collage { you are what you love }

continuous bloom

Posted by Aprile on 2010.03.15:

Hello! Hello spring! It's raining like crazy here but at least it's not snowing... I haven't made any new collages in a long time, I keep convincing myself that it's procrastinating and I should be doing something else. Yet, I am still never doing the thing that I am supposed to be doing. Surprise surprise. So I decided to just let myself do what I wanted to do.

I have been experimenting with some new stuff lately, everyone loved the paper folds I used for the "gray" series, and I kind of like them too so I am working them into this next collection. I think the white space helps with the otherwise very green backgrounds. I am working on green dividers, found in the Better Homes and Gardens book from the 50s—I bought two of the same book at Goodwill, just for the dividers.

I am still working on my thesis, and also going stir crazy with dreams of gardening. We're embarking on a huge gardening project this summer, even though we don't have a yard! It will be a hydroponic window farm, for herbs and lettuces. So excited.

How about some honest feedback now, guys? The first four pieces are on etsy, too.

comments (6) & tags ( art , collage , gardening , spring )

when skies are gray

Posted by Aprile on 2009.11.24:

I love when collage is my homework, and I get to try new things all the time. These three collages are for my "art explores psychology" class, which is interesting in itself, (though a bit depressing). The theme was any psychological issue, so these collages have a tinge of sadness to them. It's pretty much about vulnerability to mental illness, and it's something that has surely affected my childhood. Other than the gloominess, I think they're pretty cool!

The photographs are by Bill Durgin, from corduroy magazine (issue five).

comments (5) & tags ( collage , gray )

how it went...

Posted by Aprile on 2009.10.21:

Hello! I have been absent a little while only because of the real life crazyness that occurred last week! I had my very first show and (I think) it went pretty well... If you're in the area please stop by, it will be up until November 12th. I didn't take any pictures, so I borrowed a couple from Juli (who posted about the show here). My sister took some so I will surely have some more to show you later (or you can go see it for yourself!)

I had fears that all thirty-seven pieces wouldn't fit in the modest 300 square foot-ish gallery... but it didn't end up looking too cluttered!

I did some serious window painting all day before the show, it looked so neat with the light shining through!

I also just want to thank everyone for coming, I had a great time (despite my lack of sleep) and I really appreciated everyone being there! I've learned that a gallery opening is like a sort of self-absorbed little party that makes you feel quite loved, haha... I already have ideas for the next one!

(Photos in this post by Juli Daoust)

comments (6) & tags ( art galleries , collage , events )

the royal family — oct 16th to nov 12th

Posted by Aprile on 2009.10.14:

Oh! I guess I should mention my show again before it is the day of, shouldn't I? I'm a bit scatterbrained from all this hard work I suppose (Plus, I haven't been feeling too well this week).

This is the poster for my first ever solo exhibit (aren't you proud?), and I am extending an invitation to anyone in Toronto that would like to come. The opening reception is this Friday evening at 8pm, and wine and cheese will be served. Here is the formal event writeup:

Entitled “The Royal Family”, this mixed media collage series was inspired by a pair of scrapbooks found at the St. Lawrence antique market filled with newspaper clippings of Queen Elizabeth and her family during the 1950's and 60's. Aprile's collages recreate the scrapbooks, changing the composition and adding materials to give each page a deeper meaning. All of these pieces are created on the actual scrapbook pages themselves, resulting in brittle and delicate collages which further the character and feelings of nostalgia in each piece.

Aprile had tried many different artistic mediums but her restlessness always led to back to collage work where she feels most comfortable. She loves assembling, disassembling, and rearranging the compositions as well as creating contradictions and versatile interpretations for viewers.

Originally from the Niagara area, Aprile moved to Toronto to pursue a career in graphic design. In the future, she hopes to obtain work in print media and has a special interest for visual displays. Though she loves computers, she's a bit stuck in the past, with a penchant for rebelling and doing things the "old-fashioned way” and tries to mix as much collage into her design work as possible.

A fine collection of English cheeses and drinks will be served starting at 8PM opening night. Come out and enjoy the artwork, atmosphere and a little taste of monarchy!

So please visit me Friday or see my work anytime until Nov 12th!

