Jerry Brommer Collage Workshop ~ First Projects

T or Tau Shape Design
7 1/2" x 7 1/2"


7 1/2" x 7 1/2" This was supposed to be a cruciform but after looking at this it needs to go off the top edge. I guess I have 2 T Shapes.


Bridge Design
7 1/2" x 7 1/2"
All were collaged with acrylic matte medium on 300 pound Lana Rough paper. Jerry likes the rough for added texture. Most paintings contain several type designs. We were instructed to make one of each of these designs in a color of our choice of darks and lights. The class didn't just start gluing down various papers and hoping for the best, we did have some guidelines for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and included movement and a focal point. Jerry said "You make the perfect composition. You don't find it."

My nice clean palette before beginning to stain watercolor papers. If I had it to do over, I'd bring some palettes I wanted to clean out and redo. I had 3 that I worked from and someday I think I'll make a cool one, greens and blues, and one warm for reds and yellows, and then I can have a lot more colors. When using white gouache, it is difficult to keep your wells from becoming contaminated. We'd tear off pieces of the Oriental rice papers (washi) and make our colors by splattering and varying colors by adding some white gouache or black. Then we'd turn over our pieces to speed drying. Jerry said he'd set aside a staining day and maybe do reds for 30 minutes and blues for 30 minutes to build up his supply for maybe 6 months. He stores the pieces by color in clear plastic bags for the workshops.
Teaching procedure:
Before we'd begin a collage painting Jerry would show us many examples of the designs cut from art magazines, then he'd show us his own paintings and post them on the wall, then he'd give a demo - all great ways for us to learn. We knew where we needed to go and what to do and if we got lost along the way, Jerry would roam the room giving some hints "make it darker at the edges to keep your eye in" or "Primo. Stop." which was the BEST compliment.
He gave us a great hint for tearing the colored strips into our needed shapes by taking a brush loaded with water and draw with the water. It weakened the area and made it much easier to tear. If we needed straight areas we cut with a razor blade, craft knife or scissors.
Jerry would caution, "Don't fall in love with a part so much you can't change it. Put in the big shapes with reckless abandon. Just cover it. Use different sizes, shapes and values. Watch your negative areas as you want it all different."
American Artist
The June 2009 issue has a six page article written by Jerry, Capture a Sense of Place with on-site Travel Sketches. Without sufficient time to create full-scale paintings on location during a recent trip to Europe, he relied on graphite and ink sketches to capture the essence of the scenes visited and added watercolor washes once back in the studio. If you enjoy sketchbook journaling, you will enjoy this article.
Next post will show a floral and he said if you put in a pistil or stamen you get an F.

Gerald Brommer Workshop ~ Week One ~ Collage

Collage Figure
7" x 11"
Gerald Brommer has presented 2 weeks of workshops at the Artists' Showplace Gallery. I enjoyed the first week so much, Stained Papers and Collage, when an opportunity to take the second week came, Designing with Watercolor or Acrylics and Collage, I jumped at the chance. The above figure was not one of the assignments but by the end of the week I did a figure when we were on our own.
For the first few days we were working with pure collage with our stained watercolor washi papers and later we began adding more paint. We were cautioned against turning these into paintings but let some of the collage show.
We could add anything that would stick to the support, 300 pound watercolor paper, with acrylic mat medium.
Jerry said, "Don't talk to a collage artist about archival. Who cares if it lasts forever and if it starts to fall apart? Good. It will make it more interesting. Kurt Schwitters (20th century master of collage) used wine labels and newsprint."
We purchased a packet of 20 various washi papers about letter size and one of the samples had fragments of the Bangkok Daily News in it (certainly not archival). How wonderful and freeing is that. He also stated, "Paint to please yourselves and hope that others like it" and "Don't over think this. There are no mistakes with collage - just add another piece of paper until it gets so heavy you can't lift it."
Radial Design
11" x 11"
Radiating from a central core. One of about 12 designs we studied. I supplemented some of the painted washi papers with some acrylic painted pieces from the Anne Bagby workshop and from the Carrie Burns Brown workshop.
Jerry Brommer
Collage artist, story teller (the Hittite story was memorable) author of books, books, books, 35 plus art books and some are used in high schools and colleges, educator, juror and scholar and a very enthusiastic master of watercolor and collage painting methods. I guess it would be correct to say he wrote the book on it. Check back later for future posts on the workshop. There is great hope in collage that when your children put you in the "home" and you're not allowed to have scissors you can still enjoy collage, just tearing up and gluing it down again.

Visual Expressions Gallery ~ Saladino Art Critique ~ Art Journal Pages

"Lylas" #3 (Love You Like a Sister) 9" x 12"
These are the 3 paintings I will take to the Visual Expressions Gallery for their student art Show May 15 - May 25.
"The Birds of the Air"
30" x 40"

"Glacial Terrain"
24" x 24"



Art Journal Pages
Click on Image to Enlarge
Art Journal Page 94
I don't know why but I have been extremely interested in all the swine flu news.


