Tag Archives: feathers

Scraps

Posted on by

When I work, I never throw away the scraps of painted or specialty paper. I have boxes of trimmings and the detritus of my efforts while making paper sculpture and collage.
IMG_0753I am the paper garbage collector and hoarder. I have large inventories of cut paper feathers, leaves, flowers, pots&pans, weavings and various shapes, some painted and some unpainted. I cut and paint way more than I need for projects and I select and assemble from these inventories.
IMG_0733

The Andrew Charles Gallery asked if I might have something that would fit the theme of their next show, which was, “False Faces.” In the past I had done two series of paper sculpture/collage images called, “Faces From the Past” and “Painted Faces,” both based on my friendship with Ben Black Elk, who had a fabulous, lined, and wrinkled face.
Ben Black Elk for Website

I said that I could get one done for the show, but I produced four finished faces and pieces and parts for several more. I clawed my way, picked&sorted, cut&snipped, pushed&pulled, fitted&fiddled, and foundmyway through boxes of visual trash, some 20 years old.IMG_0743

There were so many options that it took longer to assemble the faces than I thought it would. The fantastic, visual scraps covered every table in my studio and eventually were all over the floor. I was on a high and in a rush because Robert Reitz had to have a month to fit me into his framing schedule and build the shadow boxes.
IMG_0772

This was pure, unplanned, graphic fun. I finally produced four, dynamic, lick and stick, collage/paper sculptures, and I’m going to continue to produce a few more fantasy faces, that I’ll spring on you in the future.

There is a closing party at the Andrew Charles Gallery on Thurs., Nov., 6th from 5 to 8pm…

Thanks for visiting me.

leo f. monahan

P.S. The Weaverville Art Safari is this weekend. Come by and see some sketches I’ve been working on. They’re 9×12, unframed, $75.

photo

Also, the next level two Unexpected Image class is Sat. Nov. 8th from 11:30am to 5:00pm… This is a continuation of collage composition, focusing on making masks to go along with the “False Faces” theme at the Andrew Charles Gallery. Call 828.989.0111 to register. There are four spaces left.

My Indian Summer

Posted on by

Dear Reader,

Indian Summer is defined as a period of unusually warm, dry weather occurring in late autumn, or a period of happiness or success occurring late in life. With my 80th breathing down my neck, I have a one man show, collage classes scheduled with a long waiting list, a couple of lectures on stuff people think I know, I’m healthy, and have a lovely dog.

Feather Color Wheel

This is my Indian summer. I hope my luck lasts, because this is the only game in town, and I’m gonna play it close to the vest, right down to the last “Aces & Eights,” just like Wild Bill Hiccup!

I keep Rosinante, my winged pony, tied up just outside, and I hear her pawing the ground and pulling at the restraints. I never know when I’ll be flown away to my next quest, but I’m ready as ever, and willing to joust with windmills again.

Winged Pony

The soft breezes of my Indian summer, and the hazy red, mountain sunsets, bring back boyhood memories of hot October days, then a cold snap and a huge November snowfall. Indian summer is fugitive, it escapes, and nothing lasts forever.

I’ve been asked, how long will my paper sculptures last? I reply that they will be in landfills for a thousand years, maybe more, if the weather holds.

Feathers in wind

The red feather composition is monochromatic with subtle variations of red orange (the hottest color in the spectrum), with a small amount of green (its complement), to support it and complete the complementary color scheme. Touches of blue are for interest only and only enhance the scheme.

The twelve-tone feather color wheel is painted in full intensity, (the pure quality of color), and is one of many sculptures using eagle feathers as an icon. I am fascinated with the possibilities of feathers as icon, and they were the subjects of my first venture into fine, or personal, art and reflect the Sioux influence on my life.

Carousel Cat

At this time of my Indian summer, I am content as a cat on a carousel. The warm wind is blowing, the leaves are changing to warm colors in a cool forest, and I wake up each morning on the right side of grass…

Thanks for visiting me again…

leo

I’m never content with what I know.
Only with what I can find out.

The Feather Color Wheel is available for $1000.
Two other similar sculptures in the Feathers in the Wind series, are available for $2450 each, at the Grovewood Gallery.

Remember, the Weaverville Art Safari is this weekend!
Come see me and the other artists up on Horseshoe Ridge.

My exhibit is still in its first month at the Grovewood Gallery in Asheville, NC. Click here if you are interested in my collage classes. New classes are being added for January and February.

This is my lovely dog, Stray. Cookie klepto, rabbit runner, and my constant, no-holds-barred, buddy.

Stray