Ann Baldwin Inspired Collage

I have the Ann Baldwin DVD - Telling Stories with Collage and Paint. (a birthday present to myself back in April! :) I really enjoyed the DVD and decided that I wanted to make an "Ann Baldwin" inpired collage for my In-Laws 50th Anniversary.

Thier party is in August and I'm waiting for some photos that I requested from them. In the meantime, I decided that I best do a couple of "practice" collages so they don't get my first attempt at this technique!! LOL!!

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Here is my first run:

8x10 stretched canvas. All of the images are from Twisted Papers. (the only exception is a very tiny image that you can't really see at the bottom of the canvas).

I pre-painted my canvas w/ a greenish acrylic base coat. I copied and cut out or tore out my images. (all inkjet printed on matte photo paper.) Then I glued all of my images down using Matte Medium.

I did some highlighting of the images with colored pencils. I added a white outline to the main image on the left. I think it makes her pop out a little more. Also added some color to her lips.

The blindfolded women and all of the wording come from one Vintage Ad image. These particular images were the ones that jumped out at me and screamed - USE ME!!! :)

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I have lots of layers of glazed acrylics and Titan Buff. I added textures with a crumpled kleenex and some molding paste, scratching with my fingers, and I also did some paint splattering. I sealed the final collage with some of my new PYMII.

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In person you can make out the words much better. They just don't show up well in the photo. You can see more detail, of course, if you click on the image to enlarge it.

Close up of men looking down on the woman on the left. The words say: "Now that her eyes are wide open"

Close up of the image on the upper right. Words: "She can't believe" "She can't see how she ever did"

Close up of the image on the lower right. Words: "Doubtful Woman"


Overall I'm pleased with my first attempt. I know I will do some things differently next time. I'm hoping to get one more practice collage done before I work on my final project! :)

I would very much appreciate any constructive feedback on this piece. I'm really trying to smooth out the look a little and I plan on my final collage for my In-Laws to be a little "cleaner". I don't think they would appreciate the excess "grungy-ness" of this particular piece. (although, I rather like it...........)

Please include your email address so I may contact you after you leave your comments! Thank you!!! :)