Art Journal Page 95
Big personal news I've joined Weight Watchers again. I need social contact to lose. Last time I did great on a diet when my CBC sisters threw in $50 each in the pot and the one that lost the most walked away with $500 and that's all I needed to win. I've enjoyed lots of Snickers and Mexican food since then and now it's time again to get on a program and I'm the one making monthly payments. WW's eTools are the easiest way yet to keep track of food points, add recipes and track activities.
More about the flu and I missed the big Cottonwood Art Festival. And I've found a great new TV program for May "Cook Yourself Thin" on Lifetime. There are recipes at MyLifetime.Com.
Art Journal Page 96
Since Bea Arthur died I've been watching the Golden Girls again and I'm loving those programs. I TiVo the afternoon programs and enjoy them when other choices look a little sparse in the evening. Cindy, Betty, Karen, Barbara and I went to pick up paintings at the PCPC show and our special show at La Cima and we were thrilled to find we'd sold "From His Bounty" (pears) at the PCPC show. You can see how we transport our large paintings. Cindy made us sacks with handles from moving blankets and we stack them upright on a dolly. These are large paintings (approximately 35" x 35") and we can take down a show fast.
Art Journal Page 97
So many errands and all on one banana and this is a no-no for a healthy diet. I weighed in and had lost 4.8 pounds my first week. With those kind of results I'll try for week 2 and this week we add some exercise. I found these "old" empty candy wrappers in a pocket.

A slide show from our last Saladino Art Critique. Later Tony is having a one day abstract class in June. There was a new person in class and sorry I called her "newbie" because I didn't write down her name.

The Upstairs Gallery Show ~ May 9-23, 2009

The three pieces below photographed together as they might be hung for a grouping. Click on the image for a larger view.

#1


#2

#3
These are acrylic works I completed in the Robert Burridge workshop in April. The 3 6"x 6" (1 1/2" depth) collage mixed media pieces can be purchased separately or as a group. I used acrylic paint, acrylic medium, various papers, and stamping and I was working on all 3 at the same time striving for some continuity. Could I reproduce these again? After looking at them again this morning I kept asking "Now how did I do that?" and "What did I do here?" I see small papers from the Anne Bagby workshop and some stamping with the stamp she awarded for best use of line and some gold paint touches and lots of texture. I think there are a few pieces from the Carrie Burns Brown Workshop in Austin several years ago. That's what I find interesting about discussions about copying others work.. I find it difficult to copy my own.

Indigo Floral #1

Indigo Floral #2

Indigo Floral Duet #1 and #2 12" x 12" (3/4" depth wrapped canvas) Acrylic with some stamping These two are pure Burridge (I painted them but I sure tried to use his methods) from the workshop with lots of negative painting and drawing back into the design with a pencil, a Derwent Sketching Wash 8B, one of his favorites to use. I used some stamping and then brushed back over it to blend some edges and then highlight one flower to stand out and say "look at me." These can be purchased separately or as a pair. J. T. Martin of the Upstairs Gallery has invited all adult students to participate in its annual studio show and sale, May 9-23 and the opening reception will be May 9 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The purpose is to thank the students for their support and to share their artworks with the community. This is a great time to view others work and socialize and see what new foods J.T. creates for the refreshment table. Join us if you're in the area.

The Best Robe ~Acrylic Figure ~ Art Couture Gallery ~ Art Journal Pages

"The Best Robe"
16"x 20" Acrylic with collage on gallery wrapped Canvas
I had posted this painting March 1 and it is now at the Art Couture Gallery.


A reminder: If you click on a photo it will take you to a larger image.
Journal Page 89
In Colorado and some notes on altitude sickness and treatment and a map, this time glued in.


Journal Page 90
Going to Georgetown and a delay on I 70 for rock scaling and removal. I discovered Tommy Singer jewelry at the Santa Fe Trail, and Georgetown Gallery and Ruth Stewart's hot peppers and Maxine Gnazzo's watercolors. (also in Breckenridge at Art on a Whim I found a fellow Texan, Jeff Leedy's humorous work.)


Journal Page 91
I took Pat Weaver's new DVD Animal Portraits in Watermedia from Creative Catalyst. It was very appropriate as a lot of Colorado friends have dog friends and a great photo op. Visit Pat's web site for a colorful treat. Cindy Y and I took a workshop with her in Ingram at HCAF several years ago.


Journal Page 92
Back in Texas on a Saturday and a quick rush to the PCPC art opening to meet fellow CBC sisters, Cindy Y, Maryann, Karen and Connie, and on Sunday in spite of predicted showers, Maryann and Karen and I had to make it to the Southlake Art Fair.

