I refer to her as "the teacher"

mixed media collage by Kaija Rantakari / paperiaarre.com

Last week I was forced to take time off from my usual routine, so no new art or poetry was created. I did, however, take possibly the last exam of my life (never say never, but still...), and while that doesn't lead to a graduation of any kind, I've now successfully wrapped up something that was unfinished for the longest time.

I thought I'd already shared all my exhibition pieces from last winter, but a browse through my photo archives proved me wrong. So, on the theme of wrapping things up, here's one mixed media piece I made over a year ago. This piece went through many a transformation during the creative process - it had a different background, some additional elements and a box frame of an entirely different nature at different stages over the course of several months (usually I'm much quicker and more streamlined in my work). After I pared things down to the bare minimum it was finally finished a few days before the exhibition opened. Current home - my parents' living room.

mixed media collage by Kaija Rantakari / paperiaarre.com

(cover and flyleaf of an antique dictionary of foreign words and phrases, vintage photo, linen thread, paper, board, glue)
 
I'm hesitating to begin work on a larger assemblage I have a vision for. It's mostly due to the fact that I like to work pretty intensively and finish a piece in the least possible time, not because I have any lack of time, or because I'd like to be as prolific as possible - but because I have the tendency to lose momentum really quickly and to abandon unfinished projects I no longer feel connected to, and I hate good ideas going to waste because of such foolishness. Finding the patience and tenacity a larger piece demands is a challenge. I could take baby steps if I knew which steps should be the first ones.