The Hug

There is nothing more comforting than hugging your cat as every cat lover knows.   This collage portrait is one of my sister and our cat.  


Size :  10.5" x 13"

This collage was created in June 2012.  The true reason for the late posting is that I was unable to make decent photos after I upgraded to a smart phone! My digital camera is also not satisfactory. So taking a good photo took me a while. Now that I have a better phone with an 8MP camera I am able to post pictures online :-)  

July has been a very busy month for me so the July collage is still a work in progress.  I hope to be able to complete two this month so I dont break my new year resolution!.

Temple town by the river

This is my collage for May 2012. 

The subject is a holy city on the banks of a river. Actually I had Nashik in mind when I started though it is not an exact reproduction of any particular spot but is more a general feel of sunset by the river minus the crowds ofcourse! 

In making this collage I felt inspired to use bold colours by the works of collage artist Kathryn Uster.

Size :  13" x 10.5"

Art in April

April is a busy time for me as in my other life I am a bean counter.  So even with ideas galore, there was little time to convert them into collages.   However, true to my resolution for this year I did make two small ones and a third one is almost complete.  

I sometimes feel envious about those who use paint as a medium.  They just have to squeeze it out of a tube.  With collage, one has to  accumulate the material first or one just can't get started.  And this can be time consuming.  So for a change, I played around with paints too.    I made an abstract geometric painting in acrylic  that I have now hung up on my living room wall.  This I have painted over a faded print so I made good use of a frame.  Recycling feels good and I  must confess that I am quietly pleased with how it turned out.

I also made some papier mache sculptures but that is work in progress. They are still drying out and I will post pictures when they are ready.

Here are the two completed collages. 

The first one is a painted face from Kathakali.  This is a classical dance in drama format of mythological stories from the southern Indian state of Kerala.  Katha means story and kali means dance.  In this dance form the dancers have vividly painted faces and large costumes. The elaborate facial make-up is the most striking feature of Kathakali. The face paint colours indicate the character of the person portrayed.

Title :  Kathakali
Size :   12" x 12.5 "

Green make up is used for portraying the virtuous and divine, green  with red streaks stands for person of high birth with a streak of evil, exceedingly evil persons are portrayed with red painted faces and red beards,  black face paint and black beards depict forest dwellers,  black with red streaks are for demons and bright yellow painted faces for women and ascetics.  The female roles are also played by men in Kathakali!!  

This collage here has a green face with a white beard so we can safely say that he is a good guy.   And the sideways look that's amore.  ('Amore' as in the Dean Martin song... when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie...that's amore)       
           

The second is a limited palette collage of Phalaenopsis - my favourite orchid.  


Title : Phalaenopsis
Size : 10" x 12"  

Bodhisattva Padmapani

In Sanskrit, Bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व; Pali: bodhisatta) is either an enlightened (bodhi) existence (sattva) or an enlightenment-being. Padmapani is ‘Holder of the Lotus’. This is the Sanskrit name of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara - “The Lord who looks down (with compassion)”. He is the one who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas and is one of the more widely revered bodhisattvas.

Title : Padmapani
Size : 20" x 30 "

This collage is a depiction of the oldest and most famous of murals in India – ‘Padmapani’. 
         

Photo of Padmapani at Ajantha

Sometime during the 7th century, Buddhist monks painted frescoes on cave walls in what is now famous as the Ajantha caves in India.

Padmapani - the embodiment of compassion is one of these.

Buddhahood can be attained only after various lives of bodhisattva. Bodhisattvas are beings who work for the enlightenment of others, not just themselves. Sometimes it is said that Bodhisattvas make the ultimate sacrifice of giving up their own salvation (Buddhahood) out of compassion for other sentient beings.

The Buddha is not decorated; statues of bodhisattvas are for they need not be monks. They may live in society and dress like everybody else. The only difference is on the inside. Bodhisattvas exist in the world just to help others.

