Stained Paper Collage with a New Technique to share

This is a step by step presentation a collage. Years ago I had hooked the same piece in fiber.  The piece measures" only 12"x12"   but it took many hours to create.

Below is the step by step and at the end I will explain the raised paper technique.

The raised paper is painted silk tissue which is tough. It does not work well with artist grade tissue.  It is sewn through the paper which is 300lb Arches watercolor. I used a tapestry needle.   The piece will be framed using spacer bars so that the raised area will be seen.   I hope you enjoy this!!    I will be teaching a class on Watercolor Collage at Maryland Hall for the Arts in Annapolis Maryland beginning in March.

Celtic Majic

This was inspired by my grandmother's birth place in Tourmakeady. Ireland. It is a high horizon with a focal point to the right of the main house.   The design is purposely diagonal in its structure. Tourmakeady is in County Mayo. The cottage sits at the edge of the beautiful Lake Mask.

This is watercolor and collage. The church was on a high ridge on Achill Island in Ireland. I love the island. It was hit hard by the Irish famine. Many of the deserted and ruined cottages are still there. Only sheep are present in many areas.  If you look carefully you can see the trenches in the land where the potatoes were planted.

 My family was hit hard by the famine. My great grandfather Paddy came to America and worked for awhile. Eventually he returned to Ireland. In 1912 my grandmother bought a ticket on the Titanic but traded it in for one on the Ivernia that sailed a month earlier. An Irish gypsy told her she didn't feel good about the Titanic.  Needless to say we are all happy that she made the decision to take the other boat!!!