“Undertow Joan A.K.A. Lucille LeSurf”

A mixed-media analog collage over and incorporating a vintage seascape and sunset doctored with acrylic paint, magazine pages (Ms. Crawford from a featured spread in a 90-odd year-old LIFE, while the airborne playing cards were from a recent issue of People) on 9 in. x 12 in. mounted canvas with marbled grey tone washi tape siding and Mod Podge sealant.  Title explanation:  Lucille LeSueur was the subject model Joan Crawford’s birth name.

On reverse of the canvas, a Will Shakespeare passage from the ad that provided the waves...

“Lord, Lord! methought, what pain it was to drown: 

What dreadful noise of #waters in mine ears!
What ugly sights of death within mine eyes!
Methought I saw a thousand fearful wracks…” 

Clarence (describing “ghastly dreams”) in Act I, Scene 4

Shakespeare’s THE LIFE AND DEATH OF RICHARD III

"Charlize Heron"

-- As completed on the dawn of my 42nd year --

A mixed media analog collage over and incorporating an antique landscape (doctored with acrylic paint, glossy spray paint, and enamel latex furniture paint), photographs (including of a pink/purple hombre bird’s wing, fabric details from an exhibit on the work of designer Charles James, flowering plants in a gardening catalog, etc., dark mauve leather gloves in an ad from a 90-year-old LIFE Magazine), and black marker ink on 10 in. x 20 in. mounted black canvas with sparkle washi tape sides and Mod Podge sealant

“Beachfront Property For Rent (Cosmetic Damage)"

--An Adaptation of John Divola's Zuma Beach Series--

collage materials:  Mod Podge, acrylic paint, pasted magazine cuttings on 16 in. x 12 in. art catalog spread over mounted canvas + washi tape side trim

With Banksy so active in London this past week —and the 2028 “Hollywood Olympics” also being spotlighted in the media— I’ve got my mind on not only vandalism art and surreal imagery but the City of Angels in particular.  With that being said, not many portfolios in contemporary photography are more authentically, eerily Californian than John Divola’s half-century of work.  While it certainly didn’t need improvement, here I’ve altered one of his beach interiors (“Zuma #3”) with a smattering of additional elements via analog collage.  I must admit, with affordable housing running as dry as the LA River, a torn-apart shack in coastal Malibu isn’t looking so bad!

"August: Orange County"

How's "dis" color for ya?
American Pussy Willow (Salix discolor)

A mixed-media painted collage over and incorporating glossy photographs, magazine content, acrylic tube paint (some matte but also iridescent bronzed gold on the darker fruit), and marker ink on 20 in. x 10 in. mounted canvas with sparkle washi tape sides.

Submitting on a late-summer day this pussy willow panorama — a plant within the Salix genus given ample room to stretch its “paws”.  While admittedly a reach as far as qualifying material, it was my project for yesterday’s International Cat Day, what with the catkin patch at center.  Otherwise just the usual analog collage randomness:  dueling varieties of orange bows and intermixing fuschia flowers set against blinding azure sky.  - LS