How Are You?

How Are You?, collage on orange book cover

Sometimes I discover nonsensical sense hidden in these old book cover pieces...

bells
broken
silly
Molly
sobbing

My mamma always said that silliness leads to crying.

New Collage

See Baby, original collage on book cover

Making Beds, original collage on book cover

Right, original collage on book cover

Like A Bridge, original collage on book cover

Do You Love Me?, original collage on book cover

These new collage pieces feature images from a 1940's children's health textbook and an old encyclopedia dating from around the same period. Collocating the saturated color imagery with black and white lithographs, photos and other scraps (including this and this) resulted in a collection with a slightly dark, nostalgic bent.

In other news I'm signing off for a long-ish weekend to visit family. I'll see you in July!

Mirage

Mirage, original collage on green book cover

“It is not down on any map; true places never are.”

 - Herman Melville, Moby-Dick

High Seas

High Seas, original collage on physiology book cover

A pair of book cover collage pieces with oceanic themes will be posted in the shop this evening. I'll be back in a bit with one more...enjoy!

Tethered

Tethered, original collage on book cover with single thread

Thinking about connections…from our first physical bond through the umbilical cord to the expansive global communication network we've labeled the internet. We are tethered to others and to our environment in our actions, thoughts and memories. We continuously tug, knot, fuse and sever these ties.

Night Rider

Night Rider, collage on worn arithmetic book cover

Rock-Paper-Scissors

Rock-Paper-Scissors, collage on old Lippincott's Physiology book cover

We play rock-paper-scissors all the time in our house to make decisions on this 'n that. It's an ancient game of strategy and such fun trying to psych out your opponent ;) Wanna try your hand at it? Play against the computer right here.

Paper Boat

Paper Boat, original collage on old book cover

Some Thursday eye candy for you....paper boats.

Whale Trail

Whale Trail, collage on old physiology book cover

Yes, I know it's a dolphin. Inspired by Lizzie's current gaming obsession...Whale Trail.

Rock Stars

Rock Stars, original collage on old science book cover

And...the rock stars under construction a couple nights ago.

Ship In A Bottle

Ship In A Bottle, original collage on vintage physics textbook cover

Bottled History from Smith Journal on Vimeo.

Have you ever wondered how in the world they get those darn ships into a bottle? Patrick and I watched this truly fascinating portrait of one Australian man, Ray Gascoigne, whose got the magical art of 'ship-in-bottle-making' down to a science. I was inspired...not to try my hand at stuffing a ship in a bottle but to make a little collage of my own.

Remnant Collage

Remnant, original collage on book cover

Sunstroke Collage

Sunstroke, original collage on book cover

I've been scruffling (new word anyone?!) around in piles of paper and old books. Trying my best to whittle down my collection. As a result there is lots of new collage coming down the pipeline this week including some Spring-ish bricolage pieces. I'm so in the mood for Spring...only 16 more days!

And...since I've got cabin fever I'm going to be "spring-cleaning" at Sushipot this week, a continuation of this plan. All of the art blocks will be marked 1/2 off 'till next Sunday, March 10th. Keep checking back as I'll try to round up some of the old stock and put 'em in too.

Number One

Number One, original collage on old arithmetic textbook cover

Fish Out Of Water

Fish Out Of Water, collage on very tattered book cover

Basket Case

Basket Case, original collage on book cover

The interior of a physiology textbook circa 1920's:

(Carnivorous) eats flesh.

(Omnivorous) both.

(Herbivorous) vegetable eater.

(Inebriate) after you get the habit of drinking.

And that's what Miss Edna Kirchner wrote. I added the basket case bit.

Divisor Collage

Divisor, original collage on scribbled book cover

I love opening old books and finding their interiors full of scribbles. Discarded schoolbooks are more often than not filled with these treasures. This is the back cover of a State of Kansas, seventh grade arithmetic book from the 1930's. It was used by a kid named Bernie at one point in time.