what are you trying to say?

I have been busy but not much embroidery in the last month. Happy to say there has been a bit in the back of the brain which has been thinking about what I have been doing and where I have been going.

Have been doing quite a bit of drawing and also started a journal ling/book making type class with Gillian Hand at the Ashfield Artist in residence program. We had a play with collage last week. Not easy for me at the best of times. I have been seduced by and purchased a number of books on artists books, journal and mixed media collage and have rarely been happy with what I have produced.

As I was saying, last week we played with collage. I tore pictures out of various magazines that attracted me and laid them down ... I was not prepared so it was material from old mags that were available to me at the time. Whilst we were playing with these pictures Gillian talked about the elements of design. Something which I have read about but hadn't really clicked. I wasn't happy with what I had done and Gllian asked the sixty-four dollar question - What are you trying to say?

Here is what I came up with on the night:

I had a play at home a bit later in the week. I had palyed with an ink wash ages ago and the page was waiting for something - the result is the eagle at the beginning at this post.