CollageSeries #8: ...and we danced

Elizabeth Castaldo
"and we danced" 2011

I made this one during the blackout yesterday afternoon in the slowly fading light. luckily our power came back on by 8:30. Made on a random page in my sketchbook that just had that leaf cutout text page glued to it, i guess waiting for something good to happen to it. I used that weird cat paper to make the face of the moon and this cute vintage clipping for the dancers. the tree is drawn in ink with some stitching through it thats a little hard to see in the scan. Not bad for half light huh.

Weekly Collage Series #5: Haircut

"Haircut"
Elizabeth Castaldo 2011

After kind of a quick hiatus, the weekly collage series is back! 


This latest piece, entitled "Haircut" is based on a photo by Robert Mapplethorpe from the book "Just Kids" by Patti Smith, a kind of autobiography/ biography about her younger years in NYC and relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe. it turned out to be one of the most inspiring and motivational books i've read. i totally recommend it. anyway there are lots of snapshots, most Mapplethorpe's polaroids, throughout the book and towards the end there is this great one of Patti Smith cutting her hair with this weird cat sitting on top of a chair. 

the contrast in the black and white photo gives it this great graphic look and i couldn't resist making its components into flat areas of color. i liked the underdrawing i did for it so left her face and hands rather than blocking those out too. 

The piece measures 7.5 x 7.5 inches. collage/ mixed media, pencil, and watercolor on paper. if you'd like to purchase it click here.