...industtrees gallery
1234 college st.
toronto, ontario
m6h 1c2

416-273-8075
info@industtrees.com

Hours:
Mon – Sat
1pm - 7pm
Closed Sunday

Facebook Event

comments (1) & tags ( art , collage , events )

royal related things

Posted by Aprile on 2009.09.14:

I can't believe it's September 14th already! Where does the time go? I'm back at school and am already overwhelmed with all the work I have to do (at school and at work). Oh and at home, too. The good news is that I'm trying—key word "trying"—to schedule everything well, so that I can get everything done. I have even had time for artwork so far, but I'm sure that will change.

I have some great news, too! I just found out I'll be having a solo show at the gallery some friends of mine run (also where I sell my work) called ...industtrees at 1234 College St. I'm going to say (tentatively) that the show will open October 16th. I've got to get to work!

The theme is The Royal Family, which I've told you a bit about already. I have been working hard and scouring antique markets for "Royal" related things. Also horse and world war II related things, not completely the same theme but I have some ideas for display and I think medals and horses are pretty "royal," don't you? I've already arranged a trade for this horseshoe (nobody buy it!) My Etsy shop is emptying out a little, but I will have all the work from the show listed when it's over, unless I sell most of it, which would be nice!

So if you're in Toronto, I hope you'll come! I will post many more details and pictures of my progress later...

comments (7) & tags ( antiques , collage , history , royalty )

the royal family

Posted by Aprile on 2009.07.22:

Oooh, I have been so so busy. I thought this summer would be a bit more relaxing, but nope. We did have some time on Sunday to go to the St. Lawrence Antique Market for this first time EVER, and I will be going back every Sunday if I can. It was that good. I brought home a few nice things to make art with: some antique keys and a thimble (a little bag for $1), an amazing antique jigsaw puzzle with wooden pieces—we tried putting it together and let me tell you, it is a real puzzle, an old steel Boston pencil sharpener (the one you mount to something), and two matching Elementary school scrapbooks of the Royal family. I almost shelled out some money for a typewriter. That will be next time…

These books are so wonderful, I love everything about them! I have already started to use them in my artwork, carefully dissecting each 1950s newspaper clipping—I know, I know, how terrible am I? But I promise you I will make something amazing out of them.

The best feature of these books is all the little tape marks. You know I am know stranger to tape (who doesn't love tape, really), and every single photo in this book is held with Scotch tape, not glue! This makes it a dream to dissect of course, because the whole thing is quite brittle.

And the backs of the cutouts have little surprises too...

And finally, here is a little preview of some things I have been making. They are sort of in the vein of my Mr. Moustache books, not so perfectly pretty, they have a bit of vintage edge. I love them just the same, and they will look awesome on a white background in a pine frame!

I'm pretty sure I will now be frequenting Antique Markets a little more often now.

comments (5) & tags ( antiques , collage , scrapbooks )

echoing and re-echoing.

Posted by Aprile on 2009.06.26:

I don't know, is this nice? I am trying to focus on doing some larger collages, since I have always worked on 8.5" x 11" sheets and smaller. I was thinking of using unconventional "canvases" as well, this one is an olive green legal file I found in an old filing cabinet. I have made some works on wood that are pretty enormous, so let's call this one on the medium side. Should I do more work like this?

Oh! And I used the book "Echoing and Re-Echoing." that I picked up at the bookstore the other day, my favourite part is the repetition of that title (lower left hand corner).

comments (4) & tags ( art , collage )

with every good wish

Posted by Aprile on 2009.06.09:

I just wanted to share a little something I made for a bridal shower. We were looking for paper to design the invitations, and finally we decided to go with post cards (which I had been printing a ton of all week). I think they work well as really affordable invitations and they're also truly unique! It was fun for me because the bride-to-be has similar taste to mine, woodsy and simple (though she hasn't seen them yet).

I was thinking I would like to do more things like this, so if anyone is stuck for invitations, let me know! I think comissioned invitations are a cute idea.

comments (6) & tags ( art , collage )

hello mom

Posted by Aprile on 2009.05.10:

Hello mom,

I made this collage for you. It's funny what comes out of you instinctively with collaging, I wasn't really thinking much when I made this when I was finished it made so much sense. It depicts a difficult time (of many!) in our lives, one that I thought you handled with courage and strength. You had the courage to get better and be the wonderful mom you are. Thank you for never leaving me, and you know even though I live a little farther away, I will never leave you.

