Curious Cat

I Spy...

It looks as though I won't have time to do a new piece for IF this week, so I'm posting an oldie-- a digitally altered stamp. I scanned in the real thing from an old postcard, then drew the kitty & the "Curious Art" lettering in Photoshop.

Amphibia

TOTAL immersion...
I decided to do a new piece for IF as well as the older one I posted.

I'm not much of a swimmer, but I admire & envy those who are so at home in the water, they seem amphibious.

Acrylic on collaged texts copied from old encyclopedias & natural history books.
6x6"

Anxiety: A Tax

For Total, Illustration Friday's topic this week, math came to mind... & at this time of year, as a self-employed person who doesn't employ an accountant, I have a lot of very tedious calculation looming before me.

I did this piece just about this time last year, when of course I should have been preparing my taxes. It's one of my "curiollages" constructed with polymer clay, acrylic & found objects on canvas. The original piece is 9x12" as I recall. The calligraphy at the bottom was added digitally when I used the image as a greeting card promo for 15 April.

Enlightenment (In Progress)

Here's the amended version-- thanks to Scott for his excellent suggestion to turn the bulb to emphasize the yin-yang shape on top. I like it much better this way.




















This one isn't finished, but since it's Thursday & I had intended it for Illustration Friday (Wired), I'm posting it in progress, to share the idea at least. Other projects (see last post) & obligations got in the way. Oh well!

It's inspired by the recent ruling in Australia phasing out incandescent bulbs, & dedicated to my brother Ben who is also known as Johnny Fluorescentseed because he gives compact fluorescent bulbs to all his friends & family.

The background paper is from an electronics textbook c. 1912, this chapter appropriately titled Illumination Laws & Measurements. Collaged onto canvas, painted in acrylic, 5x7".

Specimen (Darwin)

Yet another piece based on old scientific texts. This one came from an entry in an encyclopedia published in Darwin's lifetime. I scanned it & printed it so as not to destroy the original. The print was collaged to canvas, then painted over with acrylics. 6x6"

(By the way, while the entry acknowledged some controversy over his theories, it acclaimed him as an eminent naturalist who had revolutionized scientific thought.)

Illustration Friday Pick of the Week!?!

I went to the IF site first thing this morning in pleasant anticipation of receiving a new topic to spark my imagination for a day of self-directed work. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that Secluded Habits was Pick of the Week!

I mean I literally didn't believe it. I figured I was still half-dreaming, & once the coffee was brewed & my eyes were fully awake I'd see the real page.

But I've had several cups now & it appears to be real!

As I wrote to Penelope, I came out of hiding with the topic Hide.

I still can't quite believe it.

Knothead

I've been feeling particularly dense these days & this image is the result. Like Secluded Habits, it uses prints of old scientific texts collaged on canvas as a basis for acrylic painting.

I'm not really happy with it... but I may use the idea again when I'm feeling less knotheaded!

6x6"

Secluded Habits

This piece was inspired by a trip to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

It's my first submission to Illustration Friday.

Acrylic over printed paper on canvas.
6"x6"