Found Objects

Leaf Print ATCs by Phillip Hoyle
Each card 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"

I found some objects, namely leaves and some paper I had saved for the occasion of making Artist Trading Cards to this theme. The paper I saved when we dismantled the ATC booth at Denver County Fair in August. The table covering had marks from watercolor pens, pencils, blotches of paint, notes people had written for fun (?), an odd assortment of designs, scratches, scrapes, and colors that I knew I should save. Then a month later, this topic was chosen for a theme. 

I printed leaves on the paper, then used a very fine pen to clarify some edges and add a few details that didn't want to print. I did even more by saving the leaves I printed and use them as collage details for more cards. It was an enjoyable project and I learned a lot about the techniques and accidents of plant prints I tried to make the most of my accidents. Besides that, I enjoyed our trade last Thursday evening at Jerry Simpson's studio. 

Denver, 2015

ATC by Phillip Hoyle, September 2015

I made several ATCs from scraps left over from some GELLI monoprints I had used for another purpose. The ATC group where I am going to trade them meets in the studios and galleries of one of the world’s most interesting dumpster divers who is also a rather well known artist. You can find interesting videos and comments about Jerry Simpson on You Tube and elsewhere online. His compound of buildings is in itself a work of art as well as is his extensive orderly storage system. His place inspires the use of found objects for re-purposing, up-purposing, and transforming from trash to art. 

ATCs by Phillip Hoyle, September 2015

I couldn’t easily throw away the trimmings I used due to their brilliant and deep colors. The paint made by Golden, their Open Acrylics, makes a bold impression. I’ve used what they package as Modern Colors: Hansa Yellow Opaque, Pyrrole Red, Phthalo Blue (Green Shade) Quinacridone Magenta, Phthalo Green (Blue Shade), and Titanium White. I also used a white Jelly pen.

Thanks for the comments on last week’s posting of the Claret Cup Cactus. I framed it this week and am very happy with the results. I’m sure there will be more cacti showing up before long!

Denver, 2015

Cactus Print Finale

Claret Cup Cacti Monoprint by Phillip Hoyle 2015

Finally I got back to the monoprint I've been looking at for several weeks, maybe quite a few weeks. I'm happy that I did after looking at many pictures of the plant. Some of the buds opened into flowers, others are waiting their turn. At least that's how I imagine it. 

Oh, the collage of monoprints I titled Bear Clan did make it into the WOW show at CORE New Art Space and is hanging there for another week. You can see it if you get there soon. The gallery is open Thursday through Sunday. In case you can't make it there I'll give you a glance at one little part of the show. 

Top left framed work 'Bear Clan' by Phillip Hoyle

Bear Clan

Bear Clan by Phillip Hoyle
Collage of monoprints

As I have worked with this image of a bear in the past year, I have always seen it as a spirit image and without thinking much assigned it to the male gender in my mind. When my daughter-in-law saw several of the prints, she saw it as a female bear. My art friend Sue saw it as a bear, not assigning any gender label.

So I wonder how others may see it. If you want to tell me, make a comment! It's a little bit difficult, but select the anonymous category. You may have to type in a code from an illustration. I would like to know. Comment below. I hope to learn something.

Oh, I entered the piece into the WOW open art show at CORE gallery. So now I wonder if its a she-bear, a he-bear, or something else AND I wonder if I'll be jury-ed in! Hope so and further hope you have a good art week. 

Denver, 2015