Welcome to the fourth edition of The Pulse -- The State of the Art -- a survey in words and pictures of the online artist community. Nearly 150 artists have answered a list of questions which make up The Pulse. Their responses will be presented as a series of online and print projects. Links to the first four projects (Secret Sunday, The Book Guild, StudioScapes, Viewer's Choice) can be found on the sidebar of my blog.
Collectors Edition is the fifth installment in which your favorite artists share their favorite collection or obsession.
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Over the decades I have collected many different things, from butterflies as a teenager, to books, maps and African masks. The last decade I have focused on old photographs from the 1920’s through the early sixties.
I would be particularly delighted when finding a series of snapshots, which allowed me to imagine what their lives might have been like on the day the picture was taken. As I started playing detective, deciphering not only the people pictured but also the elements within I began to notice the rich recourse material I was harvest, would make a great foundation for short stories.
Even a single photo can be rich with information to stir the mind. Sometimes I get real lucky and find a name or a date on the back. However very recently I found my first photograph, in which there was an entire inscription on the back, still to be translated. Now I just need to make time and turn my findings into a mixture of imagination and truths into an assemblage of sentences by putting pen to paper.
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I collect various and sundry old tins. Pictured, here, are a sampling. I tend to collect tins that have colors and/or designs I enjoy, but also like those that have rusted or those where the metal has developed a nice patina over the years, whether it has been produced by man (from use), or nature!
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I love grunge, steampunk and zetti art. This is a digital picture I created that combines all three.
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I'm obsessed with winged things, texture, and spirals.
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If I could round up all my antique tools I would have shot those. I love the sense of history and thinking about what was made with them and who worked with them. But I also love these Victorian condiment sets. Two isn't much of a collection but I will add more as I find them. I like the ones that aren't perfect and/or complete because I think I will find or make lids for them and perhaps find some lone bottle looking for a set. And there is a huge price difference between the pristine perfect ones and the incomplete or slightly damaged sets. Both of these were under $50 and the better sets are around $300.
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All treasure of the sea, weathered wood, and roots of old trees.
An on-going obsession is collecting found objects that appear to have little use to other people. Scouring the streets and sidewalks for interesting pieces of flotsam is a great way to take a walk and get inspired! I guess I lover other people's trash! My favorite find is someone else's list of things to do, or shopping items, or just thoughts. I think it would be great to create a book from found lists. I also collect small chairs.
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Water solubles go onto my every surface these days.
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Strings of white lights and paper lanterns. I have them in my studio and in my office. I'm completely obsessed. They provide so much inspiration and they make me giddy! Love them!
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My current obsession is old books. As a trained librarian I have been collecting books for years, especially books about art and graphic design. Now I look for items out of copyright with steel engravings that can be used in collage. 19th century science, anthropology, and natural history are favorite topics, and also old encyclopedias and dictionaries.
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Next Collectors Edition Post - 2/27/11
