Always...Love

I created this Valentine to send to my buddy Ron.  I'm sure he would prefer a real pin-up girl, but he'll have to settle for this paper one.

I started by creating a patchwork of patterned papers on the background.  I muted the tones by scraping on white gesso using an old credit card.  The raised letters and numbers were achieved by applying modeling paste through a stencil.  After the paste dried completely, I laid the stencil down again and sponged on some distress ink.

I ended up using a lot of Tim Holtz products on this card: the patterned papers, the film strip, two stencils, the ticket, the photobooth cutie, a rub-on and of course, distress inks (one of my all-time favorite art items).  I love the muted palette of this card which gives a nod to Valentine's Day but isn't overly feminine.

Thanks for dropping by.  Have a fabulous day.

Supplies:
Red cardstock by Bazzill; Tim Holtz products: photo booth image, patterned paper, film strip, ticket, alphabet stencil, burlap stencil; festive berries, stormy sky and gathered twigs Distress Inks; paper flower by Prima; antique copper brad; love die cut by Little Yellow Bicycle; heart punch by Marvy; Golden modeling paste; white gesso; titanium white acrylic paint.

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!

Romancing the Flaws

One thing that art students are encouraged to do is to experiment without worrying about the final result. Try a new technique, play with a different medium, stretch your boundaries. And that is exactly what I've been doing the past few nights. I have decided to call this process "Romancing the Flaws," after a phrase I found in a book.

This is a 6x8 inch canvas panel where I practiced several new techniques. This piece has its flaws, but it's not completely without merit and it gets me one step closer to one of my goals: creating larger, canvas-based, mixed-media collages. The most important thing is that I'm learning.

Have a great weekend!

Supplies:
6x8 canvas panel; ivory and white acrylic paint; vintage dictionary page and sheet music; clip art border, prayer card, and little girl photo from Green Paper Packages; butterflies from Graphics Fairy; tea dye distress ink; dark moss chalk ink; modeling paste; brass stencil; Derwent charcoal pencil; buttons and lace from my stash; text from a book by Sarah Ban Breathnach.