Crossing Over

I have been thinking of switching up this blog for a long time now. It's always been a bit of a mishmash and since I rarely blog about writing anymore (even though I still am a writer and editor), I wanted a place more solely devoted to art, mail art, correspondence, and most of the things that this blog has become lately. Perhaps it's a bit of my "coming out" as an artist, actually giving myself permission to say the word, that led me to finally create this new blog. I've also been writing here since 2006 and, frankly, the platform is getting a bit dated and I can't do all that I'd like to. So, if you are one of my handful of followers, I hope you'll check out Adrienne Mason Art and perhaps even hang out with me over there, as I explore art (collage in particular), mail art, letter writing, postal history, the making of little accordion books, and more.

This blog isn't going anywhere, and there is still lots to look through, but it likely won't be updated all that often. Thanks for reading!

Still Breathing

After such a good streak, that was a long time to leave the blog. I have been thinking of it--and getting to my art table on occasion--but I've been preoccupied by this. Art making and correspondence has slowed down in the last few months, but I'm managing to chip away at things. So if I owe you a letter, it's coming. Truly. Here are a few things that have been passing through, either in or out.

 

Aren't these beauties? I was very lucky to spend some time in San Francisco with a mail art friend and she took me to SCRAP. (Among other things. We had a wonderful day together.) I picked up a few things, but these book covers with their stunning "chops" were definitely the highlight. I'm hoping someone can tell me what they say!
Thanks for the great day, Pamela. 

Below are a few new collage cards that have been whisking their way to various parts of the globe. Just playing around.

For this collage and the ones that follow I actually used scissors, something that I haven't done for awhile. It was quite cathartic sniping all those nice squares and rectangles...

On The Table

Found some time this weekend for some art making and letter/card writing. Here are a few of the results:

Monotone (sort of) Collage. At times (a lot of times) I am overwhelmed by the amount of paper I have kicking around so it's nice to limit the palette from time to time.

The wrestler didn't scan well. He's sepia, not olive, in colour! 

An envelope sent to me by Phillip of Envelope 100. I've had it for quite awhile now, trying to decide who to send it to. I finally found the answer. 

Feeling the Rightness

Rightness, not righteousness. 

Yes,  I'm still here. Some personal things in the great adventure called life have slowed me down a bit; I won't bog you down with details. I've found collaging my way through it all very therapeutic. When I spend time collaging I try not to over think what I do. It's a meditative, perhaps intuitive?, process for me. I just move things around until the composition feels right and then I get the glue stick out. Nick Bantock talks about composition in The Trickster's Hat (one of my favourites and I'm currently working through a few exercises): "Composition is really hard to teach, mainly because balance is innate. Yes, there are mathematical rules  of harmony and the golden mean can be measured, but the real acid test is not geometrics - it's purely a matter of whether you can feel the rightness of something in relationship to its surroundings. Do you internally "know" when something is right or when it is just off?"

If you are waiting for mail from me, I'm back in the saddle and hope to be caught up soon. Thanks for your patience. And I'm drowning a bit in small collages; I may give some away…stay tuned.

In the meantime, here are a few new works.

I am slightly addicted to photo transfers. Loving this cigar man. 

Danger lurks around blind corners...

I am going to be very sad when I run out of those blank cheques. 

The Gift of a Letter

This morning I was up early, so I took the time to write a long letter to a new friend in Germany. I don't know her well, but she took a great deal of time over the last month or so to write to me a few times. I was happy to return a letter and carry on the conversation.

Over the past year, this blog has evolved a bit to one that was primarily focused on writing to one that explores art (mostly my own fledgling attempts) as well as correspondence and mail art, something which I have grown to enjoy more and more with each connection. The mail I receive is a gift of someone's time and time is something we seem to have less to give. Apropos of this sentiment and this seasoning of giving, here is a video courtesy of WestJet. I've heard of Mr. Farrer's letter project over the past year, but this video presents the story -- and the value of a letter -- beautifully. It's sentimental, yes, but I do think it demonstrates the value of a simple act and of caring.



I wish you all the best for the holidays and beyond. As my met-via-the-mail friend Pamela often writes, "See you in the mail."

Collage and Congrats

Busy, but very rewarding, days here as I settle into a new job and splitting my time between two places, both filled with people I love and things I enjoy doing. Life is full and very good, but my posts will likely slow down a bit. I'm trying to catch up with correspondence as well, so if I owe you a letter, it's coming! Promise. For now, a few collages I've been working on -- I've tried layering and collaging on top of some of my mono print efforts. I like the effect in the yellow one in particular, but I think I could have dropped the little armadillo-like creature in the red one; it seems a bit stuck in. (I would love some feedback from any readers, particularly constructive criticism. For the most part I work in a bit of a creative vacuum.) I don't think these are finished, but I'll keep staring at them for awhile.