I truly love you.
Happy mother's day, mom.

comments (0) & tags ( collage , my mom )

new items in my shop!

Posted by Aprile on 2009.05.09:

Some new collages for my Oh Sweet Woods series are in the shop today! I haven't listed all of them yet, but they'll be up soon. I'm still printing the books, and I'm working on five special editions (!) that will be for sale first. But if you can't wait for the whole collection, you can get single originals right now! I've posted some of my favourites right now, I will almost be sad to see them go...

There are pieces in these collages from the lovely 1940s illustrated Winston dictionary I picked up back home for $1, I am really really loving it. I love the colour of the pages and the size of the illustrations (tiny!). Nice to know that my selfish book collecting can amount to something, haha.

PS. I think I might have a little giveaway soon, I've never had one before. I'm not going to say "one of the special edition boxed books" because that would be saying too much... Hush hush!

comments (4) & tags ( art , collage , etsy )

oh sweet woods

Posted by Aprile on 2009.04.18:

1. no more than that., 2. with every good wish, 3. hello, 4. on our road to it, 5. heart;, 6. contents, 7. anything about him, 8. her heart had been aching, 9. she will never belong, 10. we might as well, 11. it certainly came true, 12. index

I am definitely going to more of these... I kind of love them. I did these collages for a school project that I mentioned before, it's about getting back to nature really. Though it might not be obvious to all. I wish I had pictures of the final, but I did it in such a hurry and handed it in on Friday! I turned these collages (and some more, my Let's Build a Nest series) into a saddle-stiched book with a cardboard cover (no surprise there) with cutout trees from this stencil. I tied it with twine and a shipping tag with the title of the book.

I put it in a plain wooden box with a vellum envelope labeled "findings" with things I collected from nature securely tucked inside (some twigs, dried and pressed flowers, some dirt by accident).

I'm trying to create a picture for you I guess, since I didn't get to take any! You will see them when I get it back, hopefully not in September. I wish I wish I WISH I had pictures! Or maybe I will make some more, the whole deal, box and twigs and all and sell them? Like a special edition... I don't know if anyone would buy this. But I will be selling just the books. I have SO MUCH to say, because I haven't been here in so long. I will save it for some more posts.

comments (4) & tags ( art , books , collage , nature , twigs )

the art of vincent pacheco

Posted by Aprile on 2009.03.28:

More homework—can you tell that is all I'm doing right now? This is the second spread of the feature article of my magazine, the first I posted about here. This one isn't as simple and pretty as the first one, but then I had to get all of my content in there. I hope Vincent doesn't mind what I am doing to his beautiful collages, which is making a collage out of his collages. A collage collage if you will.

Wow, I'm so tired. Sorry if this post and the last have come out gibberish!

comments (1) & tags ( collage , editorial design , magazines )

eric the viking

Posted by Aprile on 2009.03.24:

I have been so busy working on school work today, trying so hard to get things done instead of catching up on my rss feeds. I have 6 projects to do and 4 weeks to do them in. Ahhhh! School is just too much sometimes.

The above image is a layout I'm going for my editorial class, we are designing our own magazines and mine is about (you guessed it) collage. The feature spread is about Vincent Pacheco, collage genius, and his collage is in the layout above (see original here). I added the text, drawings, and adapted it into a layout. I love getting to incorporate handmade elements into design work where I can.

comments (0) & tags ( collage , editorial design )

caterpillars to come

Posted by Aprile on 2009.03.20:

Finally posted about this Eric Carle book over here. Google sent me a sign that it was time.

I didn't get a lot of work done today (surprise, surprise) but at least caught up on some blogging! Wish me luck that tomorrow is more productive.

comments (2) & tags ( books , collage , eric carle )

the good, the bad, and

Posted by Aprile on 2009.03.20:

I'm starting on some new projects—one of which is something I've been thinking of for a while, and I'm going to pull it off as a school project. The problem with design school is that while trying to develop my style, sometimes there are so many restrictions that I feel I have to do the obvious. That makes me bored with school. But in some classes I get to do what I feel like, and that's what I want out of school—I'm probably not alone.