Journal Page 93
Disturbing reports of the first cases of Swine Flu and the more severe cases are in Mexico and no one knows why. Today Wednesday, April 29, I read about the first death in Texas of a Mexican child.
Later on in the week I'll post a slide show of some images and some links of some of our favorite artists from the Southlake Show. Stay well.

Glory ~ Art Couture Gallery ~ Art Journal Pages ~ CO.

"Glory"
12"x12" abstract on gallery wrapped canvas on a gold gesso base
After the Robert Burridge workshop I wanted to try to paint an abstract with his method and I had about 2 days before I left for a Colorado trip. During the workshop I did two pieces on gessoed paper but to reinforce the techniques I wanted to try it at home. The small work above is my effort and it is in the Art Couture Gallery in Dallas.


This is Bob in the workshop holding his abstract demo that I purchased and it is now in my studio. Thanks Bob and Kate for a great week and I love my painting. They will post some photos from the workshop on their web page soon.

Art Journal page 85
This covers the week from April 6-10 and has an acrylic abstract on the page. Watercolor just didn't have the qualities to do the negative painting used by this technique. Included is two of my favorite "Bobisms" "Love what you do and pass it on" and "It's all been done before, but not by you."

Art Journal page 86
Trying to unpack and pack and taking care of business but wanting to paint gives you a left-right brain duel, going to the Tony Saladino critique and on to the Art Couture Gallery, and then the LLS Gala (see a previous post), then lots of weather and driving through rain, sunshine and snow and making it to Raton NM on the way to Breckenridge, CO. Some quick sketches of roadside signs and one in particular, FREE 72 oz. steak if eaten in one hour near Amarillo at the Big Texan.
Art Journal page 87
Trying another map as Danny Gregory suggests and I'm reading The Creative License, and going to about 9700 elevation from about 650 in Arlington, whew! It's usually not a pretty site for a few days while I'm trying to breathe and walk at the same time. Drew the coffee cup I purchased at the Brown Burro Cafe in Fairplay where there were foot long icicles hanging from the roof. Going from a low at night of about 50's to the 20's, brrrrr.


Art Journal page 88
Ski season officially closed this day and enters into mud season, tried the art walk in Breckenridge and most galleries were closed. I painted my face green because it was hard to walk all bundled up and I hadn't adjusted to the altitude yet. Leadville's Western Hardware Antique Mall is always a must see. Seems like a lot of people like to decorate with roosters and chickens as in Zichittella's Italian in Leadville. Later I'll make a slide show of some of the photos along the trip. At first I thought I had the wrong camera setting as several were in black and white and then realized it was cloudy, snowy and there wasn't any color.

Tribal Line ~ Art Couture Gallery ~ Art Journal Pages

"Tribal Line"
Acrylic Figurative on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

After the Robert Burridge workshop I wanted to paint abstracts and have painted two that I will post later but I keep going back to figures. These figures were painted on a toned canvas. Bob had done a painting with a girl with bright red boots so this is my interpretation. It was accepted in the Art Couture Gallery in Dallas.


Art Journal Page 81
Unpacking from the Anne Bagby workshop and wanting to make a chop but just drew it instead. Shirley Trevena's new DVD, "Breaking the Rules of Watercolour", arrived from England and I just had to collage some of the mailing envelope. Check out Shirley's blog here.

Art Journal Page 82
One of my babies turned 51, oh, my. On that day he texted "51 years ago we had us a day."
Here is Theresa's baked oatmeal recipe and you can find more about it at the Artist Food Network. Drawing looks pretty bad at the top of the oatmeal box but I have an excuse because I was in a big, big hurry.

Art Journal Page 83
Not fun days as I was gathering info for income tax, and I've watched the Trevena DVD and she says forget perspective and gather up some of your favorite things and paint them. I chose my mother's biscuit cutter, my favorite coffee drinking cup, a gift from my daughter, a cut glass toothpick holder that my father used every day, and the bottom of the pointy bill holder because it was old and interesting and I didn't pay any attention to perspective. I started Burridge packing.

Art Journal Page 84
Still unpacking and packing and I've been wanting to draw better so I've gone back to some favorite drawing books:
1. Danny Gregory
2. Dan Price
3. Bert Dodson
4. Betty Edwards
I watched 2 granddaughters and if I hadn't drawn around their hands I'd never noticed that Mattie's little fingers had fingernails so short the ends of her fingers were visible (biting nails) and Grace had 2 fake nails on her 5 3/4 year old fingers.
(I hope this type face isn't an inch high. I'm working on a 13 inch laptop and it's hard for me to decide exactly the font size I need) I will post some Burridge adbstracts next.