Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast
“Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast” – Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass, Chapter 5
That line came to me this morning as I was working happily in the studio way before daylight. The Queen in Through the Looking Glass was referring to how many things she could believe before breakfast, whereas I was reflecting on how many impossible things I get done almost every day before breakfast. Well, a lot of them would seem impossible anyway, to a normal person. But we artists aren’t normal after all, are we? I hope not.
I love the mornings when I’m up before dawn in the quiet of the studio. With my favorite painting music in the background, surrounded with paints, brushes, canvases, and beautiful papers, I’m in control of my life, even if only for a little while.
Creating collages using my gelli plate and a single DecoArt stencil is still very much a fascination an obsession. Staying focused on this one project has enabled me to add several more exciting collages to this series. Instead of showing just a couple, I’m going to post all of the ones from this morning. First, four more that are decidedly part of the series:
Loops Series, Wandering – Collage, 6×8″ on 8×10″ backing
Loops Series, Drift – Collage, 6×6″ on 8×10″ backing
Loops Series, Tendrils – Collage, 6×6″ on 8×10″ backing
Loops Series, Closed Rooms – Collage, 6×6″ on 8×10″ backing
And finally, a fun grid that I created the other day, made up of squares cut out of the same large sheet, using a 1-7/8″ paper punch. I’ve added bits of patterned prints to break up the design. This one was very time-consuming, but I was pleased with the result.
An Artist's Journal 
Lovely collages from your creative ‘roll’. I think they’re all wonderful but my favorite is the 2nd one down; love the calligraphic lines in the center piece offset by the colors and shapes of what I see as a shimmery/swirly background.
Very nice! Inspirational! Thank you!
Great, Cindy – glad you’re inspired! Thanks!
I love the bluish grid. It’s like a quilt.
Glad you like it, Sue. I love quilts!
You have done it again Martha. I have very seldom done any collage other than when I am trying to repair a “sad” piece I am working on and now you have me at it. I had a couple of hours today and low and behold the Martha mania has caught hold in my house. These are quite wonderful……now I want a gelli plate. Do you collage with regular medium on paper like bristol pad paper? You are a inspiration….again!
Karin Lynn I’m smiling reading your comment! I hope you enjoy the mania. 😉 I do use regular medium with a brush, and any paper will work. Lots of times when I don’t want to make a big mess, I just use a squeeze bottle of Elmer’s glue to stick the pieces down. The best thing about the glue is that it’s easier than acrylic medium to get off your fingers after it dries. Have fun!
Hi Martha
I’ve only just discovered your blog and I’ve enjoyed your printing with the flower stencil. I particularly like the grid (I like it all, but that one really caught my eye). I think I like limited colour palates, but I find the large pattern cut up small really effective. It is very difficult to see that is still all the same stencil, but the interrupted lines are intriguing. The squares are a nice contrast to the curve lines. I look forward to the next blog.
Hilary, thanks for stopping in and commenting! I will be over to your blog to see what’s going on. I dearly love quilts, as my mother always made beautiful ones.
Love your prints, AND your writing style! What’s your favorite art music?? 🙂 Maybe that will help me! 😉
Thanks, Beth! My music taste is eclectic, and it depends on my mood. But my all-time favorite painting music is Tom Waits! No so-called smooth jazz, ever. If I’m going to listen to jazz it has to be classics like Dave Brubeck or Miles Davis. I also like David Byrne and Moby. I know, kind of old school.