1) Create drawing called Defunct Artifact #5 using ink on paper.
2) Leave on edge of desk, near walkway and microwave.
3) Studiomate will accidentally spill coffee on drawing.
4) Take drawing home and tack on the wall above the toilet and next to shower for a few months. Wait for the drawing to get messed up even more (2 small boys frolicking in bathroom helps).
5) Bring drawing back to studio and trace it.
6) Transfer trace image to same size/type paper as original drawing.
7) Cut out trace image and take the pieces surrounding image (like jigsaw puzzle pieces) and carefully glue them onto original messed up drawing around contours of image (the first photo with knife demonstrates the results of this step).
8) Take knife and cut out parts of image that were smeared by coffee/bathroom frolicking. At this point all coffee stains and smear marks should be gone and you are left with a collage-drawing with holes in it (click on any image to see full size).
9) Take pictures with iPhone app called TurboScan and post to blawg with a list of steps taken thus far.
10) Write in blawg that you will update later with next steps for finishing drawing.
Update #1:
11) Stain sheet of blank paper a royal blue, then cut and paste behind holes.
Update #2:
12) Stain sheet of blank paper a light, baby blue and trace on original image using tracing paper from step #6.
13) Just like step #7, cut out trace image on baby blue paper and take the pieces surrounding image and glue them onto original messed up drawing around contours of central image.
14) Shape edges of paper to fit contours of glued pieces and glue small pieces of baby blue paper onto baby blue areas where the color was damaged from gluing in last step.
15) Cut out a few last spots and put royal blue underneath. Put layers of matte medium on back to seal pieces.
16) Write title and sign on back. Pin up on wall and observe. Done.
As I read through this, I was thinking, ‘what a lot of process, work, etc.’ I’m generally more a minimalist, simplifying images and process (love the PAK). Then I started looking at it as a game, starting with a ‘something’ and taking both time and playfulness to keep it going. For me, this is a great lesson and may kick-start a whole new approach to art work.