The “Exquisite Doodle” Artist Project, Post 11

by Alex Mitchell

please shoot the dancing lady…

“Target Practice,” for Kristine Suhr

For the cover image of Kristine’s box I was inspired by her own artwork.  Kristine has a very distinct style that is very graphic and also very funny.  For all the simplicity of her paintings, the mechanics behind making them work are very precise down to the last millimeter.  Currently we are working together on a pop-up book, and I think what keeps us going is the dream of making a detective book together where we get to dress as special agents and hunt for clues.  Not too long ago I saw an add for a tv station here in Spain that shows action and horror movies.  It had someone shooting at two large paper targets with black figures - a man playing Spanish guitar and a woman dancing flamenco.  Thus came about Kristine’s cover - something I knew she would find funny.

Special agents at work.

The outside...

and looking inside.

The way the scroll starts...

and ends.

The “Exquisite Doodle” Artist Project, Post 10

by Alex Mitchell

and she would only fly at night…

 “Night Flight,” for Mary Lou Zeek

For the cover image of Mary Lou’s box I was inspired by how we first met - I had made a little work of art called “The Universe Conspires” for her gallery’s annual 100 artists group show (see bottom image).  I wanted to make her cover have a similar feel, so I decided to use similar materials like paper, strings, and beads.  I was also thinking about what kind of personal message I could be sending her, so what I came up with is "Night Flight."  It’s a little reminder to fly - even if only at night.

Mary Lou will now get her chance to add to the box anywhere she wants, but with special focus on the paper scroll and the white interior.  I can't wait to see what she decides to do!

Detail of butterflies made with paper, strings, and beads.

The outside...

and looking inside.

The way the scroll starts...

and ends.

"The Universe Conspires"

The “Exquisite Doodle” Artist Project, Post 9

by Alex Mitchell

The boxes are ready to be mailed to The Players!!!  After today, and for the next eight weeks, I will be posting each Player’s box individually.  Then as I receive the boxes back from The Players, I will show you how they went about doodling and drawing on their scrolls.  What fun!  But first, I’ll show you how I prepared the boxes and scrolls for them… stay tuned!

The “Exquisite Doodle” Artist Project, Post 8

by Alex Mitchell

Here are the large covers in various stages of completion...

some will have very few colors while others have lots,

one will have a little staircase and another strings with knots,

one will have a seeing hand while another has doors,

and one will have a poetic scene while another has little blue drops.

The “Exquisite Doodle” Artist Project, Post 7

by Alex Mitchell

Remember how in my first post, I told you that this blog is your front row seat to the “Exquisite Doodle” Artist Project?  Well, things are getting more interesting all the time.

Assembly of eight “Exquisite Doodle” boxes for the players is officially in progress!  I’m using spray paints and templates to start things off…

The box fillers and scroll box covers have been spray-painted white.  It’s a fast and easy way to get a base coat done.  Make sure to ventilate if you do this!

To help me compose what I want to paint on the fronts of the large covers, I’ve cut cardboard templates.  Spray paint and templates belong together like peanut butter and jelly.  It takes a little time to cut out your template, but the spray paint eternalizes your design in seconds.  It’s so much fun!

The fronts of the large covers got a base coat of black spray paint and then with the templates in place, another coat of paint - this time white.  You can see the results above.  Next up:  Thinking about adding colors and what shapes to give my windows - I'll need one in the center of each cover to see through to the scroll that will be inside.  Just like what I came up with for the box featured at the top of this post!

The “Exquisite Doodle” Artist Project, Post 6

by Alex Mitchell (From Spain, your "Exquisite Doodle" blog contributor)

Introducing The Players:

From Denmark, the pop-up queen par excellence, Kristine Suhr.

You'll love this short video of one of her pop-up books.
(photo of "Tea for Two,” ©Kristine Suhr)

From the US (Atlanta, GA), the design and illustration goddess,
Paula Joerling.

You'll find these beautiful paper dresses on her etsy shop.
(photo of “Julia,” ©Paula Joerling)

From the US (Tigard, OR), the delightful teller of pictorial tales, Lisa Kaser.

You can also see Lisa's work on her etsy shop.
(photo of “Starry Night Sojourn,” ©Lisa Kaser)

From the UK, the automata superhero, Keith Newstead.

You'll relish Keith's amazing sculptures on his website and blog.
(photo of “The Devil Rides Out,” ©Keith Newstead)

From the US (Atlanta, GA), the mechanical poet and storyteller, Tom Haney.

