Loveland and Ft. Collins, Colorado have a wealth of lovely Antique Shops, lately I’ve been perusing the old books and magazines in a quest for interesting and thoughtful college pieces. I’ve found some amazing antique ledgers and journals, and spent quite a lot of time finding things that speak to me, and might allow me to incorporate their essence into my artwork.

Spending time in those old shops has opened my visuals to thoughtful and meaningful memories, holding in my hands books with owner inscriptions, dated over a hundred years ago, treasures to sign and date. and pass forward to others. I am hopeful their original owners would be pleased that I see and feel the stories held within the pages and wish to give them their proper reverence.

Even within these dear older pages, the cover pages where the publisher is acknowledged, is real history for my eyes, as I imagine some of these are no longer in publishing, gone from our sights but perhaps allowing me to recreate and repurpose their essence into painting stories.

I’ve spent careful time deciding which publications I’d like to incorporate, and during these quests back in time, feel the sense of history and hope to incorporate it into my collage and oil paintings this year.

Cheri