Riddle Me Mail - the December edition
The original art. Before I discovered collage, I enjoyed pencil drawing. Like collage, it builds slowly and allows for correction and revision. What I love most about this drawing is the visible breath of each animal. That happened by accident. I was making an adjustment to the nose on the Peary caribou and erased more than necessary. When I sat back, I saw what I had created: a patch in the night sky. But it was more than that. It was the breath of the caribou. I was struck by the serendipity of it, how remarkable it was. It made all the difference. Even now, looking at the black and white version, it surprises me.
How did the drawing become blue? I scanned the drawing and added the color in the design program, InDesign. I like both versions, but thought the blue night sky worked better for Riddle Me Mail.
How did the drawing become blue? I scanned the drawing and added the color in the design program, InDesign. I like both versions, but thought the blue night sky worked better for Riddle Me Mail.

Dream Space The words on the art panel are from a cut-up poetry exercise. A fairly simple exercise with surprising results. How is it done? Take a page of text. Print (enlarge the text if possible for easier cutting) and cut apart the paragraphs, sentences, and words. It's sort of like refrigerator poetry. Have you seen that? It's lots and lots of individual word magnets made to stick on a refrigerator. The words can be arranged into thoughts, sentences, and poetry. It might take a while to find your way. But look over the words for a while, let them marinate in your mind. Step away. Return and select an anchor word, something that provides a theme and build on it. That's how I created The Fabled Night. I'm not sure I would have written such a lovely line without the exercise. Riddle Me Mail has been a "dream space." One I am reluctant to leave. Thank you for all of your kind words, your support, and most of all for coming along. It's been great fun. —Chrissy |