It is believed that Bodhisattvas manifest where they are needed in many forms. They might be friends or strangers, young or old, a tradesman, a salesperson or anyone. They might be you. Whenever needed help is given without selfish attachment, there is the hand of the bodhisattva. When we see and hear the suffering of others and respond to that suffering, we are the hands of the bodhisattva.

Trees in Evening light

Size :  10.5" x 7.5 "

The evening light in Mumbai just before the beginning of summer is beautiful.

All colours take on a golen hue. It is as if one were looking through yellow coloured glass.

When the light turns everything golden at the twilight hour, we know that summer has arrived.

My first guest post

I have just had the opportunity to do a guest post and that too on the blog of an accomplished artist and collagist of many years experience - Kathryn Uster. What can I say, I am thrilled!!

Here is the link to my post on Kathryn's blog 
http://ustercollage.blogspot.in/2012/02/finding-our-zen.html
(btw, I believe this counts as my art blog post for the month of February).
And this is the link to Kathryn’s website http://www.ustercollageart.com/

Kathryn's art is brilliant.  Her eye for detail and bold colourful palette draw the viewer in and impart a sense of peace.   I urge you to visit and view her remarkable collage artworks.

And this is my guest post on Kathryn's blog.

Finding Our Zen 

I met Kathryn at the yahoo collage group and since then, she has been my guru in many collage related ways. As a collagist I still have a long way to go and the sum total of my knowledge and experience is limited by the number of years I have spent doing this. So in my guest post on her blog today, I thought I would share what collage means to me. 

I think creating a collage is almost like Zen meditation. It is uplifting and fulfilling at the spiritual level. Let me explain. Zen is the Japanese word for the Mandarin Chán, which in turn is derived from he Sanskrit word dhyāna meaning ‘meditation’. 

Personally, I find meditation tedious. Have you tried it? I find it difficult to sit down quietly for a length of time, with legs crossed, eyes shut, and concentrate on thinking nothing so we can give the brain a chance to rest and reboot as it were. I am told one needs discipline and training to be successful in meditation. Rather unregretful, I admit to being not concerned that I am not good at meditation, because I have a happier alternative. 

I love making paper collage. This is the next best thing to Zen meditation. I am convinced of it. I usually collect all the paraphernalia required and either stand at the dining table or sit on the floor. One could compare this to getting ready for meditation. Once I have decided on the broad idea of what I want to do, all I have eyes for is the colours that I am looking for. I find that without any effort on my part I am able to block out all the ambient noise and focus just on the tiny pieces of colour paper that I need at the moment. Sometimes I might spend hours bent over adjusting tiny bits of paper with tweezers and paint brush, unmindful of physical exhaustion. I am in Collage Heaven.

Meditation is said to calm the mind, so does collage making. Collage making is a very soothing and relaxing activity. I find that it quiets my mind, makes it more tranquil. It helps me forget the stresses of daily life. As a consequence, sometimes I also forget to fix dinner. 

Meditation is the process to know your consciousness – that you are not defined either by your body or your mind. You are just the witness to what is happening around you. Collage making does the same for me. These bits of paper have a mind of their own, and somehow they make themselves into a picture while I just watch out that they are glued well and flat, and stay within the overall theme. Sometimes these bits of paper can even change the theme and one can do nothing about it but go with the flow and bear mute witness. But that is a story for another day. Each torn piece of paper finds the right spot for itself like a jig-saw puzzle. Slowly the hazy idea in my brain gets created on paper. Each piece of paper torn by hand is unique in shape and size; thus, the collage creates itself to which I am merely a witness. So I believe collage is a kind of Zen. What does your Art mean to you? Do write in with your views and let’s compare notes. 

Zebra on Chessboard and other artworks

Rush Hour

Size :  8.5” x 11”

 Hurry now; it will soon be rush hour at the reef! :-) 

I just love marine life. But I have to admit that the closest I have come to undersea life so far is only on the Discovery channel or at the aquarium. I do hope to get closer than that. The number one item on my list of things to do before I die is meeting these guys at rush hour at Great Barrier.