There are several benefits to spending time in the city. One is re-connecting with old friends -- actually having time to spend with them -- and taking part in the many arts event in the city. This weekend I went to two books launches, both of friends. Jude Isabella, my work partner in crime, released Salmon: A Scientific Memoir, on Friday. And my friend Margaret Horsfield, along with Ian Kennedy, did a signing and presentation on Tofino & Clayoquot Sound: A History, a book that the region has long needed, yesterday. I'm so proud of you, my friends. I know how much angst and sleepless nights go into writing projects so it's great to have them out there, released into the world.

And I also received another book from a dear writer friend. So happy to have I Wasn't Always Like This, a book of essays, by Shelley Leedahl, on my bed stand. (The collagist in me loves the cover of that one.) All is good surrounded by so much creativity.

In Class

As I mentioned previously, I've got lots going on at the moment - new job, new home (for part of the time), new city, etc. and, to add to the mix, I started an on-line collage course last month. Not entirely sure what I was thinking, but being busy does make one efficient! The 8-week course is The Art of Collage with artist Randel Plowman, he of A Collage a Day and one of my favourite collage books, The Collage Workbook. It's been great for keeping the work going and not trying to over think things too much. Each week is a new exercise, a new approach, a new technique. It's been great and I really recommend it, especially if you are just getting going with collage. (These classes are also great for meeting other artists and connecting with people from different parts of the world.)

Exercise: Transparencies and stamps (I cut the circular stamp and stamped it on tissue paper)

Exercise: Seasons in a series (winter)

Exercise: Seasons in a series (spring)

Exercise: Seasons in a series (summer)

Exercise: Transparencies and stamps

Exercise: Rhythm and Symmetry

Exercise: Line and Shape

Exercise: Line and Shape (this was especially helpful as it made me consider writings as lines)

Hallowe'en Fun

I had a great rainy day a week or so ago making some Hallowe'en cards. I do like Hallowe'en-related imagery, but not so much the Hallmark, cutesy versions. Bring on actual mummies, bats, spiders, snakes and the like (which I don't find scary, but seem to suit the day). And this year Canada Post put out a Haunted Canada series, so these stamps were fun to pair with the collages. I also had some of older Hallowe'en stamps, which came packaged in a "haunted stamp house." Since (I hope) most of these cards will have arrived at their destination, I thought it would be safe to post.

Here are two stamps from the different collections. The top is from the Haunted Canada series (2014), which was released on Friday, June 13th. These "soldiers" are guarding the haunted Fort George at Niagara-on-the-Lake. The other is from The Haunted Stamp House series. Here's a great post on that series. And the guy with horns? It's from a National Geographic spread on "wild men" of Europe (dressed in some very odd costumes). 

Someone mentioned that she liked the Bride of Frankenstein, so I went from there. And the old stamp is from another Canada Post series on cryptozoology (or, as they called it, Canada's Legendary Creatures). This one was Le Loup-Garou (the werewolf). I think it's great that Canada Post can think beyond queens, dead white men, and flags every once in awhile! 

My favourite. This is a mummified Sicilian priest. Love the velvet cape and hat and the lace blouse. I tried to echo the lace using a doily. I hope it made it through the post.  

Hard to go wrong with a bat and a crypt. 

This is the ghost bride from the Haunted Canada series. It's from the little monthly magazine that Canada Post puts out.  (And you can see part of one of the stamps in the lower left.)

For my niece, so a little tamer. Good use for one of those Harry Potter stamps from the US. 

Not particularly "Halloweeny"...

I couldn't resist this gal. Tried again with a bit of doily in the lower left. 

Momentary Radio Silence

Sorry for the radio silence, gang. Lots going on - winding up my existing job, getting ready for a new one (all will be revealed); assignments for a collage course (more on that soon, too, but I've posted a few of the exercises here); apartment-hunting trips, and many more excellent excuses. I'll be back soon; that you can be sure of.

Thanks to everyone who has been sending me fabulous mail, like this from Peter. I have you all in a chronological stack and I'm getting to it, slowly but surely.

And have you seen Red Handed Rubber Stamps? Get yourself on over there! I'm not sure if it's a good thing that there are no retail outlets near my home. I may have to ask my friends in San Francisco to do a bit of shopping for me!

Playing around with my gelli plate. Kinds of '60s abstract, don't you think?
I think we might have had curtains like that!

Collage Clean-Up

I'm tidying up my desktop (the computer desktop; the actual desktop is beyond hope), so here are a few recent collages I've scanned. Varying success, but experimentation is always a good thing IMHO.

I was inspired by the concertina book sent by Jack, which I posted about here. I had several packing tape transfers I'd made, so I made Jack a concertina book in return. This is just the one side. 

I made the transfers using photos from a magazine from BC's public television station. For September and Labour Day they had several shows related to working people. I thought they made very interesting photo transfers.

I'm not digging the green in the Louvre map, but so be it. 

I made this for a Swap Bot exchange (a postcard with a postal theme). Love this historic image of the fellows in the mail room. Not so crazy about the rubber stamps I used. The red ink in particular is kind of wrong. 

I put this one and the next three in a little book, sent to Dori.