July 13, 2007

Mixed Media Message

You have your kids' pictures in your cell phone, on your computer and in good old-fashioned frames and albums. Your mother-in-law had the tots' mugs emblazoned on mugs. Could there be any medium you haven't explored?

Actually yes: collage. This is not the glue-sticked hodgepodge you made for your high school boyfriend, but an artful, professional composition. Orlando artist Claudine Hellmuth will design it, pairing black-and-white photos of your kids' faces with whimsical illustrated bodies and backgrounds. Send her high-resolution JPEGs or prints (which she'll copy in black-and-white and return), tell her about any hobbies or interests the little guys have, and she'll do the rest.

Can't pry your tyke from his trike? Hellmuth can create a scheme depicting him peddling across a landscape of rolling hills and puffy clouds. Have a ballerina in your life? The artist will dress her up and put her onstage. She'll also include photos of pets, beloved stuffed animals and other "family members."

For $75, you'll get a 9x12-inch collage on watercolor paper created with ink, acrylic paint, paper, fabric swatches (you may send your own), and up to three photos. For $195 and up, Hellmuth can also create a customized work on archival stretched canvas incorporating any theme you can dream up (standard choices are land or sea).

Now doesn't that beat your outdated photo calendar?

Available online at collageartist.com.

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