Yesterday I started what I now believe will become a grand paint adventure. I’m talking gorgeous colors – can you see?!

Anxious to start working with Finnabair’s new line of Art Alchemy Impasto paints, I started loading a 12″ x 12″ primed canvas with five of the six newly arrived Impasto paints. I didn’t even use that palette you see at the top of this image – I squeezed the paint from the tube onto the canvas and started working it together, first with my brush and then with my finger. It’s a highly pigmented heavy bodied paint which means that it’s not only beautiful but it is also thick and easy to work with. No runny paint here, you can even use your actual brush strokes as part of your design since it almost has the consistency of light modeling paste. Spray a bit of water on the paint and you can extend its coverage.

Before painting, I covered the canvas with texture paste utilizing several randomly placed stencils. I had no idea how effective that would be as I had not yet realized just how easily my finger could transform paints applied side by side into detailed texture.

These gorgeous colors are bright for my Assemblage Canvas work but that first coat is only the beginning. I plan to add hundreds of items. How? Well, see… that’s why I’m calling it an adventure. I don’t yet know! I’m taking it step by step and already have painted dozens of little pieces to gradually work in with dozens of bronze items. And to prepare for that step, I spritzed the entire canvas with Lindy’s Starburst Grab a Guy Gold spray. I use a wide array of Lindy’s spritzes extensively in my work and Grab a Guy has to be my favorite.

Much of this background will eventually be covered by other elements but that’s the nature of Assemblage art work. There are at least a half dozen layers making up each of my backgrounds – it’s all about building depth for the final product.

This Impasto paint line represents (to the best of my knowledge) Finnabair’s entry into selling non-metallic paint. She has an impressive selection of metallic paints, powders, and waxes – all ones I use heavily when creating metallic works. My favorite non-metallic paint remains DecoArt’s Media Fluid Acrylics but these Impasto paints will definitely have their place in my future work. They are simply a wonderful alternative for the Mixed Media or Assemblage artist.

Vicky

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Yes, my heart is full of thanks – it’s a standard I strive to live by every day. But the hearts I’m talking about today are the little ones I started handcrafting recently to include as thank you gifts to buyers of my Assemblage Art pieces.

I find that knowing the basics of sculpting with polymer clay, either by hand or using molds, is a valuable tool for the Assemblage or Mixed Media artist. If you can’t find a particular piece – either among your found objects or new embellishments – to fill that hole or serve as the focal point in a specific artwork, your choices are unlimited when you turn to polymer clay for the solution.

This time around, polymer clay provided me with a quick and easy little gift for my art customers. I’ll run a ribbon through the heart’s hole and tie it around the tissue-wrapped artwork. I’m thrilled with the result!

The hearts that are pure white are those directly from the oven. Originally, I planned on doing no more to the hearts as the chalky white is attractive as it is. Polymer clay can be painted before or after baking. It can be stained, sprayed, and painted with further detail – for starters. However, I chose to go with wax.

Artist Anna Dabrowska – better known as Finnabair – specializes in Mixed Media and Assemblage Art and works with Prima Marketing to develop Mixed Media products. I adore these products as well as Finnabair’s work. She is such an inspiration. One of her latest releases in the Art Alchemy line is a selection of permanent waxes in a wide variety of colors and finishes. Truly versatile, these waxes provided me with the perfect finish for my little hearts and it only took a minute or two for each heart.

I will have the opportunity to send five of these hearts out in the next few days as my Assemblage Art has really been selling this past week when I just happened to be on vacation!

Vicky

 

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This piece will always remind me of our new puppy Thomas. He’s a black golden doodle who is definitely on the young side of puppyhood, Still unable to trust him to run around, I created an area in my art studio for him where he can play with toys or nap in his bed. So, most of this artwork was created as my little fella slept or played in my studio.

Okay – can you tell I have had puppies on my mind?! Now switching gears to steampunk…

With the exception of one mini canvas, all the artwork with a strong steampunk theme has sold in my shop. So, with my latest creation, I decided to go big on the steampunk elements while giving a nod to the industrial look as well.

