I love paper. I always have. I love stationary, and wrapping paper, and newsprint. I love delicate tissue and rigid cardboard and every weight in between. Once when I was a little girl I took a summer day class on origami (and I tell you what… I can still whip out a mean throwing star). Another time, inspired by an episode of Reading Rainbow, I tried making my own paper with some bizarre glue-based concoction (One of many concoctions that I brewed in my bathroom as a child. I was a bit of an aspiring chemist at one point… or perhaps my interests were more alchemical. I liked the idea of making something out of things that didn’t make sense on their own. But that’s preoccupation for another time.) I remember my grandma being able to cut almost any design out of paper. Even now that I’m all grown up, I still delight in cutting paper snowflakes and will use practically any excuse to make papier-mâché.
And what—aside from the obvious paper cuts and green-guilt—has this interest gotten me?
Well, a few good things. A reinforcement of my love of books and writing, an inclination toward writing personal letters, a fascination with photography, typewriters and almost every window display Anthropologie has ever featured.
And most recently, the art/décor project I mentioned in an earlier post. I saw a piece at the Rittenhouse Art Show that I absolutely loved. It consisted of three square panels that were covered in newsprint or book pages with silhouettes of birds scattered throughout. The artist did all collage work—I wish I had written down his/her name…it’d be nice to acknowledge the person whose ideas I stole. Eagerly. And shamelessly.
I used cheap canvases, acrylic gloss medium and the pages of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I wanted color on my version, so I bought some light handmade papers (more paper wheeeeeee!) to use for the birds. Not as tidy as the $500 version, but I think it turned out pretty well.
In process...
On the wall...
Sorry for the glare...
Best, Em
I like! You're so crafty.
ReplyDeleteMight have to give this a shot, myself.