contemporary collage paintings
the process
Leslie Avon Miller

My life flows when I'm in my art.


Jean De Muzio

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Seized with Creative Vigor



Being seized with creative vigor can result in fabulous art discoveries. And a few other things can be discovered too.


Here is a discovery. If you are concurrently doing the laundry while creating interesting collage papers, and you leave the lid of the clothes washer open it will not drain out all that fresh soapy water.


Then sometime later when you meander by, feeling all pleased about your new papers and notice the machine, you can add the clothes and no one will ever know you were a distracted laundry lady. You may wonder how I know these things…I’m not telling!






Are you interested in some tips for collage paper preparations? I know some people have all the technique they need, and some folks are open to trying more. If you have created papers that you find too dull or too bright, or too intense, or too ugly, might I suggest you assume an explorers mindset. Get those papers out of the drawer and on your work surface. Contemplate and consider what you have at hand. Then begin!


I usually work atop a piece of plastic such as a new white or clear garbage bag that has been softened to remove the sharp pleats and fold marks. I put the plastic bag in my clothes dryer with a wet load of laundry. I turn on the dryer for about 60 to 90 seconds and then retrieve the plastic bag. It will be nicely free of fold marks. If you want, you can then turn the dryer back on to finish drying the clothes.







If you don’t have a dryer, you do have an option. Crumple up the plastic bag and place it next to your warm skin. If you are female you have two pretty good spots under your shirt for two bags, one on each side. If you are male you’ll have to think of your own spot. It’s a bit itchy, but after a while the bag will be soft and the fold creases gone. A tip of the hat to Eydi Lampasona who taught me that technique.


Put the side of your paper you like the most face down on the plastic. This technique is for more porous papers like washi and tissues, not watercolor papers. I often find it’s the “B” side, the underneath side I like the best. If you enjoy mark making this is a good time to try some on your paper.







If your paper is too bright apply something to calm it down. Apply your problem solution – what ever it is – ink, paint, what ever you can think of and wait for the magic to happen. I leave each sheet of paper on its own plastic until it is completely dry. I don’t try to move the paper without the plastic support.


If your paper is too dull, how about a nice time flinging paint, or dripping ink, or transferring paint from one surface to another? Let dry, and repeat. That is literally how I create my best collage papers.







My next experiment involves cherry tree bark. I am taking my inspiration from India Flint, who uses eco dyes on cloth. Her work is stunning. I am waiting for the library to let me know her book Eco Colour is available for me to read. But since I am in the mood for exploration, I am just going to plunge ahead and try some things and find out what happens. Its only paper…


I attended a great non art work shop recently on human brains and learning. I love that kind of stuff. The fellow who taught it is John Medina, a developmental molecular biologist, researcher and really funny guy. He knows a lot about how humans, especially babies, learn. Did you know the ideal student to teacher ratio is 1 teacher to 5 students? That is how many students the teacher, or more accurately, the teacher’s brain, is actually able to attend to.


The new studio space is tantalizing now. It’s all bright and white. The ceilings sore above the open beam and light streams in through the skylights. The scaffolding is moved out. The space is open and inviting. I could give in to temptation and move in before a floor covering and trim work are completed. I will try to resist, at least until there is a floor. Kurt says he will go investigate flooring options tomorrow. He must sense my patience beginning to melt now that moving into the studio is so close. It’s been five years in process.


I can envision the new studio space having ample room for 5 students and one teacher to work, even with the framing equipment in place. I can envision a 4 day class about collage and creating papers. A little exploration, a little collage paper making and creativity coaching…I love visions.

31 comments:

  1. Eydi's web site is new and full of great art work.

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  2. If you don't mind using extra electricity a hair dryer smooths out polythene brilliantly. Unless the underarm body chemicals add something extra to the paper!! I love the lettering on your paper.

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  3. Great tips, and I love your vision!

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  4. magnifique interprétation de la terre

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  5. so earthy...
    i wasn't thinking underarms, though!
    the following your intuition and playing with materials to see what happens is lovely. and so are the earth tones you're using.
    i was thinking yesterday that when i don't really want to DO anything, but seem productive, i so laundry~~~maybe i'll throw some plastics and paper in next time=multitasking.
    thanks for the inspiration!

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  6. Love the dryer tip! I use the poly dropcloth that is folded up, and always has the creases in it, so I learned something new today...thank you!

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  7. so exciting about the studio which sounds glorious. interesting about the student teacher ratio. guess our public schools are way outta whack.

    i use freezer paper under my collages. i fear i'd really mess up if i put plastic in the dryer. not to mention being vague about the laundry is perhaps how my big fiasco happened. i returned an hour later to find the washer knob didnt move forward and the house was flooded.

    lovely work you have shown here. thanks for all the process tips.

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  8. Someone years ago suggested putting the packet of polymer clay in your bra to warm it before you start to manipulate it. Women are quite creative about how they use their bodies!
    Thanks to you my Muse just flew in the window. I had the knowledge but forgot all about markmaking on top of previously painted papers. This is a perfect project for a rainy day. Thanks Leslie.
    I do hope Kurt gets that floor done really soon. If you move in onto the subfloor you may never get him to do the final flooring. I'm looking forward to seeing your new studio.