The colours are vibrant, the combinations mind boggling and the diversity is just magical. It is great to be alive and to experience all this – even if only in my mind so far. This collage hopefully represents a school of fish I very likely might run into one day.

 
  
 
Mermaid

Size : 42” x 19”

Look, there is a mermaid!

And I think she has discovered a treasure box!
Could it be from a sunken ship?
Maybe it is pirate treasure! How exciting!
Don’t you wish you could be there right now?
Well, I do.
Have I told you I just love marine life?
I did? Well, I also love mermaids.
I suppose they are a part of marine life.
Yes, I know mermaids are not real and they exist only in fairy tales.
Hey, wouldn't that make this collage fantasy art!  :-)

At 42inches wide (3 ½ feet) this is a big collage and has lots of little things tucked away to be discovered!


Boudoir
 

Here is an abstracted representation of knick knacks, accessories and such other collectibles women seem to accumulate over the years.   

Size :   9.5” x 7”

 
 
 
 
 
 

Violin
 
Size: 3.5” x 8 “
This small collage could also be called a large miniature!

 
 
 
 
 


Zebra on Chess Board 

It Don't Matter If You're Black Or White !
Ooh Ooh, yea yea yea....

But seriously now; have you ever wondered if a zebra is black with white stripes or white with black stripes?

Is a chess board black with white squares or white with black squares?

To contemplate this, I present to you ‘Zebra on chess board’.   :-)
 

Size  :  28” x 22”

Visit Gallery for better resolution pictures.

Happy New Year 2012

One of my resolutions should be to keep up regularly with my blog posts.   There is a reason I haven't been doing this as well as I should have.   I find photographing my artwork difficult.  There is always a little glare on the photo or the colours dont seem exactly right or there is the problem with perspective and having to crop off all the edges to get an acceptable photo.  It always gets put in the too hard basket. But in the end, these are all excuses.  So this year, I resolve to be more regular with creating artwork and posting pictures.

Green Turtle Reef

The Power of N, where N = 10 challenge exhibition is now online !



My entry - Green Turtle Reef  


Ten collage artists from around the world were each sent an identical package of materials, each with ten identical pieces of paper. Their task was to then create a unique collage using only the materials that were provided.   Go to  http://tothepowerofn.joellambeth.com/   to see collages made by all participants.

The Power of N Challenge

I sent off my collage for the challenge and it reached well in time !  After a very late start because I could not decide on the subject for my collage I wondered if I would finish in time.  Then after I had started work I realised that the challenge was in finding sufficient colours I required for my subject within the material  given.  It is not very easy when one has to use only from a very limited selection.  That was a challenge for me.  The exhibition goes live on 1st October so watch this space. I shall keep my contribution under the wraps till then !

After the challenge, I refreshed myself with an acrylic abstract.  Used plenty of colours and felt unshackled. Feeling ready for more collages now.

Power of N challenge

I am selected to participate in the Power of N Challenge!! (How cool is that!)

The kit containing ten assorted pieces of paper and an A4 card arrived yesterday.

The collage has to be made with only the elements supplied.  All paper is double sided. Similar kits have been sent to 9 other international participants to create a collage each. It is expected that despite using the same components the results will be very different due to individual styles. This will culminate in an exhibition of the 10 works. Check out details here http://tothepowerofn.joellambeth.com/index.html 

Usually, I pick a subject to make a collage with and then go with the flow. Now I have to pick a subject to suit the material available.

Therein is the challenge – to stretch my brain!

Click the link below to view slideshow

http://papercollageart.blogspot.com/p/gallery2.html

Gulls or Kites

Sometimes a collage is almost a living thing. It decides what it wants to be. This is especially true when one uses found paper for making a collage. Unlike a painting where the artist can mix desired colours on a pallet the collagist has often to depend on the best suited colour of the paper at hand. And such changes can sometimes cause a world or as in this case a sea of difference to the work.

