Carol Kroll

I made my items today.

I had a really productive day. It was gloomy as all get up out there today, but I rather enjoyed it. Plus I was alone in the house for several hours this morning so I used the first half of that to bang on the piano rather loudly and sing my lungs (heart) out. I enjoyed myself thoroughly. And didn’t annoy anyone else but my dog. It was quite cathartic.

I then spent the rest of the day holed up (literally) door shut, in my studio making my items. Bliss.

I took my camera along to document my progress.

I can’t take pix’s to save my life, but oh well. And I’m afraid I didn’t get dressed up for the impromptu photo shoot. Making art isn’t really about that. But I did wear my favorite sweater that I picked up from a thrift store when I was in college 300 years ago. It has the best buttons and I swear was made JUST for me by some old lady in the 1960’s unbeknownst to her.

Anyway, above there, I am flipping through my 1953 Coronet magazine looking for a kill. And what I mean by that is I have certain vintage magazines that are carcasses for cutting into so I can get pc’s to put on my paintings. Others I keep in a big untouchable vault buried in my backyard.

Until I run out of options, that is.

Then new lambs are lead to slaughter. It has to be the real thing. No copies or else it just looks like poo. I make sure to be as gentle as possible though, so please don’t think I’m all willy nilly forgetting these are important pieces of history.

I then put the things I cut out with a razor-blade into little bags and file them for later pieces. Sometimes I like to sit and watch a DVD or whatever and cut out random things with wild abandon. Then I have a little collection to pick from. Plus I can’t watch TV without doing something else. Then I feel it justifies me sitting there in front of the box.

Here’s an action shot of me cutting some things out.

Here’s my workspace today. My grandmother’s little BW TV still works so I put it on for noise mostly. Today was PBS and a travel special about Europe. Now I feel I don’t need to ever go. The experience on the BW was just enough.

Here’s what I see out my window lately. Dead things. The shades are drawn to the right because my neighbors can see right into my secret world, and I didn’t feel like inviting them today.

Oh, Im also working on a graphic novel, and dabbled in that a little today too. Underneath there is my journal I try to write/sketch in regularly. It is an island of solace.

Here is the progress I made on a few pieces (art cards mostly) I would like to have them up and ready to sell by Monday.

I was tired of having the paparazzi in my studio, so I kicked them out.