MY COLLAGE ART PART I

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.

Circle Collage                    (9in X 9in)                           1972
by John Anderson
The thread tying the composition together are found (not cut)
 round shapes in everything. 

                   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.

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.

"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.

"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.

"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            

"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.