Lively abstract inspiration in a cemetery

A couple of weeks ago, while visiting New Orleans, I noticed really interesting found abstract imagery all over the city. To top it off, I spent several hours exploring St. Louis Cemetery #1. (Overall photos and information about cemetery conservation efforts are here.)

The worn monuments and surfaces of the cemetery were really amazing and inspiring -- an intriguing visual treat, on hallowed ground, in the midst of an architectural/historical treasure! Here are a few of my favorite photos, all details/patterns. This imagery may not ever make its way into my work, but I am fascinated by composing with the camera when I discover patterns/surfaces that truly constitute found art. 

The cemetery is interesting on so many levels and well worth a visit next time you are in New Orleans... assuming you can tear yourself away from the jazz, food (beignets!) and drink. 

What nobody tells you about creative work...

Thanks to Ira Glass for a great quote and kudos to the typographer who enhanced it with the artful use of type style/weight... wish I could figure out who to credit for making it read so well! 

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.