The Capolan exchange is a group of artists that create art pieces devoted to the
Nick Bantock style. It is a bimonthly exchange. Nick Bantock is an
amazing author and artist that has written many books, perhaps you're familiar
with Griffin and Sabine or The Museum at Purgatory? His new book, The Artful
Dodger, is a wonderful book that gives a sampling of all of his books and his
art career. I highly recommend it.
For the month of
October, the theme was "The Masquerade Ball, The Museum at Purgatory." The
Museum at Purgatory is one of Nick Bantock's books. I went out and bought
it and studied it carefully. I thought it would be great to make
dance cards. That evolved into an invitation, an addressed envelope, and
so on. I created everything all spotless and perfect. And then I set
out to distress everything. Many of Nick Bantock's artworks have
an aged and worn feel to them. So, that's what I tried to convey.
This was to be an old dance card, envelope, and invitation with a history.
I wanted it to look as if someone had really used it in days past. I ripped,
folded,creased, crumpled, and spread Burnt Umber paint everywhere.
It was quite fun.
Helga Strauss
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