Dear Liza,
Falling deeper into the deep hole that is collage, I have started snipping at all sorts of things. Months ago, Bridgett and I picked up a bunch of postcards at the Portland Art Museum for almost nothing. Some of these became my latest victims.
There were lots of prints of Vincent van Gough’s works, and some of them seemed like they could go together. I carefully cut the elements of the cards apart and moved them around.
I liked this combination, showing Vincent’s lovely irises springing happily from head, while his face maintains a very serious expression. Having got the idea in my own head, the tiny fiddly bits became a problem. Fractions of millimeters became very important.
I also remembered to scratch the shiny surface of the picture with a pin where they overlapped so the glue would stick better.
And there you have it! My interpretation of Van Gough’s creative process.
That little gap between his head and his coat is on purpose, by the way. I liked how it mad him look a bit more wonky.
And finally, I got it the way I liked it, trimmed it up, and will mail it off to my friend Richard tomorrow.
Love,
Grandma Judy
Dear Liza 