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  9. I love everything you said! May all your paper come out beautiful horses! Thank you.

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  10. Good news about your studio .... nearly there! I wish I could attend your 4 day class. Great seeing all your papers and I love the new earthy collage painting in your sidebar.

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  11. not only is "necessity the motherhood of invention" -- so is creativity, I guess. love this entry, Leslie -- great way to start off a holiday weekend with plastic bags tucked here and there!

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  12. Leslie, I love your "real world" advice! Why only this morning, I was engaged in my own laundry dance complete with paint, dustbunnies and strange flowerbuds that made it through the wash. I second Suki's suggestion abouat the freezer paper. I like the surface it creates and it can take quite a lot moisture before it gives.
    No matter what the undersurface however, you've created some gorgeous papers.

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  13. I was having a no good terrible very bad day, until I read your laundry/art post here, now I am smiling, thank you thank you, you can even turn the dryer in and finish drying the laundry... I was crying with laughter! So then I read to the bottom of the page and I love, love what I see, but it is late so I will have to come back and read more. Thanks again, ps I took pictures of tree bark and grass at camp, we must be sisters under the skin :)

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  14. Nice papers, Leslie! The first looks like a tobacco leaf - to me at least! I keep threatening myself to put some paint on paper and see what happens. Probably a sludgy mess! But at least I can see yours.

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  15. Your first paper is so eye catching and then followed by others just as beautiful in their markings. I find collage papers tucked away and have no idea how they came about...mystery studio days!
    Can't wait for the studio move in photos!

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  16. OK,

    so I am ready to book tickets

    to your first class..

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  17. Count me in for your first class. These papers are so stunning. Preparing paper is still such a mystery to me. I really need to see how you do it.

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  18. I think that vision of a workshop is moving from the envisioned to the real as we all put up our hands and say yes, please, me, too, I'd love to come. Inspiration and art making all rolled into one lovely little bundle in your new studio.

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  19. How nice to envision you all here as we experiment together! We looked at a lot of flooring options for the studio today. I think we are going with ones that are good in environments that include water. After all. its a water media studio!

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  20. you should become a humor writer- very funny stuff here-- though that would cut into your painting time so maybe you shouldn't become a humor writer- just continue to make your wonderful collage papers.

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  21. Many thanks Leslie, for your tips on creating textured paper, I will give these a try but I am not often found doing the laundry. I think SWMBO might become suspicious.

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  22. top one is explosive....happy fourth btw

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  23. I must admit Leslie, every time I visit your blog I'm off on a series of digressions: one link leads to another and so on. The whole bit about the laundry cracked me up. I can't imagine what "spot" I would use; I'll stick to the dryer. Anyway the image on the top of this post is awesome. The earth color and richly organic texture is so compelling I can almost conjure up an aroma (hints of coffee bean, whiffs of caramel, notes of forest mist...). Thanks for sharing and being such an informative blogger.

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  24. What an interesting post Leslie. As usual, a visit here is an education. Thanks for being so open with some of your "secrets." There are some great ideas here and absolutely amazing art!!!

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  25. Leslie, a class of five sounds ideal! Thanks, I'll keep that in mind when thinking about workshops. It must be getting exciting- perhaps you've already moved in!

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  26. We have come to a conclusion abut the studio floor. Kurt laid the second layer of OSB. He is filling the cracks, then we sand it, and then we will paint the floor with gray floor paint. Perfect! I won't have to worry about spills - we can always touch up the paint. I love the idea of a care free floor! And it really does some nice things for the budget too! Have a great weekend everyone. We are taking a couple of days off but will be back at work in the building next weekend.

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  27. Thanks for the plastic bag tips. I've always used it with the folds. It never occurred to me to try and remove them!
    Your studio sounds like a dream. You are fortunate to have Kurt on your team!

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  28. hey thanks for the cheery wave
    maybe next time i pootle down the coast
    we can shake paws as well...

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  29. Thanks for sharing your vision. There is a resonance here. -J

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  30. Wonderful post, Leslie! I love you laundry revelation; mine has more to do with what happens if you wash them and forget about them for a couple of days- lol- not such a good thing!

    Thanks for sharing your intriguing techniques; I'll definitely try these. What I'd like to know is how you accomplished the effect in the third photo- I love it!

    I can see why you're so excited about your new space, and am very excited for you. What a great thing, to teach 5 students at a time. As a teacher, I can confirm that's about the optimum number for learning. Have fun!

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  31. I just discovered your blog (and left a message on your last message re Mary Nemecos). Reading back on your old posts I discovered this post. So spooky, the piece I'm working on at the moment is very similar to the first painting in this blog post, the one with the roots like texture. I've never seen it before, yet I'm also working on a mixed media painting with a roots like texture...Anyway, I love your art works and your blog!

    ~ Sara

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