Showing posts with label Wax. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wax. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Letting my crazy out to play...

I gave myself pretty much all day Sunday as an art day. I've had all these half-baked ideas spinning around in my head, various pieces and parts that I've wanted to do something with. I want to have more than just wall art at the upcoming show I'm in, plus some smaller affordable things (thanks for everyone's wonderful support and advice on this topic!).  So I pulled a bunch of stuff out of their various cubbies, and stared at everything, and let my brain stew for awhile.  A couple hours later there was utter chaos in the room my studio is - things laid out everywhere, glue drying, wax drying, plaster drying, power tools being wielded by my oh-so-handy man. I think the dogs were afraid to come in at that point. 

This is an old rusty film tin. The bottom of the tin has a layer of wax over the bug paper, and the skull has been dipped in wax several times.  It's attached to the bottom by a spring, so it comes up to the level of the top of the tin and kind of bounces around when you move it. I love it!




I've had this heavy, yellow, horn-like thing for quite a while. No idea what it was from, but I decided it was finally time to do something with it.... And a confession, I have a pretty serious thing about croquet balls...



Now, when I said in the title that I let my crazy out to play, this piece is where it really shows. I can't tell you what it is, except an assemblage of things I really love.






It's made from an old porcelain wall soap/toothbrush holder, an old cork fishing buoy, mystery hardware, a number from an old cash register, and this precious tiny little pulley that I'm not sure I can actually give up... It's probably too weird to sell anyway, so I guess I'll just have to keep it!

The other things I started I'm still working on.... I've discovered how much I like to have multiple things started. When I get home from work, it's so hard for me to start a project - the beginnging, the thinking and looking through all my stuff is what takes most of my time and energy. But coming home and just sitting down to a work in progress - that I have no trouble doing - that's the fun part. It's a good lesson learned...

Friday, April 13, 2012

Drippy, waxy fun




This is my most recent project, and it was so fun. I just totally indulged what I felt like doing, and didn't let myself think about if anyone else would like it, or worry about the end result. Sometimes I get so invested in the end result I don't end up enjoying the process (I know I'm not alone in this...)  I just used things I love - wonderful old pages with great handwriting, drippy paint, lots of wax, actual old paintbrushes and old hardware/metal pieces.  The center part actually does spin - I handed it to my boyfriend and asked him to make it happen, which he always does...





I love wax, how it allows what's under it to still show through, buts adds softness and mystery. I love how you can rub ink or paint over it, then wipe it off and how that brings out all the wonderful texture and imperfections. Or, as I did here, words or even carved designs can be brought out.  Voila!  Instant character....