This project was for a class, we had to interpret music, one song we loved and one we hated. What I chose to do was to make timelapse videos of myself making two collages. I listened to the songs while I picked out the images I would use, and then again while I was collaging. I ended up listening to the songs so many times that the song I disliked even grew on me.

The first (below) is "the good", which is Pretty Bird by Jenny Lewis. This is the music I usually listen to when I create.

And the next is "the bad," the song Okinawa Rasta Beef by Boredoms (thanks Jory for picking it out for me!). You'll see it's amusingly different than the first.

I love making these videos, I like watching myself work I guess! So I think the end results are interesting, the two pieces aren't necessarily good or bad, nor is the music. It's a matter of my personal taste.

PS. It's soooo cold here... It was nice and sunny today, so I dressed for the first day of Spring, but I was so wrong! Canada is annoying sometimes.

comments (4) & tags ( collage , jenny lewis , making art , music , videos )

let's build a nest

Posted by Aprile on 2009.02.22:

Some new nature-inspired artwork... I had a lot of little vintage book scraps around that I couldn't let myself throw out, and I was trying to think of ways to use them. That's when I thought "Birds make junk into nests, don't they?" And this is what came out of it.

The cute little chairs are from my 1901 Eaton's catalogue (a print of it). I have gotten so much use out of that catalogue.

I also posted about these at the new Poppytalk Handmade Artists blog, first post, which I am now part of. Poppytalk is doing great things to drive the online arts & crafts community!

Buy the original collages at Poppytalk or Etsy.

comments (0) & tags ( bird nests , collage , etsy , poppytalk , vintage catalogues )

language of flowers

Posted by Aprile on 2009.02.09:

It would probably be good if I did some of my homework, but I would rather just make things like this all day long. These were inspired by a book I picked up called "gardening" from 1926, which I think somebody bound themselves. There were eight flower images from colour plates, which I wasn't going to use at first. I changed my mind pretty quickly, and made eight collages. I wish there were more!

This is the problem with using vintage images, there is no endless supply, and I can't just go to a store to restock. But that helps keep each piece completely original, I guess.

comments (2) & tags ( collage , flowers , the language of flowers , vintage books )

everything

Posted by Aprile on 2009.01.31:

I just made this today (VERY last minute) for a little project, Free Encouragement by Design for Mankind. Like it? I hope it gets chosen!

I've been really into the magazine confetti lately. It takes forever to make, though.

comments (0) & tags ( art , collage , design for mankind )

velvet 25

Posted by Aprile on 2009.01.31:

I made these collages for a school project, where we had to... sort of re-interpret a magazine. It was kind of open, I think, so this is what I did. I'm so predictable, it's a collage. But it's a lot different than the work that I usually do.

I like it, it's dramatic! It's supposed to bring the element of the Dada style to the magazine—which already had subtle hints of it to begin with. I chose the Italian magazine Velvet, issue 25.

comments (0) & tags ( collage , dada )

technology vs tradition

Posted by Aprile on 2009.01.21:

I did this for a class, it is very loosely based on this article found via Quill & Quire, about how new technology is making authors look a little less sharp, and making it easier for us to see their flaws.

After spending hours toiling away on a computer illustration, I threw it all away and made this in 15 minutes. This is how you get your homework done the FASTEST! (Omit first step).

So the title is "technology vs. tradition" (as in Amazon Kindle vs. the real live thing), and the fact that I scrapped my first idea and reverted to the basics just makes this make even more sense.

It's late, and I'm rambling.

comments (0) & tags ( books , collage , illustration )

Entries tagged with 'collage'

Entries tagged with 'collage'

continuous bloom

when skies are gray

how it went...

the royal family — oct 16th to nov 12th

royal related things

the royal family

echoing and re-echoing.

with every good wish

hello mom

new items in my shop!

oh sweet woods

the art of vincent pacheco

eric the viking

caterpillars to come

the good, the bad, and

let's build a nest

language of flowers

everything

velvet 25

technology vs tradition