http://www.cs.washington.edu/building/art/WendellBrazeau/
I first learned the art of collage in a basic design class in 1972 taught by Wendell Brazeau at the University of Washington in Seattle. (click link below ) The most interesting project was a series of art post cards altered by cutouts from magazines.
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Circle Collage (9in X 9in) 1972
by John Anderson
The thread tying the composition together are found (not cut)
round shapes in everything. |
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Hand Painted Color Study (8in X 8in) 1972
by John Anderson
Color tints (addition of black or white) shown horizontally;
color intensity(analogous colors) shown diagonally.
Note the illusion of the two diagonal cylinders angling
forward from the brighter more intense colors.
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My first series of collages in 1982 were 17.5” X 24.5” Collage drawings on paper. I had first collected hundreds of images from magazines and organized them in folders by color, shape, patterns, nature, man made, animals, plants, transportation, etc.; anything I thought was interesting.
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"An Impulse To Soar" (20.7in X 27.7in) 1982
by John Anderson w/paper rocket, female divers,
and a man carrying many objects on his back. |
I then laid out 8 sheets of Arches drawing paper and selected a different color scheme for each; primary, secondary, tertiary, etc. With a foundation of watercolor washes and pencil framing; I marked the surface of empty space to brake the fear of destroying the expensive paper. Cutouts from the categories were laid down on each and played with for much time.
I had no idea how they were going to be resolved to completion; but I did think about figure/ground relationships, interior and/or atmospheric space, and landscapes. The cutouts suggested which direction to go; and when I examined all eight together, it was clear which images went with which paper. Each page was a new category of images.
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"THEN AND NOW-WOR" 1982
(20.7in X27.7in) by John Anderson
and a child dreaming about the circus. |
In conclusion, after the compositions were set, I found appropriate titles from the “Quotable Quotes” section in “Reader’s Digest” Magazine. They all had touches of humor, philosophy, and mystery.
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"Creatures of Habit" 1982
(20.7in X 27.7in) by John Anderson
w/ Fortune Cookie Quote: "We are all responsible…
we must stop looking for scapegoats."
And Cartoon "You are here…but no one else is" |
I always think of collage art as fun. Collection, cutting and pasting paper is easy. However, creating a pleasing composition that works well visually, and holds the viewer’s interest with a compelling idea or theme is a tremendous challenge. Making images cut from different articles fit together with continuity and flow is paramount to a successful collage. JA
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"Begin Now" (20.7in X 27.7in) 1982
by John Anderson
With Fortune Cookie Quote: "In order to satisfy another,
you must first strive to satisfy yourself - begin now."
Included are images of depicting phone calls from mother,
and baked goods from my mother-in law. |
More about my professor Wendell Brazeau and the Seders Gallery photos of his work.
