Early September 2020 Update

I don't quite know what is going on with Blogger these days. They seem to be updating their interface and I am having problems with the new system. I will try to keep this blog going as long as I am able but it may go away some day. In the meantime I am on Instagram at 'Magoo77899' and you can see what I am up to there. For now here is some current work. I am diligently at work and the gallery/studio goes forward confidently (we are paying the rent). These 'Lake' pieces are something I have made in the summer for years. They are inspired by the view of Lake Michigan from my condo between high-rise buildings. An ode to the playful spirit of Paul Klee and a reflection on the ever-changing mode of the lake. They are watercolor on watercolor paper with collage elements in some. Recently Ralph Lauren licensed an image from this series for use in some of their home stores across the states.

Michael McGuire - Three Untitled Watercolors - 18x6 inches each

Michael McGuire - 5 Untitled Watercolors - 18x6 inches each

New 16x12 Collages

All based on the same format: 16 x 12 Arches watercolor Paper, Material cut to 1.5 inch squares, glued into a 9 x 7 grid. The first two are India ink on recycled cardboard (cereal boxes), the second is rubber stamp ink on Arches paper, and the last one is a 'Wheaties' cereal box that featured Serena Williams on it.

Michael McGuire -  Untitled Collage - 16x12 inches

Michael McGuire -  Untitled Collage - 16x12 inches

Michael McGuire -  Untitled Collage - 16x12 inches

Michael McGuire -  Untitled Collage - 16x12 inches

Mood Swings

My current mood of despair is occasionally lifted by my art-making and the joy of creation. Actually art seems to be the only refuge this month. At least I have an outlet for what I'm feeling, as ineffective as it may be. I made a new monochromatic flag. Somewhat funereal, but it seems apt. I made an error on the topmost stripe, but I may leave it as is.

Michael McGuire - Monochromatic American Flag - Recycled Cardboard, India Ink on Arches Watercolor Paper - 26"x40"

And a client returned this color study piece based on a Rothko painting. He had purchased and framed two drawings form this series and found that two were a bit much for his space. I was happy to get it back. The framing he choose is good - white frame with good depth to it. The frame sets off and contains the color well.

Michael McGuire - Rothko Study 3 - Watercolor, Acrylic Paint, Arches Watercolor Paper

Detail

Todays Work

Recycled Cardboard, Acrylic Paint on Arches Watercolor Paper

A Few New Drawings

I have been sending images to interested parties via email today, and as long as I have the images somewhat prepared, I will share them here too. Not a lot of work made this week, I spent a few days in Michigan, and spent more time at the beach and swimming in the lake than making work. I love September around Lake Michigan, the lake is at its' best. But I do have a few new things, and I will be busy this weekend with commissions and urgent ideas.

New Collages

Michael McGuire - Untitled Collages - India Ink, Neutral PH Adhesive, Arches Watercolor Paper - 14 x 10 inches each

Detail

Michael McGuire - Untitled Collage - Archival Mat Board, India Ink, PVA - 18 x 42 inches

Collage Commission

I have a commission to make a number of collages this spring. They will be larger than the cardboard collages I have made in the past, and the scaling up has been a bit of a challenge, but I think I may have resolved it. Part of the solution is to embrace the suggestion of architecture in these collages and include slices of my old photographs of buildings. I think incorporating photographic information in these collages adds a new dimension if you will.

Michael McGuire - Untitled Collage - 36 x 24 inches

Michael McGuire - Untitled Collage - 36 x 24 inches

New Collage

I've had these cut and inked pieces of mat board in the studio for a year now. This weekend I had a little time to finally glue them down to a large sheet of acid free 'Crescent' board. I made the compositon a month ago and them had to suddenly put it away for an event in the gallery. Fortunately, at that time I made a photo for reference and was able to piece it back together yesterday. Then spent yesterday and today trimming and gluing. I had forgotten the things I enjoy about work of this type: the overall graphic qualities, the unexpected juxtapositions, the staunchly abstract nature of the piece. The reference abound - visitors in the gallery today mentioned 'Hundertwasser' and 'Mondrian'. I think of a variety of fabric arts, and for some reason Corbusier. The photo shows the collage mounted on the untrimmed mat board, to be trimmed at a later time. Can be rotated to any orientation.

Michael McGuire - Untitled Collage - India Ink on Archival Mat Board - Collage Size 17.75"H x 49.5"W

New Drawings - October 24, 2015

Michael McGuire-Untitled Collage-Cardboard, India Ink, Acrylic Paint, Archival Mat Board- 40"h x 30"w

Michael McGuire-Untitled Drawings-Arches Watercolor Paper, India Ink, Acrylic Paint-40"h x 26"w each

New Collage

I cut apart and older drawing (2011) that had a bit of water damage to one edge. I made each of the pieces 3.25 inches square knowing I would most likely use a grid format to reposition them. This is the result. I did break the grid in three areas, but not by very much. The materials are India Ink on Bristol paper on Arches watercolor paper and PVA glue. Dimensions are 40h x 26w in inches.

Untitled-India Ink, Bristol Paper, Arches Watercolor Paper, PVA Glue-40x26 inches

Cardboard Nautical Flags

Last year I made a set of 'Nautical Flags' out of recycled cardboard. I took awhile for the entire set to sell, it went in bits and pieces. But recently there was a request for more. I think they are fun, and the motif of each flag is a great matrix on which to let the cardboard, natural and stained with India ink, express its inherent material qualities. And the colors are nice too!