You'll love Tom's awesome blog with pics of his automata sculptures in the making.
(photo of “Dreamtime,” ©Tom Haney)

From Australia, the wonderful wizard of illustration, Bob Seal.
You can get to know Bob and see his work on Facebook.

(photo of “Bughouse,” ©Bob Seal)

From the US (Wrightwood, CA), the visionary, John Frame.
You'll want to find out about his incredible film project
“The Tale of the Crippled Boy.”

(photo of “Pip and the Bed,” ©John Frame)

If you live near Portland, don't miss John's show at the Portland Art Museum until May 27th.

The “Exquisite Doodle” Artist Project, Post 5

by Alex Mitchell

Materials needed from previous posts:

-the large matchbox and its cover

-the scroll box and its cover

-the two box fillers

-the scroll

In addition:  scissors, tape, a ruler, and a pencil.

This is the last “construction” post.  In the two previous posts we made the scroll and the box fillers that go on either side of the scroll box.  We still need to cut slots and finish our covers.

Now that we’ve made the scroll, we need to be able to insert it into the scroll box.  Cut slots just wide enough for the scroll sticks along the top and bottom of the scroll box as shown.  We want a snug fit.

Since the scroll box sits in the center of the large matchbox, we need to cut identical slots in the large matchbox.  Place the scroll box with one box filler on each side inside the large matchbox.  Using the scroll box slots as guides, mark the large matchbox and cut the slots.  Insert the scroll and make sure the slots of both boxes line up.

Lay the cover of the scroll box face down.  Place the scroll box face down on top as shown.  Using the slots as reference, draw cutting guidelines on the backside of the cover as shown.  We need to cut out the part of the cover that would obstruct the scroll sticks.  In this case, we will remove four pieces of the cover along the edges.  With the cover in place over the scroll box as shown, you can see that two holes for the scroll sticks remain open.

Repeat this same procedure for the cover of the large matchbox, and cut the cover as shown.  Again, we need to cut out the part of the cover that would obstruct the scroll sticks.  In this case, we will remove two pieces of the cover from the center.  With the cover in place over the large matchbox as shown, you can see that two holes for the scroll sticks remain open.

In order to see the scroll when inside the scroll box with the cover on, we need to cut a window on the front of the cover.  The same thing is true for the front of the cover of the large matchbox - we need to cut a window here as well.  I’ve chosen to make it a circle window as shown.

We can keep our “Exquisite Doodle” box closed by placing tape on the backside of the large cover.  We can see the scroll through the window and use the handles to move it back and forth.  What we paint on the front of this large cover will play off of what we see of our scroll through the window.  Coming up soon are ideas for how to paint the covers.  But first I will introduce to you the wonderful artists playing the “Exquisite Doodle” Artist Project!  Stay tuned!

The “Exquisite Doodle” Artist Project, Post 4

by Alex Mitchell

Materials needed from last time:

-the large matchbox

-the scroll box

-the two small covers remaining

-the two lollipop sticks

In addition:  2 paper clips, thin paper, scissors, tape, and pliers.

Cut a long strip of thin paper that will fit inside the scroll box as shown.  It should be roughly ten times longer than your scroll box.   Tape together several strips if you need to.  This is your SCROLL.

Unbend and re-bend the two paper clips as shown.  These are your scroll HANDLES.  One end of the paper clip should insert tightly into the lollipop stick.  You may need pliers to squeeze the clip to make it fit.  The protruding end of the clip can now be used as a handle.  Do this for both lollipop sticks.

Tape one lollipop stick to one end of the scroll as shown.  First, tape along the length of the stick to fasten it to the paper.  Then tightly roll the scroll on itself around the stick, and put tape to hold this position.  Keep rolling the paper until you get to the other end of the scroll.  Tape the second lollipop stick to this end and roll the paper the same way as before.

Gather the large matchbox, the scroll box, and the two small covers remaining from last time.  The covers will need to go inside the large matchbox, one on either side of the scroll box. These are your box FILLERS.  First, cut to shorten them so that they fit inside the large matchbox.  Next, fold them down as shown because they are too wide.  If you place the scroll box in the center of the large matchbox, you can see how wide the box fillers must be on either side of it.  Use this width to guide you in creating one fold at the top and one at the bottom as shown.  Then wrap the folds around themselves to create the new box filler shape.

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.

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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.

Doug Dacar and Jessica Kruetter

Jessica Kruetter's piece titled "Reveal"

Doug Dacar's piece

• Click here to see and print a copy of Doug's letter to Jessica.
• Click here to see and print a photo of Doug's art.