Emerging from distraction

"Emerging," contemporary paper collage on wood panel, 10 x 10 x 1." © 2011, Janice McDonald.

I've been distracted by life lately: experiencing a bit of a letdown from all the show excitement, catching up with work/commitments I'd delayed, busy traveling to southern California and New Orleans... and not adding much to this blog! I think I've almost caught up with myself. The to-do list is still long, but not quite so daunting, this week.

Some exciting news: I was invited to become a member of Spark Gallery, the oldest cooperative gallery in Denver, a presence in the local art scene for 30+ years. Soon I will have a page to represent myself/my work on their website. I'm looking forward to getting to know this community of artists and being involved in the functioning of the gallery, as well as showing there regularly.

I was really pleased to have sold well and have enjoyed delivering collages to their new owners and homes... still a couple more deliveries to coordinate. (You know who you are!) Based on the show, I'm also exploring producing prints of the collages, thinking about the potential of collage imagery for set design, considering sourcing and working with bigger hunks of paper to create larger pieces -- among other big, exciting, and somewhat wild, ideas!

So, in the studio working away this week... nice to be back at it!

Eggstravaganza, wild egg decorating soiree

Last night was our annual night-before-Easter egg-decorating party. Six creative people and five dozen eggs later, here are the favorites! Any tool/technique and combining of colors was fair game. We used Paas® egg colors, rubber bands, string, cello tape, duct tape, china markers, Sharpie® markers, pencils, colored pencils, crayons, etc. Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate it!

Now that I've got most of the colors off my hands, I'm heading to the gallery to take down my show... Rather bittersweet as it has been such a great experience for me with positive comments, sales, good connections made, and an invitation to join the coop gallery. 

Composed: collage exhibition - virtual version

My exhibition, "Composed," opened last weekend at Spark Gallery and the virtual version is now posted on my website here. A portion of the gallery is shown in the photograph above. Hope you will enjoy perusing the collages. Not yet posted to the website (but coming eventually) are 13 smaller works on paper, see group photo below.

If you are in the area, I hope to see you at one of the remaining gallery events, including an artists reception on Friday, April 8th from 6-9pm and a "coffee with the artists" on Saturday, April 23rd from 1-5pm. Also showing at Spark Gallery (900 Santa Fe, Denver, Colorado) are Elaine Ricklin and Keith Howard. Regular gallery hours are Thursdays 12-5pm, Fridays 12-9pm, Saturdays 12-5pm, and Sundays 12-5pm through April 24th.

Coating the collages

Ah, the glamour of art... I've had to commandeer the kitchen again with its industrial-strength exhaust fan as I varnish about 15 small works on wood for my upcoming show! Each collage gets at least three coats with a UV-resistant varnish. Here's a view down one counter... but you'll have to turn your head to the right to imagine these pieces in their final orientation!

They'll look so much better when they're hung in the gallery next week. I'll be sure to post photos, hopefully some video too... so that if you can't make it in person, you can see the installation.

Most of you should be receiving a postcard invite and/or an email announcement from me if you are on my mailing list... If you'd like to be added, please drop me an email with your contact information via my website.