Not much of an explanation in regard to the photos, only to say there is a bit of my process contained in the following sequence.

A recent 'Nautical Flag' commission. 

The specifically requested letters. 

The work table with materials and tools.

Last years almost complete set of nautical flags. 

Nautical flags in color and in black and white. 

Nautical Flag J-Juliet. 'On Fire Keep Clear'. 

Detail

A new idea in the cardboard collage series. 

3 New Collages

Came across my bag of cardboard scraps this week, was in the mood to do something a little different, I now have three new collages. As I assemble them my mind flips between building facades, floor plans, landscapes, abstract text, selective color, sculpture, recycling...

3 Untitled Collages - Recycled Cardboard, India Ink, Arches Watercolor Paper - 13 x 10 inches each

New Collage - White Paint on Cardboard

I have used India ink on cardboard many times, but never white paint on cardboard. I like the idea of the combination, color and material-wise. I painted white acrylic paint on the backside of two 'Cheerios' boxes, let it dry overnight, and then cut the cardboard into two inch squares. I played with the composition as I was gluing the pieces down to archival mat board, largely thinking abstractly. The next step would be to work larger, but I will live with this study for a few days before moving on.

White Collage Study - Acrylic Paint on Recycled Cardboard - 12 x 24 inches

Union Jack

Union Jack - Recycled Cardboard on Arches Watercolor Paper - 45 x 68 inches

The Next Show at Las Manos Gallery

Las Manos Gallery is planning it's next show, it will open on June 5, 2014 and we are calling it 'X Marks The Spot'. The idea came from a the 'X' shape Michelle Peterson Albandoz has  recently been using in some of her work. See photos. We were noticing that Tricia Rumbolz and myself also often have the underlying structure of an x evident in our work, and that seemed like a good thesis for a small show.  One of my contributions to the show will be a 'Union Jack' constructed out of recycled cardboard washed with India Ink. I'm about 3/4 of the way through, and intend to finish it, but I am enjoying it at this stage.

See the Las Manos blog for the invite and pictures of what Michelle and Tricia will be showing.

Unfinished 'Union Jack' - Recycled Cardboard, India Ink, Watercolor Paper - 45 x 65 inches

I Had To Try It!

I was occupied with a commission this week - triangles of cardboard washed with varying amounts of white acrylic paint, glued on to watercolor paper that has a wash of Indigo watercolor on it. See the posting from January 5, 2014 (http://mrmagooart.blogspot.com/2014/01/new-lake-collages.html) for an example.

But, I have been wondering what it would look like if I flipped over the cardboard and let the front of the cereal boxes show. So I made a few small studies, 2 verticals and the horizontal piece pictured below.

Recycled Cardboard, Watercolor Paint on Watercolor Paper - 6 x 18 inches

The amount and vibrancy of the color alarms me a bit, it's not exactly my palette. But it does suggest a few tantalizing possibilities.

Drawings, New and Old, on the Gallery Wall

I'm settling into using the Las Manos Gallery as my studio space and I have managed to make a few pieces in the last week. There has been a surprising amount of traffic through the gallery, many of my friends and even a few walk-ins - distractions abound. But it is working on many levels, and I'm encouraged by the experience thus far. Pictured is one wall in the gallery this morning, with some new work, some old work and two pieces reconfigured.

  Left to right:
1. An old grid drawing cut apart and quickly reassembled. Looks like a figure from a petroglyph, maybe an ancient alien.

2. An old cardboard 'tapestry' piece. Recycled card board, India Ink washes, staples. There is a 'face' constructed within the piece, it is not immediately apparent in person but shows up well in photographs.

3. New India Ink Piece. Untrimmed top and bottom but roughly 22 x 58 inches.
4. Large India Ink Drawing. 45 x 70 inches when trimmed top and bottom.
5. Painted 12 x 12 inch panels. Acrylic paint pens. There are 7 panels pictured here and they can and have been arrange in many different configurations. Design your own contemporary painting!

6. New Cardboard and India Ink Drawing, 40 x 60 inches. I'm very attracted to the color of the cardboard. And it like the ubiquitous and mundane position in our culture.

New Lake Collages

Large abstract watercolor washes with triangles of white cardboard affixed to them. 

New Piece - Homage to Summer

I've been occupied with a lot of busy work this week; inquiries from out of state, shopping for materials, clients in my studio! I had to completely remake a piece that was damaged in transit, thankfully it was a grid piece, easy to recreate but time consuming. By Thursday I had done everything but the making of new work.  Friday and Saturday I did find some time to be in the studio. I had quite a few painted white cardboard triangles leftover from an abstract piece this summer and they were talking to me. I had worked with this motif in my watercolors, but the actual adhering of the cardboard on top of the watercolor was a unusual process for me. The material qualities of the finished piece are not really present in this photo- the whites in the triangles vary and have subtle brush marks. The watercolor background is abstract and physical presences of the cardboard on top of the paper testifies  to its collaged provenance.  

Untitled - Watercolor, recycled cardboard, acrylic paint, watercolor paper - 26 x 40 inches

The precut cardboard triangles

An example of earlier watercolors

New Drawing - August 11, 2013

Untitled - Recycled Cardboard, Acrylic Paint, Archival Mat Board - 40 x 32 inche