Paper Collage Scapes Exhibit

Collages by Megan Coyle

Over the weekend I worked on installing my exhibit at the Goodwin House in Alexandria, Virginia. The exhibit, “Paper Collage Scapes,” features about thirty of my landscape, cityscape, and a few still life collages. The show includes some of my older pieces as well as some relatively new ones that were completed just last year.

Collages by Megan Coyle

I’ve included images of the installed exhibit so you can get a sense of the space. I sort of like the contrast of the green wallpaper with my artwork framed in black frames with white mats. Anyway, I’m looking forward to returning to the Goodwin House in the next few weeks to give a talk about artwork, process, and experience with self publishing a children’s book.

Collages by Megan Coyle

Collages by Megan Coyle

Paper Collage Scapes

All in a Row by collage artist Megan Coyle
“All in a Row.” Collage on paper. 12″x16″
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November 10th, 2013 – January 10th, 2014
Goodwin Gallery; Alexandria, Virginia
Map and Gallery Info

“Paper Collage Scapes” features a variety of Coyle’s landscape, cityscape, as well as natural still life collages that have been completed over the years. The exhibit even includes several collages that were part of her D.C. Collage Scapes series.

The show explores the intricacies of various buildings and houses in the D.C. area, as well as natural landscapes. Coyle has composed each collage using solid colors and fragments of photographs found in magazines.

This is the second exhibit Coyle has had at the Goodwin House – she is excited to share her work again with the residents and their families.

Collages from Mississippi

Megan Coyle inspired collages from Mississippi

This morning I received an email from Ann, an art teacher from Mississippi. She sent me these photos of her 7th grade students with their “Megan Coyle collages.” She told me that she created a lesson plan about my work, showed her students images of my collages, and then had them make their own collages on recycled Masonite boards leftover from the school’s theatre department.

I love it when teachers send images of their student collage art. It’s great seeing what such young artists are able to accomplish with bits and pieces of paper. And it was great seeing another batch of wonderful collages where students embraced the medium – some working mainly with textured magazine strips, some working with solid colors, while others used a variety of both solid and textured. Again, it was fun getting a chance to see these.

Megan Coyle inspired collages from Mississippi

Megan Coyle inspired collages from Mississippi

Megan Coyle inspired collages from Mississippi

Pieced Together: Animal Collage

Red Ruffed Lemur by collage artist Megan Coyle
“Red Ruffed Lemur.” Collage on paper. 18″x24″
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October 17th – October 31st, 2013
Mt. Pleasant Library
Map and Gallery Info

Opening Reception: Thursday, October 17th, 2013 at 7:00p.m.

Coyle will display five of her large animal collages at Mt. Pleasant Library’s exhibit space. Each work of art was inspired by the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

When it comes to creating works of art, Coyle enjoys drawing inspiration from familiar scenes and settings of everyday life. Often times she’ll wander around Washington, D.C. looking for inspiration for future works of art. One of her favorite places to visit for inspiration is the National Zoo. The works she selected for the Mt. Pleasant exhibit are from a series where she explored working with a variety of texture to piece together different colorful animals.

The show is funded by Day Eight, a nonprofit that focuses on the delivery of innovative community arts programming in the District of Columbia. In conjunction with the exhibit, Coyle will run two collage workshops:

Collage Making Workshop for Children and Youth
Saturday, October 12, 2013 at 11:00am

Artist Megan Coyle Program for Adults and Seniors
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at 7:00pm

Blue Dachshund’s Day Out

Blue Dachshund's Day Out by collage artist Megan Coyle
“Blue Dachshund’s Day Out.” Collage on paper. 5″x7″
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Although this year has been a quiet one in my studio, I got around to completing another small collage yesterday, “Blue Dachshund’s Day Out.” I’m planning to continue to work on smaller pieces here and there as I work on other creative endeavors. Sometimes a change of pace is well needed.

Collage Making Workshop for Adults and Seniors

What a Pair (the Otter Sisters) by collage artist Megan Coyle
What a Pair (the Otter Sisters) by collage artist Megan Coyle
“The Otter Sisters.” Collage on paper. 18″x24″
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Tuesday, October 29, 2013 – 7:00pm
Mt. Pleasant; Washington, D.C.

