The “Exquisite Doodle” Artist Project, Post 3

by Alex Mitchell

I will show you how to make the “Exquisite Doodle” boxes with materials readily available to me.  Follow along and you’ll get the idea.  Then feel free to use other materials that may serve you better.  Let’s get started!

Materials needed:  1 large matchbox, 3 small matchboxes, 2 lollipops, and scissors.

Take the covers off the matchboxes and remove the matches.

Of the three small matchboxes, choose the one that best fits inside the large matchbox.  This is your SCROLL BOX.  Set aside the covers for the large matchbox and the scroll box.  Of the remaining two small matchboxes, you only need the covers.  Now you are left with two boxes and four covers as shown.

As shown above, cut along the backsides of the covers of the large matchbox and the scroll box.  And cut along the sides of the two small matchbox covers.

Now eat your two lollipops and save the sticks.  Make sure that the lollipop sticks are the hollow kind!  You’ll see why next time...

The “Exquisite Doodle” Artist Project, Post 2

by Alex Mitchell

“No! No! The adventures first,” said the Gryphon in an impatient tone:  “explanations take such a dreadful time.”

(The Lobster-Quadrille, Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll)

Let’s start our adventure!  Oh, but maybe I should explain a few things with this study model first...

Inspired by the “Exquisite Corpse” game created by the Surrealists in the 20’s, our project has players that draw in turn on the same sheet of paper.   We will be doodling in succession, and our paper is a small scroll inside a box.  Our players will receive their boxes by mail.

The idea is that I will make the box, paint the cover, and doodle on half of the scroll inside the box.  Then I’ll mail it to the participating artist.  He or she doodles on the rest of the scroll and mails the box back to me.  Voila!

Next time we’ll get to work!

The “Exquisite Doodle” Artist Project, Post 1

by Alex Mitchell

Matchboxes, lollipops, paper clips, paper - I’m ready!

Imagine there’s a little scroll set inside a small box.  Now imagine the idea is to doodle on the scroll, and that the doodling is started by one artist and finished by the other.  Now you get the idea.  I’ll show you how to make your own scroll box and introduce you to the amazing artists taking part.  Just stay tuned - this is your front row seat to the “Exquisite Doodle” Artist Project.

--------

Alex Mitchell participated in the “Art Of Communication - 100 Artist Show” at the Mary Lou Zeek Gallery last February.  In keeping with the spirit and purpose of that show she is currently organizing an international group artist project, the “Exquisite Doodle,” which will be documented on this blog.