This small mixed media collage measures 13 inches by 12 inches framed. All materials in the piece have been upcycled. The piece is framed in with a white mat and gold frame. The frame is upcycled and an integral part of the overall piece. The title of this piece is derived from the antique French postcard that was used in the collage. It is a picture of Joan of Arc.
This piece is part of the Shades of Crimson: A Changing Environment series.
In preparation for Shades of Crimson: A Changing Environment, I deliberately chose only upcycled, vintage, or discarded materials to assemble my collages. This includes the frames and mats.
The vintage and found papers that serve as the foundation for each piece have been printed using a monoprint technique. What is monoprinting? Monoprinting is a fine art printing technique that uses a sheet of glass, or in my case a gelli plate, to transfer a unique image onto the sheet of paper. No two monoprints are alike, and the design created can only be used once ('mono' = single).
Once I have completed a series of monoprints, I then reflect upon each to find a foundational piece upon which to build a collage. I then cut out, size, or dye cut shapes to hand stitch into a collage.
We are living in a rapidly changing world that confronts us visually and audibly, often violently, daily. We are left to sift through these disruptive layers; socially and politically as well as environmentally and economically. In my work I have consciously layered the paper, fabric, tags, ribbon, and natural materials to represent this impact on myself and the greater community.
