Whisper

She is Art

Abstract Collage

© Kerry Schofield

The Big Bang and other such things

Mind Explosion

Collage

© Kerry Schofield 

If you're like me, you may feel some days as though your head is going to bust open from too many thoughts, ideas, images and the like. Or, maybe you can't get a favorite tune out of your head; it just keeps playing over and over again in your mind. I had a lot of fun making this "journal" collage. I think I captured the idea behind a "racing mind."

Flower of the Swamp

Flower of the Swamp

Collage

Copyright Kerry Schofield

"Flower of the Swamp" is my version of "Lily of the Valley." Living in Florida now for many, many years, I can say that I know a little something about swamps. Although there are alligators and snakes swimming in swamps, there are also pretty and unusual flowers and plants that grow around them. Beautiful and graceful egrets, herons and wood storks wade in swamps as well as hundreds of dragonflies that hover over them. And, hawks, vultures and birds of prey such as owls frequent the swamps for a "meal."

Illustration Friday: Shades

Dancing Dog

Mixed Media

© Kerry Schofield 

Tulu the dancing doggy is rehashed from an earlier collage. She gets a new pair of "shades" this time around.

 

Illustration Friday: Yield

The Extra-Terrestrials

Marker/Digital

I must admit that my aliens turned out a little creepy looking to say the least, a bit like Edvard Munch's "The Scream." The aliens are from a pencil sketch colored in with markers. But, Photoshop filters added a more sinister look to the ETs!

Illustration Friday: Swell

Collage Assemblage

SuperGator

© Kerry Schofield

There are many tales and accounts of fire-breathing dragons all over the world. But in Florida where I live, there's an urban legend of a fire-breathing alligator. This Super Gator is reportedly 50 feet long! Can you believe it? Obviously, such a creature would be a man-eater (or woman-eater for that matter). If anyone has seen one, please let me know. I'd be very interested your hearing the story.


The most time-consuming and intricate part of making this collage was cutting out all those teeth! Each one is cut from a vintage paper lamp shade that had faded over the years.


VWS: 231

Illustration Friday: Imperfect

Mixed Media, Collage Assemblage

Feline Mania

© Kerry Schofield

The spotted black and white stray cat scurried up the stairs to the second story flat. It stood on tall, lanky legs that supported a boney frame. Its face was scruffy and one eye blinked smaller than the other. By the outside door, two large potted plants hid water and food. It bowed down by the pretty yellow bowl with painted fish and crunched away hungrily at the dry meal.


In a perfect world, all the stray neighborhood cats would have homes to live in when it's cold and raining and plenty of food to eat and water to drink.


This is an original pencil drawing, which is "colored" with collaged tissue and hand-painted papers. The cats are cut from original pencil sketches and collaged with various papers.

Illustration Friday: Perennial

Collage Assemblage

Tropical Lily

© Kerry Schofield

I decided to create a literal interpretation for this week's Illustration Friday theme. This collage is from one of my original botanical sketches. All those petals, leaves and stems are individually cut from snippets of hand painted paper. 


But of course we have perennials in Florida; likewise, this one is subtropical with its bright pinks and reds. We also have a lot of bugs, snakes, lizards, alligators, tropical birds, armadillos and much more wildlife that makes this state special in its own regard.

Illustration Friday: Swept

Collage Vintage Remix

Red Hat

© Kerry Schofield

Matilda resolved to keep her red hat hunkered down against the swirling wind and ensuing storm. She would not be deterred, however, as she marched out the front door to meet nature's fury. Her hair braided and suit buttoned up, she swept up her little black purse to meet the day head on, inclement weather or not.

Illustration Friday: Bottle

"Birdie on a Bottle"

Collage Remix from 1940s - 1960s vintage magazines and books, digital

© Kerry Schofield

This little birdie is a canary, which I have always wanted to have as a pet. But with cats, that's out of the question. When I was around 11 or 12 years of age, an English neighbor across the street had a beautiful canary and a large aviary filled with many finches. 


We used to visit her and chat for a while over some tea. She loved her birds and took great care with them! That little canary used to sing up a storm. This little guy reminds me of just that same one along with my favorite soda, ginger ale.

Illustration Friday: Duet

"Giraffe Love"

Collage Remix from 1940s - 1960s vintage magazines and mixed media

© Kerry Schofield

Duet: the music of love!

Illustration Friday: Stir

"Art Boulevard"
Collage Remix from 1940s - 1960s vintage magazines and mixed media

© Kerry Schofield

Louise is stirring up the pavement with her bicycle wheels!


This is a sneak preview of the banner for my new art website. I'm taking a Web publishing class at the University of South Florida. This is part of the background art. I still need to build the digital logo and create a prototype design in Photoshop for the web layout. 

Illustration Friday: Swarm

"Danse Maman Bébé"

(Dancing Baby Mama)

Collage Remix from 1940s - 1960s vintage magazines

28.1 x 39.2 cm

© Kerry Schofield

Swarm: An aggregation of persons or animals, especially when in turmoil or moving in mass.

          The American Heritage Dictionary, Fourth Edition

Dancing stick babies, a dead rabbit and a tomato-head babe; all make for a "swarm" of babies.

Illustration Friday: Sweater

"Sweater"

Collage Remix from 1940s - 1960s vintage magazines

22.9 x 30.4 cm

© Kerry Schofield

When I think of a sweater, I think of lamb's wool. This collage is an interpretation of the sweater in a not-so-direct way. I added the hearts for Valentine's Day. 

Illustration Friday: Surrender

Surrender to Your Funny Side

Feather and food collage

17.7 x 25.5

© Kerry Schofield

I was inspired by John Waters for this week's post for Illustration Friday. I went to see John Waters' live performance at the University of South Florida this past week. Well, it was quite funny to say the least. John Waters is the American filmmaker of Hairspray and Pink Flamingos among others. He is also a journalist, photographer and visual artist. 

The theater was packed as hundreds showed up for the show. Waters did not disappoint. He pokes fun at himself and those like him and was really very funny. 

This collage uses images from 1940s and 1960s vintage magazines. 

Illustration Friday: Dust

The Dust of Stars, 2011

Watercolor and gouache

14 x 10.7 cm

© Kerry Schofield

If cats had wings, I think they would fly to heaven and sit on the moon.

Sometimes I think my cats think they can actually fly. Maybe that's why they like birds so much. Have you ever seen a cat jump and fly on trees only to get stuck. They seem to love high places for some reason. When they get in a wild mood, they run and leap with no thought of the ground. Then they get in all sorts of trouble getting stuck atop something, whether it be a shelf or on top of a roof!

If I must deal with dust, let it be star dust where I can dream of growing wings and sitting on the moon!