Experiment 3: Landscape

Landscape by collage artist Megan Coyle
“Experiment 3: Landscape.”
Collage on paper. 7″x5″
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Another experimental piece of mine. It’s fun trying something new, although I must admit, I enjoy my usual style of “painting with paper” much better than creating abstract pieces. However, it is pretty therapeutic putting together torn bits of paper.

I set my children’s book illustrations aside for a couple of weeks, but I’m back to working on them. And I’ve started planning an educational section that I’ll add to my website sometime in the future. I get emails from teachers every once in a while who use my artwork in their classrooms, and I thought it might be nice to put something together that could help them with their lesson plans.

Anyway, hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Experiment 2: Landscape

Landscape by collage artist Megan Coyle
“Experiment 2: Landscape.”
Collage on paper. 7″x5″
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Every now and then I’ll do some planning for my workshop in Jasper, Indiana. I like taking my time when it comes to planning for exhibitions and lectures, so that way I can ensure everything is taken care of and that I’m well prepared. So bit by bit I’ve been working on examples that I’ll share with the class.

Above is another experimental piece. Again it looks much different than any of my other work. This is more like playing with the materials and seeing what results I can get. It also helps me think about what projects I can have for the class. This piece is an abstract landscape made entirely from tearing magazine strips. You can see that some of the pieces have more obvious tears while others are pretty subtle.

Washington Monument

Washington Monument by collage artist Megan Coyle
“Washington Monument.” Collage on paper. 12″x16″
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This is the last piece I’m posting from the NIH “Collage Scapes” exhibition. It was inspired by another stroll around DC in the fall. I’m realizing that I’ve only ever done collages of three distinct buildings in DC. I hope to do some more sometime in the future. However, for now, it’s time to keep focused and finish a few large projects on my plate. If you’re trying to do too many things all at once, it’s difficult to get anything done.

Anyway, I’m excited that Halloween is coming up. I’m not one who likes dressing up in costumes, however I still think it’s a fun time of the year. Lots of fun food and sweets. And hopefully no new cavities. I’m also looking forward to going to the Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert rally this weekend. Yes, there’s going to be a lot to do in the next couple of days. I might even sneak in a few more hours of art-making.

I hope everyone had a great week!

Downtown Cafe

Downtown Cafe by collage artist Megan Coyle
“Downtown Cafe. “Collage on paper. 12″x16”
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Like “Old Town Townhouses,” this particular collage was inspired by a walk around Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia. It’s also another piece that’s currently on display in my NIH exhibit. I really like using reds in my cityscape pieces – with colorful brick buildings and brick sidewalks.

I’m still working away on my children’s book illustrations. I’m almost a third of the way done – I can’t wait to see what it looks like when it’s all complete. I’m also about to get started on another commission portrait. Things have been busy but good.

Autumn Afternoons

Autumn Afternoons by collage artist Megan Coyle
“Autumn Afternoons.” Collage on paper. 12″x16″
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This piece was inspired by a walk around a DC park in the fall. It was part of my recent scapes series, however I didn’t put it in my current NIH show. A lot of my landscape/cityscape collages are pretty abstract – I like focusing on using a lot of textures and bright colors. This piece is also reminding me that I need to get started on creating a background for the collaborative animation project I worked on with my brother.

Tree in the Park

Tree in the Park by collage artist Megan Coyle
“Tree in the Park.” Collage on paper. 12″x16″
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Inspired from a stroll in the park during a sunny summer day. This is another piece that’s up at the NIH “Collage Scapes” exhibition. Which reminds me, I’ll be stopping by the show to take some installation pictures that I’ll post somewhat soon.

Things are pretty busy these days. I recently finished a commissioned portrait and I’ll post the progress pictures of that soon. I’m really enjoying the work I’m doing on my children’s book – I’m on illustration number three thus far. Unfortunately I won’t be posting that work – although you’ll get a glimpse of the book when it’s nearly complete.

And now I’m inspired to get going with some more illustrations. This cold fall weather makes me want to curl up with some hot green tea and cut and paste away. Hope you’re having a lovely week in October.

Jefferson Memorial

Jefferson Memorial by collage artist Megan Coyle
“Jefferson Memorial.” Collage on paper. 12″x16″
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Sometimes I like to walk around the city to find some inspiration for my work – let it be DC, Alexandria, or any city I’m visiting. You can always find lovely sights or interesting and colorful characters in a major city. This piece was inspired by a walk around Washington, DC. I was also motivated to produce some more scapes pieces since that’s been an area I haven’t focused a lot of energy on. This is another piece that’s up at the NIH exhibit.

The City by Day

“The City by Day.” Collage on paper. 12″x16″
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I enjoyed putting this piece together. It looks a bit different than my other scapes pieces and I liked making this collage a little more abstract. I kept searching for pieces of paper that had a lot of texture in them, and I’m happy with the result. “The City by Day” is another collage that’s currently on display in my “Collage Scapes” exhibit at NIH.

And now I’m off to put some finishing touches on a commission portrait I’m working on. I hope everyone has a happy Friday tomorrow!

Sunset in the City

Sunset in the City by collage artist Megan Coyle
“Sunset in the City.” Collage on paper. 12″x16″
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This collage is currently hanging in my “Collage Scapes” exhibit at NIH. I don’t often work on landscape or cityscape pieces, so it was nice breaking away from what’s familiar to me. I think I should try to do some new still life work in the future since I haven’t really explored it all that much.

Things have been pretty busy these days. Then again, when are they not busy? I’m enjoying the cool weather while working away on my web work and commission work. I’m hoping to begin a few illustrations for my children’s book relatively soon.

Anyway, I hope everyone is have a lovely week and a wonderful weekend!

Old Town Townhouses

Old Town Townhouses by collage artist Megan Coyle
“Old Town Townhouses.” Collage on paper. 12″x16″
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When I was working as a visiting artist this past summer, I did quite a bit of walking. It was about an hour walk to the local art center from my house – and I tried to make this trek twice a day (to the center and then back home) so I could get some exercise. So often I get cooped up inside making artwork or sitting in front of a computer. I felt it was necessary to force myself to get out and move about a little more.

On my walks, I’d take pictures from time to time to file away and use for future works of art. This collage was based on a series of photographs I took of the bright, colorful townhouses you can find on King Street in Old Town, Alexandria.

I don’t typically do landscape and cityscapes (you’ve probably realized I’m more of a sucker for animal and portraiture pieces), however this was a collage I made for an upcoming show I’m having at NIH – it features landscape and cityscape collages. I’ll post more pieces from the series later on.