The Tooth(ache) Fairy...

...For Me, for Crowabout, for Three Muses, and for Pointy Hats and Wings

 

No Satisfaction...

Sometimes you're just not satisfied, and that's how I felt with my last collage, "Row C".  The puzzler was that I liked it to look at, it was definitely "finished", but I felt personally unsatisfied, like it got there without me.  After forgetting it while I worked on something else, I realized that it was nothing about the collage itself that bothered me, it was something personal.  It was about the process.  I felt cheated because the collage was finished and couldn't hold anymore, and I really wanted to play with pens and inks and paints on top of something.  So I just had to do something else, and that's how The Tooth(ache) Fairy was born. 

What I Did About It...

I chose one of my simpler layered acrylic under-paintings to begin with so that I could indulge my urge to doodle without the distraction of a multi-colored background, then I mixed some pink and started painting.  First a border, then some funky flowers.  Then I grabbed my tiniest black Micron and filled in part of the bottom with a million tiny ovals and circles.  Then came dots, circles, squares, an object here, an object there, some rub-on numbers and stars.  Before I printed him, the doggie was enlarged and adjusted in Photoshop as high contrast screen tones, and was given a pale-pink wash, which I later intensified in areas with a couple of Prismacolors.  His heart (Lisa's Altered Art) was too red, so it got a dusting of pale pink pencil to tone it down.  I created the box body of the fairy from items in Crowabout's collage sheet and glued on an altered pointy hat, then some wings (Lisa's Altered Art, again).  The arm was the last thing I added.

In Search Of A Home...

Here's a true confession:  I don't enjoy making things just to illustrate themes.  It feels like work. Probably because a lot of the work I do in real life involves illustration.  Even teaching art revolves around illustrating themes and concepts, and I now just want to create from what's inside of me.  That's why now, when I design commercially, I choose to design for vendors of products I use, and I do this for the express purpose of using their products in my artwork rather than illustrating a product itself.  It's their products shown off to advantage, but my art, my style, and my themes.  

I think that's why I am so in love with the Crowabout group.  Nancy chooses collage images that are wonderful and often zany, and I get to express myself using these terrific things that I might not have run across on my own, and I get to use them in and out of contexts, all my own.  I know it's why I love Kelly Kilmer's A Prompt A Day.  Even when I'm not actively participating, the vast stores of prompts and the infinite combinations thereof, are creative DNA that subtly find their way into the things I do! 

Also, I really love web challenges. I love this wonderful community of blogging artists, and seeing what others create around various themes.  But when I participate in themed groups, I usually do so when I have a piece that fits.  Rarely will I create something on the fly just to fit a theme, so when I finished The Tooth(ache) Fairy, I took it around the web in search of a theme, and discovered The Three Muses "numerology" theme in the process, where it fit.  

Now I'm off to:

Clean up the studio and file images

Try and motivate myself to do some long over-due blog maintenance

Get people where they need to go 

Figure out what we're eating tonight, and

Get back to the book I'm reading before I fall asleep

Have a great day, Everyone!

Comments

[rian]

Hey Barbara.
First of all. I hope that everyone will ENLARGE your image !!
There are so many details to discover. ( i had to see it twice !!)
Reading your blog and what it takes to created this piece my interest grows and growns HOW you have made this.
What a fantastic work !!
I hope that you cherish your talent because what i see here is realy ART !!
Thanks so much for sharing. For me it was a FEAST to look at !

[Lori Saul]

This is a beauitufl array of whimsical and wonderfully styled images - so much to see and enjoy. It really works!

[Bev]

Wonderful whimsy, Barb, and such fun to see. But, even more than that, I enjoyed our little "chat". Like you, I love the talented and supportive artists who people the art blog world. It's such a fun community and I look forward to "mingling" daily! Thanks for joining our challenge!

[Sandy]

Wow Barbara this is fun and fantastic.
Very impressive piece.

[dani rogall]

Barb, your collage is gorgeous. Your description is likewise fantastic.

[Rosie]

Love this - everything from the tiny ovals to the box and the dog. There's a charm to your collages and I know exactly what you mean with ref to challenges. I am still a challenge junkie, but taking classes has broadened my perspective a lot!! Hugs xoxoxo

[Willy]

Your collage is great, Barbara. A lot to see!

[Marie]

Wow! I love everything about your collage, ESPECIALLY the tooth fairy. Wonderful artwork, creative, great composition and colour. Perfect. I enjoyed your journey through the process. I know what you mean about not being satisfied when finishing a project is a bit like a sad parting.

[Terri @ Pringle Hill]

Whimsical, creative and - most of all - FUN! I can truly relate to your post today, Barbara. Of all of the challenges, I adore Crowabout and can't live without it. Nancy's images make my Muse sing! Hugs, Terri

[Peggy Gatto]

Oh MY!!!!!
So much delight to see!
Wonderful piece!

[Flor]

Great piece...perfect color combination and lots of details...whimsical and magical!

[Hermine]

Love, its so vibrant

[Janny]

Fabulous!

[Nancy Maxwell James]

I can finally post here to tell you how BEAUTIFUL your pieces are! I love the humor in this one! :) awesome art!

[Linda Vincent]

This really made me smile...and I loved reading your post.

[Brenda Wampler]

Making me giggle! Thanks!