What's on my Easel

Jazz Singer / 16x20 / collage on cradled panel / in progress

Jazz Singer

The Jazz Singer is a piece I created previously and sold. Every now and then I have someone ask me to recreate a piece because they love it so much and they ask so nicely. I explain that there will never be any two collages alike, but I am willing to give it a whirl a second time.

This week I have been working on The Jazz Singer for a student who took my collage workshop in Longwood, FL at the Craft Shack.

Process

I start with a pencil sketch on wood panel, I sort out my composition and a little bit of shading in this stage. After I have a good drawing to go by, I start painting in my composition with acrylic paints. The painting is going to help guide me in gluing my papers on top.

©St. Hilaire Nelson 2014

©St. Hilaire Nelson 2014

A good solid foundation of shading is important in the under-painting stage. Here I have established my lights, darks, highlights, shadows, and expanded on my sketch. When I begin to apply the paper I will push the colors and textures even further.

Hand-painted papers hang on the line in my studio

I paint all my own collage papers by hand, I use a variety of different techniques and paper resources to create my own palette. I often use found or discarded papers in addition to exquisite purchased papers. Nothing is off limits when it comes to collage!

©Douglas Nelson Photography

Workshops

I travel the country teaching workshops and may be near you in 2014. I have a full list of workshops along the right hand side of this blog with links out to the host venue. My next class will be held in my home state of Florida at the Mount Dora Center for the Arts

click: Mount Dora Center For The Arts Workshop Info

February 28 - March 2nd

Typical 3-day class schedule / click to enlarge

Historic Downtown Mount Dora

See you in Mount Dora or your neck of the woods!

Thank You
for being a part of my
Art Journey,
Elizabeth