DJ Dills collage projects

David J Dills

The posts featured here are samples of photo-collages that I composed between 1992-2005 and 2020 to present. Search #davidjdills or visit http://davidjdills.blogspot.com (collage) http://djdills.blogspot.com (Dills history) http://scotbeat.wordpress.com (1960s beat music) Growing up seeing media images from magazines like LOOK, LIFE, Saturday Evening Post, and National Geographics, I developed a periodical clipping file as a dynamic visual language to communicate thoughts. Creating a visual concept takes a period of internalization but feel sense of chance and surprise choosing particular elements to express an idea. It evokes in me the wonderment of a child viewing a diverse social universe as I tell my stories…

More at https://davidjdills.blogspot.com/

Grow Where You’re Planted #davidjdills 2022. Challenging life experiences can defeat or help us to grow. We have the ability to change our surroundings though not always easy to let go of the baggage that keeps us from experiencing the beauty around us. Pain can transform us into the beings we seek to be as we learn to focus on that which is beautiful, understanding that life is bittersweet.

#collageart

On my 40th birthday, I took up cut & paste collaging. I exhibited my work between 1992-2005 though took up collaging for personal enjoyment in 2020. Here’s a few more from 2022

This was first collage to celebrate summer 2022

Russia 2022

The Host – appropriating a photo [1973] of mask used for Yul’s character in Westworld [amusement park androids that malfunction and begin killing visitors].

Black and White

Illustration created for Der Fall Dracula script [Heidelberg, Germany]

As a means of illustration and storytelling, photo-collage has been an activity that I’ve engaged in. As an research/writer and amateur historian, I have used the medium in various projects [illustrated stories, historical notes, theatre posters, etc]. Here are a few more random black and white projects [1994-98]

The Wish… One of several illustrations [1997-98] I wrote while in Germany using post war periodicals. The Wish is about about a boy who wished that he could fly like a dragon fly rather than using the gifts he already possessed.

Guide – based on tales of an underground passage at Mount Shasta, California

Theater posters

created for Lord Leebrick’s Christmas venues, Eugene Oregon

“The Eye” South San Francisco High School circa 1970 – I was known as Don Dills though go by David these days. Dan Harvey [on my left] and I were in a theatre productions together and enjoyed this group. Besides photography, I took creative writing classes, chorus, and took part in Oliver!, Girl Crazy, and Roar of the Greasepaint, Smell of the Crowd.

Roar of the Greasepaint Smell of the Crowd. Me playing an urchin “The Kid” in a South San Francisco High School

Photography has been a personal interest since early childhood when I amused myself looking through magazines [late 1930s- ’50s]. In high school, I pursued my interest with photography and collage besides creative writing. Although dabbing with other art forms, photo-collage became a visual means of communication when taking it up at age 40 [1992]. Another enjoyable activity growing up was musical theatre and was part of six productions in all. In the mid 1990’s, after participating in local theatre, I did a few posters for local theatrical groups [in Oregon] besides two illustrations for a theatre group writing a play in Heidelberg, Germany whilst living near the University.

created for Secret Garden poster = ACE Theatre Eugene Oregon

created for Tracers [drama about Viet Nam era

Der Fall Dracula illustration – Heidelberg, Germany

theatre audience with characters from “The Freaks”

A dance performance with the right music and staging is magical

Mythical

Pan’s Salvation [c DJ DIlls]. Photo-collages based on ancient beliefs and modern folklore. Besides projecting cultural thought, imagery and visual storytelling help us to reflect on various aspects of life. In 1995, I was asked to create a concept for the band Mythic Sky which represents an early work. You can view the CD’s front cover at https://davidhelfand.com/news/album/mythic-sky/

Oil painting “The Venus of the iPhone” by Claire Lambe [https://www.woodburypubliclibrary.org/the-venus-of-the-iphone/] is a modern expression of an old theme. Venus is a “Roman Goddess whose functions encompassed love, beauty, desire, sex, fertility, prosperity, and victory” and Julius Caesar claimed her as his ancestor. ” Channelling Venus” [djdills.wordpress.com] is a take on the theme in an art deco-style

Mythology – Although natural science provides answers, there are mysteries that defy natural explanation.

Nature scenes

On The Coast

Photo of Daytona Beach – NG Society [edited]

San Francisco 1968 with actress/model Lauren Hutton

2021

Illustration for a Scotbeat.wordpress blog post about a phone box that musicians used when on tour.

My interest in photography and history from a sociological aspect began at age 5 when I came across several stacks of old magazines from the 1940’s and ’50s back in 1957. I loved looking a periodical photography and reading interesting bits when I learned to read. As a fan of cultural history, I enjoy magazine features of the 20th century from collected materials [late 30’s-early 70’s] which has become a post-retirement hobby.

Closie [old photo of alleyway in Scotland]

As with other family members, I enjoy a good story as well as the visual arts. Though I was experimenting with collage and watercolour in my teens, I didn’t throw myself into collaging until 1992 on the event of my fortieth birthday. During the time, I began showing my work at local galleries besides some featured in print besides a series of photo-collage seminars through University of Oregon.

I hope that you enjoy some of the current collage projects besides samples of earlier projects.