I’m running a collage making workshop for seniors and adults in the D.C. area. I will discuss my work and technique, demo my work, and proceed to help attendees make small animal collages. This workshop is being run in conjunction with my exhibit that will open at Mt. Pleasant Library on October 17th. The program is provided in collaboration with Mt. Pleasant Library and Day Eight, a nonprofit that promotes the arts in the D.C. area.

The workshop is free and open to the public.

Collage Making Workshop for Children and Youth

Cuddling Meerkats by collage artist Megan Coyle
“Cuddling Meerkats.” Collage on paper. 18″x24″
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Saturday, October 12, 2013 – 11:00am
Mt. Pleasant; Washington D.C.

I will run a workshop for children and youth on collage making. I’ll demonstrate my technique, “painting with paper,” and then assist attendees with making their own “painting with paper” collages of animals. This workshop is being run in conjunction with my exhibit that will open at Mt. Pleasant Library on October 17th. The program is provided in collaboration with Mt. Pleasant Library and Day Eight, a nonprofit that promotes the arts in the D.C. area.

The workshop is free and open to the public. Registration is required – so make sure you contact the library in advance by stopping by Mt. Pleasant’s Children’s Room or calling (202) 671-3125.

M. Ward

M. Ward by collage artist Megan Coyle
“M. Ward.” Collage on paper. 5″x7″
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It’s been a while since I’ve completed a collage during this hiatus of mine, but here we go – the first collage in a while. And this is also my first attempt at tackling a portrait of M. Ward. I’m thinking that I’d like to work on a series of public figures to help me sharpen my portrait collage-making skills. It has been a while since I’ve done a series of figures, and I’ve been a bit rusty after all these animal and landscape collages.

Anyway, I’m off to sketch out a few more portraits for future collages.

Bosty goes to Boston

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Bosty finally got to go to Boston this weekend. Being a Boston Terrier and all, he’s always wanted to visit Beantown. His first stop was the Public Garden.

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It was a perfect day to stroll in the park.

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How about a ride on one of the swan paddle boats? Bosty thought that sounded like a good idea.

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He even met a feathered friend by the water. “Hey Mrs. Duck!”

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After a while we took a break in the shade under a nearby tree. Bosty liked staring out at the water and counting the ducks.

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He started to get hungry so we stopped by the Butcher Shop for lunch. Bosty is quite the foodie and enjoyed having some charcuterie with fresh bread.

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He also loved the tomato soup he ordered. He said it almost looked too pretty to eat. But then he did eat it.

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Then he completed his meal with a nice, big burger. Yum.

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But then he also ordered a latte to help him wake-up for some more Boston-city-touring.

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Next we headed over to see Frank Gehry’s Ray and Maria Stata Center. Bosty sure loves great architecture.

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He liked Gehry’s building so much that he got closer to it for a better look.

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He also liked all the murals he found when wandering down the neighborhood streets.

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And he decided his day wouldn’t be complete until he popped into Newbury Comics to browse and maybe do some shopping. Bosty is a pretty big fan of comics and superheroes.

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Bosty started having another food craving – although this time he wanted some late afternoon sweets. So we stopped by Puritan and Company so he could get a sugar fix – a nicely presented sugar fix.

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Then off to stroll around the streets during a beautiful, sunny Boston day.

Coffee Cup Collages from New Zealand

Collage in the Classroom - New Zealand

Earlier this week I received an email from a teacher, Helen, from New Zealand. She told me that her students studied my work in class and then worked on their own coffee cup collages. The students were a class of 8-year-olds. I thoroughly enjoyed taking a look at their colorful coffee cup collages. And it was wonderful seeing what the kids were able to create while cutting and pasting rectangular strips of paper.

Helen sent along several images of the students’ work (see above and below). While I always enjoy hearing from teachers and students who are studying my work in school, I enjoy it even more when they send along images so I have a chance to see what they’ve made.

Collage in the Classroom - New Zealand

Collage in the Classroom - New Zealand

Collage in the Classroom - New Zealand

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