Weekly Collage Series #6: If a Tree Falls

Elizabeth Castaldo
If a Tree Falls 2011

The sixth piece in my weekly collage series entitled "If a Tree Falls" started out with two scraps of paper that looked nice next to eachother. then i thought hey that looks like a tree trunk on its side. i love adding sewn elements into my work so i stitched in some red leaves scattering onto the ground. simple and abstract. 

If you'd like to purchase this piece, click here.

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.

Illuminations Recap

The Opening for Illuminations was Thursday. It turned out to be a pretty busy opening, with many people from the community turning out to see work by local artists. It was great to be included in a show alongside other talented artists. It was a juried exhibition and my painting, "My Heart Grows Fonder", won second place for a two dimensional artwork. Yay! So this means i get to be in another show at the end of 2011. here are some photos of funny people:

Joe, Me, and Kim at the show

2nd place!

Weekly Collage Series #4: I'm Innocent!

Elizabeth Castaldo
I'm Innocent!.  2011.  collage on paper

This is an original piece of art entitled "I'm Innocent!", the fourth installment in my weekly collage series.

A little morbid and a little playful. my art in a nutshell. the arms come from Playboy and the little girl is from an old sewing instruction book, so it conjured up ideas of the ineveitable destruction of innocence.

The piece measures 4.5 x 6 inches. collage/ mixed media on paper. to purchase it click here.

Weekly Collage Series #3: Communications at Sea

Elizabeth Castaldo
Communications at Sea.  2011.  collage on paper

This is an original piece of art entitled "Communications at Sea", the third piece in my weekly collage series. This collage was inspired by the inside of a security envelope with a wave pattern. so i thought its the water, an interesting scrap of paper became the land, and i added the seagulls and a little section from some sheet music. seagullls dont make the prettiest of songs but lets just imagine. it makes me happy.

The piece measures 6.5 x 7 inches. collage/ mixed media on paper. To purchase click here.

Illuminations Art Show

My artwork has been selected to be a part of a group show being held at the Kaplan Hall Gallery at SUNY Orange in Newburgh NY. I'll have two peices in the show. It will feature works by artists from Orange County NY.

The opening reception will be held on March 3rd from 5 to 7pm and the show will run through May 6th. 

the Gallery is located at 5 Washington Center Newburgh NY. 

If anyone can make it i would be happy to see you at the opening!

Second in the Series: Elementary Modulation

Elizabeth Castaldo
Elementary Modulation, 2011. collage on paper.

The second piece in my weekly collage series sort of came together out of some random pieces of paper: trimmings from some prints i made, a little scrap of japanese paper, the header from an old music book... this strange landscape is what i came up with. 

size is 6.5 x 7 inches. to purchase click here.