Happy Chunky Birthday

I created this mixed media chunky for my brother whose birthday is coming up soon.  That's his picture when he was just a little tyke.

I started by covering a 4x4 cradled wood panel with patterned paper and scraps from an old book.  I used blue, green and white acrylic paint to create a grungy background that is interesting but not too busy.  I stamped on some text and the splatters, then added texture by stenciling on the circles using modeling paste and a Tim Holtz stencil.  Once the modeling paste dried, I tinted the circles with distress ink and acrylic paint. 
 

For the pedestal, I used an old wooden drawer knob.  I painted it with acrylics and applied a crackle product, then played around with distress inks and a charcoal pencil until it looked similar to the background on the panel.

The porcelain knob has a funny family connection: it came off the laundry chute door in the bathroom of our childhood home.  We completely remodeled the bathroom last year and when my mom told me she was going to buy a new knob for the laundry chute door, I asked if I could have the old one.  It's not original to the house, but it does have a cute vintage look to it.

This project was so much fun.  I think I need to make one for myself!

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a fabulous day.

M Cubed: Mary, Mary, Margie

I'm slowly getting around to projects and gifts for various friends and family members.  I created this mixed media collage for my friend Mary, an artist I first met about three years ago when I took her class Found Object Sculpture.  It ended up we had quite a few things in common, and we have so much fun whenever we get together.  When she posted this adorable picture of herself, her mom and her grandmother on her Facebook page, I knew I had to make something with it.

I started by adhering patterned papers and vintage sheet music to a 4x4 cradled wood panel.  I dry-brushed on white acrylic paint and added texture by stenciling modeling paste through a piece of punchinella.  After the modeling paste dried, I tinted it with distress ink.  I printed the photo on matte paper, trimmed out the three figures and adhered it to the background (note: you need to print photos on a laser printer if you're going to use wet media).  I added more modeling paste, charcoal pencil and Stabilo All Pencil to bring everything together.

After much debate as to whether to add a hanger or some feet, I decided on feet, using two old metal bobbins wound with a strip of book page.  And of course, I had to finish off the back with more book text, because those kinds of details are important to me.

I think this turned out so cute!  I love the juxtaposition of the vintage photo with the colors, and the modeling paste looks like a bunch of abstract flowers, especially after I added the glitter glue.  I hope she likes it.

Have a fabulous day!