Archive for November, 2012

His and Hers

Friday, November 30th, 2012

 

Cuba by J A Dixon

Cuba
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of R K Hower

Yoga by J A Dixon

Yoga
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of M Higgins

Haus of Cards

Tuesday, November 27th, 2012

“There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.”
—Francis Bacon

Many of the collage artworks that I have found to be the most fun in creation began as salutes to a friend or member of my family. Quite a few took the form of cover images for greeting cards. What might originate as a meditation on personal traits or favored aspects of life would at times veer unexpectedly into wild territory. For every image imbued with sweetness and flowers, there has been another that threatens to topple the credibility of the entire enterprise — thus, the activity has long been known as my Haus of Cards.
 

Red Bob Ruptured by J A Dixon

Red Bob Ruptured
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of R K Hower

Thursday, November 22nd, 2012

“The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest.”
— William Blake

Would that gratitude alone might save us from ourselves! Be kind to your world and give thanks.
 

 

Is it or isn’t it?

Wednesday, November 14th, 2012

“Man himself is mute, and it is the image that speaks. For it is obvious that the image alone can keep pace with nature.”
—Boris Pasternak

Those who speak or write as though they understand everything about this medium do not know what they are talking about. But, to be honest, I have never met anyone who behaves that way, so perhaps my opening declaration is meaningless. Sometimes it is even difficult to classify what we do as artists in order to place the effort in some category. I just encountered an interesting chunk of round-table discourse by a new online discussion group struggling to define their area of focus. Most distinctions made between what artists call collage, montage, assemblage, construction, layerism, mixed-media, digital art, illustration, or graphic design are somewhat arbitrary, and we continue to see new terms coined by those who hope to distinguish what they perceive as a unique approach. At any rate, the intent of the artist is central. Clearly, definitions in art are rarely necessary except when attempting to trace a cross-pollination or lineage of influences, and when an organized effort or exhibition requires mutually acknowledged parameters. Additionally, there are always other important considerations to discuss, such as: What is an original? What is the relationship between process and artifact? What is the purpose of reproduction? Does a nomenclature based on exclusion have intellectual validity, or is it simply an adjunct to merchandising?
 

A likely story indeed! ~ J A Dixon

A likely story indeed!
collage miniature by J A Dixon
4 x 6 inches
 
Purchase this artwork!

More songs without words

Saturday, November 10th, 2012

 

Caution: Nails ~ J A Dixon

Caution: Nails
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of I C Adkins

61 Initiations ~ J A Dixon

61 Initiations
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of J M Menke

George Does It ~ J A Dixon

George Does It
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of D Slater

Shut up for a minute

Saturday, November 3rd, 2012

We know that this is a blog, and it’s supposed to be about words, but are there not times when I should just keep quiet and allow a few collage miniatures to speak for themselves?
 

Ginger’s Mischief ~ J A Dixon

Ginger’s Mischief
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of V Robertson

Dignified By Response ~ J A Dixon

Dignified By Response
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of R Jones

Two and Seven Eighths ~ J A Dixon

Two and Seven Eighths
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of E MacNabb

For Her Day ~ J A Dixon

For Her Day
collage miniature by J A Dixon
collection of S J Montgomery