douglas brent smith

  Still Going Up? -- mixed media, collage by douglas brent smith, 1998, from Journal #33, Life In Progress. NOTES: Usually, I crop the spiral binding out of the picture. This time I decided to leave it in and show the whole page. It provides some idea of what each of the journals from this period are like. Big pages and many of them. The clip art that makes guest appearances is primitive, sure, but maybe a little charming, too?

  Going Up? collage, mixed media by douglas brent smith, from Journal #33, Life In Progress, 1998

  Drive Dougie Drive - mixed media, collage by douglas brent smith, 1998

  it was a fortune in facts tested against emotions processes swirling we sat by the fire mumbling vague traces of truisms we did not believe there was a time when a fact was a fact where is that now? Contrary Facts - collage, mixed media sketch by Douglas Brent Smith, from Journal #33, Life In Progress, 1998

  Man with Three Hands - mixed media collage by Douglas Brent Smith, 1998, from Journal #33, Life In Progress

  An unusual feature of this collage is that it is assembled in landscape mode instead of portrait. It feels more informal than usual for me, also.  Lift and Separate - collage by Douglas Brent Smith, 1998, from Journal #33, Life In Progress

  We didn't have a garage, our neighbors, the Amy's did. Reverend Amy and his family lived next door. That is me sitting on the Chevy, wearing a Davy Crocket hat. I was a big Davy Crocket fan and had the theme song on a yellow 45 rpm record, which of course I sang to vigorously. What's your earliest memory from childhood? No Brain No Anxiety -- collage by Douglas Brent Smith, 1998, from Journal #33, Life In Progress

  People are distracted if you assemble an engine while you are making your presentation. Also, if you take photos of light posts and give them fancy names (like Howard Smith), or share tea with the ladies while the rest of the group stares in disbelief, feeling left out, feeling out of place. Is that the presentation that you intended? It wasn't easy to assemble a room filled with geniuses. Now what do you do? Bad Presentation Habits - collage by Douglas Brent Smith, 1998, from Journal #33, Life In Progress

 One of a series of mostly black and white mixed media/collage pieces with a photo-copy base.  Here's the poem that is on the facing page in the journal: we're not perfect but we are trying trying to get along to talk to touch to see each other's                           point of view we're not perfect but we have a history that is wrapped in strands of perfect moments                         perfect steps                                             perfect strings of perfect love. 23 April 1998 Platform Flyer - mixed media sketch by Douglas Brent Smith, 1998, from Journal #33, Life In Progress.

  i follow the speed limit in my car but emotionally it's usually all going too fast getting where I'm heading just on time. How Fast Are You Going? collage by Douglas Brent Smith, 1997, from Journal #32, Secret Change Agent.

  find the light interview its meaning squeeze out your reaction one tear at a time touch the light the heat of the morning wondering why we were ever so young Just Another Squeeze Until The Light Is Interviewed - collage by Douglas Brent Smith, 1997, from Journal #32, p. 283, Secret Change Agent.

  The actual collage is much sharper than this. The distortion comes from scanning a water-warped journal on the glass plate. Several of my journals sustained water damage during the Louisville, CO fire on Elm street in 2008. I did try to dry them out, with some mixed success, by spreading them out in the stead Colorado sunshine, on a trampoline that survived the fire. Forest Discovery - collage by Douglas Brent Smith, 1997, from Journal #32, Secret Change Agent.

  Cats delight me, as they seem to do this nice lady on the sofa. I assume she's nice because she's smiling. Does the whole room vibe 1990's? It was a great time to be alive, a great time to be working, a great time to be co-raising a family. What No Chips? Collage by Douglas Brent Smith, 1997, from Journal #32, Secret Change Agent

  When my brother Dave and I were quite young we both wanted to be spies. "The Man From Uncle" was a popular TV show and we never missed it. James Bond was also all the rage. We liked the gadgets, the exotic travels, the fast cars, all of the action. We didn't turn out to be spies of course (or did we?). Dave does his spying from heaven, and I decided long ago that spying was out of the question because torture could be involved. Also, art and education are more fun. Constructing Contemplation - collage by douglas brent smith, 19 October 1997, from Journal #32, Secret Change Agent

  A business call that takes too long. A meeting that's rambling. Waiting for the copy machine. There must have been times when an odd doodle showed up and grew into something collecting, something expressing. Here's an idea -- the next time you reach for your device to idly scroll, instead pick up a pen and some paper and doodle. It does not need to be anything at all. Doodle. Poke it. Prod it. Dress it up in your favorite doll house.  You will not have wasted your time. Think Tank Leakage - collage/mixed media/sketch by douglas brent smith, 1997.  From Journal #32, Secret Change Agent

  Even when we're lost there is a pattern, discoverable, discernible, mysterious. Are we being led thru that pattern, or are we creating that pattern? How can we know where we're supposed to go if we are supposed to go anywhere. Maybe it's all just happening and we are not responsible for twists, turns, and new lessons to learn. Amazed - mixed media collage by Douglas Brent Smith, 1998, from Journal #33, Life In Progress.

  "Must be January." "Yep." "That's when you work on and think about collages the most." "Correct." "Good times." "Indeed." I look out the window. Snow. Not Chicago level snow, but still snow. Colder than usual. Later than usual. If life is a collage, the picture is still forming. It will be there even when we're not looking. Even when we're not there." Awkward Climb -- collage by Douglas Brent Smith, 1997

  Invite The Whole Crowd - collage by Douglas Brent Smith, 1997

  Howard kept looking for a light post but could not find one. Auto correct attempted to install one but it had lips. "What's wrong with this picture?" Harry asked him.  "For every missing piece," said Howard, proving that NOTHING was wrong, "...there is room for something new and unexpected." "Well, that's unexpected," said Harry. Mr. Earth Head - collage by Douglas Brent Smith, 1997

  The picture was easier than the trip. No shoes, no shirt, no service, and no oxygen. But was the trip worth taking? Could they truly get away from it all? Of course. Here they are. Where are you? Getting Away From It All - collage by Douglas Brent Smith, 1997