Title :  Gulls at the lighthouse
Size : 20"x15"

The collage “Gulls at the lighthouse” is one such creation. This one actually started off as an attempt to do a collage on the festival of kites. Half way through I realised there was not enough of the sky blue that I needed for the clear sky background I had planned. The only blue colours I found were getting closer to water instead of sky.

And so this transformed into one with sky and water! Then I just had to have the gulls and lighthouse because it reminded me so much of Aotearoa!!

Indian Folk culture

Size : 7"x 9"

One fine day, I had this brainwave that I needed to get some Indian folk culture captured in collage.    I started off with a small format because I wanted to finish each piece in a single sitting.   Just to be different, I decided to work with a pair of scissors this time.   It did go a lot faster than it would have tearing paper by hand.  

 First I did the dholak (Indian drum) player with an abstracted back ground.   This is a widely popular instrument as it provides the basic beats for dancing or chanting.   Usually strung from the waist or shoulders, the beats have a hypnotic quality. Combined with heady melodies of folk music, it is delightful.

Size : 7"x 9"

Next I did the Shehnai player.  The Shehnai is an aero phonic instrument made of wood and has between 6 to 9 holes.   The sound of this instrument is recognized as creating a sense of auspiciousness hence played at weddings and on festival days.   Strictly speaking this a classical instrument usually played at concerts while sitting down cross-legged.  With my artistic license I imagined, my musician playing it from a palace window just before sunrise.  Hence the quick down on one-knee kneeling posture!

While the first two have a more north Indian flavour, the next one is right out from the deep south of India.

Size : 7"x 9"

 Poi Kaal Kudhirai is a very popular Tamil folk dance form. This translates as False Legged Horse. The artiste steps into this costume of a horse rather garishly done up and pretends to be riding it this dance form. Usually the dance drama is about the heroics of a king. Sometimes the dancer also combines this with stilts. Usually performed in the evening under the arc lights, this is a truly an explosion of colour.
I think there is potential here for a good series.  Have to sort out ideas in my head first. Watch this space!

The Buddha among the Peace Lillies

Title : Buddha of the Peace Lily
Size : 15" x 18"

The peace lily is a beautiful plant. Very easy to maintain, totally undemanding of attention and throws out such  lovely white flowers in a nest of  rich dark green leaves. It enriches the place it lives in. I totally love this plant.

I have always wanted to make a paper collage of this. The Buddha is an embodiment of peace and so I decided that a combination of the two had to be done. So here it is.

Inspired by the Master

Title : Inspired by Van Gogh's  Sunflowers
Size : 13"x 17"

To be able to paint like Vincent Van Gogh is my dream. I only recently learnt that he had done five versions of Sunflowers (in a vase). Some paintings have 12 flowers, some have 15, one has just 3. The colour of the background changes slightly, some are more roughly painted while the ambient light seems to be different in some versions. The one common thing is they are all glorious. Here is my version inspired by Van Gogh, painted with paper!

Birds, butterflies, nature

I find inspiration for art mainly in nature. No one can recreate the magic that is in nature, but that doesnt stop one from making collages!

Last year I made a quick getaway to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. I love having a stop-over holiday in Singapore (always lots to do) and another visit had been on my agenda for I had not ticked off all the boxes on my Singapore list. Jurong Bird Park was beckoning me.  


It was just delightful. So was the butterfly garden.    Totally amazing !!

The butterflies were there in the hundreds!! All fluttering away and real teasers too.  I tell you it is very very hard to photograph them. It was a totally inspiring trip for me.



This work represents some of that inspiration. 

Title : Monarchs in the Glen
Size: 11"x8.5"



Title : Lily Pond
Size: 11"x 8.5"

Title : Two Flamingoes
Size : 19"x29"