and as always, 

I am so very thankful for each one of you..

xox

Excavations, Mixed Media Collage Collection

Guess what?

We filmed a video anyway...

I forgot that I need to ship all my work

off to the gallerie..

and so I needed to share it with you

and photograph it for the 

gallerie as well..

I have been working intensely with paper

for so long now,

and I have a lot of ideas

about taking this kind of of manipulation further..

but for now, 

I want to just enjoy the accomplishment

and finish getting all

my class work

ready and packed...

Thank you so much for all your kind remarks..

we so appreciate your following..

I will have photos of the work 

and my statement

next Tuesday..

so I will see you then..

gentle viewers!

Ciao, ciao!

April Art Journal Pages

What you don't see..

dear reader...

is the writing,

below the paint and layers...

Ingredients: Acrylic paint, handmade papers, old lace, paper ephemera, pencil and colored pencils.

This month I wrote about my deadlines,

the show, my class..

our Caribbean journey..

and a small health issue I had to deal with..

Synchronistically,

I found a decrepit prescription in an antique book..

marking 

a page on bluebirds..

odd yes..

but I have learned to pay attention

to signs..

and it was the perfect ephemera 

to mark the page..

a small issue in a large sea of bliss..

but an issue nonetheless ...

yet another thing to conquer..

I learned so much about myself this month and how 

my learned beliefs continue to unconsciously

limit what I want to create..

 I am willing to

change 

those thought patterns going forward..

 This is a busy week in the studio..

the last pieces in my collection are coming together..

and I need to address hardware..

photograph them for you..

and ship them out..

that is the top of the list..

but there is so much more..

I had planned on a YT video

on natural dyes this week but after two massive fails..

It won't be this week after all..

Alrighty then..

dearhearts..

and thanks for listening..

XO

Art of the Travel Journal

One last peek..

gentle reader, 

before I close this book...

and set it on the shelf to snuggle 

with the other 

travel journals in my office  ..

So many things 

about this trip were unusual..

like the butterfly pavilion 

on Harvest Caye..

and knowing my fondness for them

it made the trip so memorable..

and tiny sea shells,

my love of all things, tiny

 was fulfilled..

we  visited ports of call

that were unknown to us

and shared foods that were different from anything we have

tasted..

it is a most wonderful experience 

to be a seasoned traveler and yet feel

the thrill of parts unknown..

and to fill in the blanks that you

did not know existed...

"The best journeys answer questions that in the beginning you didn't even think to ask"

Jeff Johnson

The only thing we can do is 

answer when the sea calls..

when wanderlust

strikes..

and our feet itch..

I say..

surrender..

Ciao, Ciao!

Cover Embellishment Technique and Travel Flip Thru!

Well, dear ones...

I am planning to take some time

off this holiday weekend..

to bake and cook and read a bit..

perhaps even spend some time 

creating in the studio..

and 

 I hope you will find the time to

play with this little

technique

and have fun creating all manner of 

embellishments for books and assemblage..

it is always a good day

when we just go to our studio to make

stuff...

No matter what you celebrate..

I wish you a glorious weekend..

filled with a sense of renewal..

and 

I send you all my kindest wishes for 

a very beautiful

Spring...

Felice Primavera

xox

Impressions of Cuba

Today is a gorgeous day..

cool breeze and bright sunshine..

a perfect spring day..

But the day captured in

the photos below was warm and steamy..

Cuba was a toasty 80 degrees..

we got started early though..

so we had the cool morning to bask in..

as we started our tour..

My father was stationed in Cuba during WW2

and so I always wanted to visit the island..

He told me it was so beautiful and to go if I ever had the chance.. 

so go,  we did..

and gentle reader...

here are my impressions ...

and the little stories that made the trip so memorable...

This copper canopy sat atop the Palacio..

Angelic Canopy once sat on top of the Palacio was removed but fortunately not destroyed..

The angels were beautiful and I was so happy to see that it was not destroyed but placed 

near the front door to the old mansion..

Detail of the Angel

The massive entrance to the Palacio..

the street out front is paved with wood...

yes,

wood..

and the story goes that the wife complained that the carriages 

on cobblestones woke her every evening and so she commanded that the cobblestones be replaced with wood, so she could sleep..

great story right?

There are dogs...

everywhere..

they were friendly, and seemed well fed, but without collars or 

owners..

it seemed as though they were residents of the city..

another impression was about the constant restoration and use and mending of the old..

Street in old Havana with cannon.. as a bulwark

Though there were many crumbling buildings..

there were also many that had been rebuilt,

and lovingly restored..

Door to the church, both Catholicism and Santeria are practiced..

This building below was a stunning example of 

restoration...

The stone work and statues were incredible, 

and the woodwork around the windows was pristine..

The Palacio de la Familia la Pedroso, is now a small shopping mall..

I found the sign to the Palacio above so charming..

with 5 crows..

Below..

one of many tiny parks..

called Pocket Parks..

they turn up when a building is long past saving..

the people tear it down..

and build small parks...

So...

There are parks of course on every street..

and lots of cats..

well fed near the fish mongers...

Havana is a musical city and I had the good fortune to shoot this photo

in Old Havana..

Statues of old dead guys abound..

and I lost track .. 

but above.. 

so you have an idea of the scale of this statue

and the bushes, you can see my husband in the middle of the right side..

the scale was awesome ...

Havana was charming,
clean, friendly and amazing..
art and history, new and old architecture combine..

but the resiliency of the people..
and their kindness and smiles..

that is my favorite impression...


C4N!

Plaster Cloth Covered Journal

Ciao, dear ones..

we are back from our trip to 

the 

Caribbean

and 

Cuba

and I wanted to share my technique

for making another no stitch book..

but this time, 

using plaster cloth..

it is squishy and fun to play with..

I love the way it turned out and ...

I also

shared the rolled technique I use 

 for covering a store bought book..

I got my current journal covered with my mono printed fabric,

and it is yummy!!

I will be back on Tuesday with lots of photos 

from Cuba..

what an amazing journey it was!!

But so happy to be home and in the studio..

Thank you as always for your most kind remarks,

we so appreciate it..

Have a splendid weekend...

xox