It’s a “two piece makes one” art piece. Two 14″ x 11″ canvases join together visually with two sides of a lock set which are then each attached to a wing. The background is black layered with spritzes of coordinating color. This one was hard to photograph. After five separate sessions in varied lighting, I finally realized the metallic sheen on the spritzes just wasn’t going to allow the black foundation to show as much as it does when in hand. Wish my photographer sister and brother-in-law were around to help me with this one! Still, the photographs are 90% on target – just expect a little more black to show in the background.

Now for the official description.

Original Steampunk Art – Two for One Steampunk Canvases

This original steampunk work of art consists of two canvases that make one piece. On two 11″ x 14″ stretched canvases, overall measurements of the work (when you include a 1″ space between the two canvases) are 23″ wide by 14″ high. It’s 3D assemblage art at its best with a background comprised of multiple coats and spritzes of paint with stenciled textured designs and an overall depth of 1.50″. It is sold as a pair.

It seems that I love tiny details and this pair of assemblage canvases proves that point. When I finished this work, I knew I had included many pieces but was surprised to see it contains over 300 embellishments! I usually try to list the embellishments in my assemblage work but this time, I’ll share the highlights…

Let’s start with the vintage found objects. Behind the central design is facial netting from a woman’s hat circa 1950-60. The clock face is vintage as well as the clock gear and inner workings. Other vintage pieces include a mechanical tool pin, an unknown metal tool piece, adding machine keys, typewriter keys, links from two bracelets, metal beads – large, medium, and small, 12V bulb and socket, another 12V bulb, various plastic jewelry elements, buttons, washers, electric wire, hors d’oeuvres fork, earrings, glass oblong bead, and brooch.

The new charms/embellishments/found objects include metal bird, black bird, glass stones, propeller, wings – both large and small, steampunk bird, winged key, mosaic tiles, flying heart, gears of all types and sizes, stars, paper/fabric roses, branches, bow, hinge and latch set, buttons, large decorative beads, pocket watch form, acorns, bark, quote charm stating “reality has limits, imagination is boundless”, and various metal embellishments.

There are attached hangers for wall hanging. Although most of my Assemblage Art pieces can be framed, I don’t suggest framing this steampunk pair. Embellishments hang over the edges as part of the intricate design.

Original article updated Nov, 2017 to include current status – SOLD

Dimensions: Hung as a pair as shown 23″ x 14″ x 1.50″. Hung separately 14″ x 11″ x 1.50″

All Assemblage Art pieces sold at Art Creations by Vicky are original works from artist Vicky Hensley.

 

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It’s almost ready to go – a two piece Assemblage Art Canvas. And the theme is completely steampunk. It’s about 80% finished and I plan to have it listed next week!

Vicky

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Last week I ran an article featuring one of my latest Assemblage Canvases that I had just listed on Etsy. Although I had given it the “hang and wait test” and it had passed (I let an art piece hang for a week in my art studio before listing to convince myself it’s finished), I was still a bit unsure of its final design. Holding it in my hands, I saw the beauty of the finished piece but was concerned that photos wouldn’t adequately showcase what I was seeing. I couldn’t rid myself of the nagging feeling that I was right – it was a piece that was better suited for a one-on-one sale than an online sale.

After tracking the public’s response through multiple tools, I decided it was time to let the piece evolve further. I told myself that I wasn’t changing it so much as I was taking it to its next level. Whatever Vicky! I changed its focal point by removing and replacing the figurehead and toning down the starkness of the building by adding gray and bronze tones. I’m much happier with the final product and that nagging feeling has fled. It really is finished!

And the final piece…

The full details can be found here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vicky

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It all started with that Greek ancient looking figurehead and a heart. It sat for days waiting for me to feel inspired to continue. What was I to do with those two pieces? What direction should I take?

By the third day, I reached for a resin off white plaque featuring an ancient building that was now in pieces. I had taken a hammer to it a few months earlier to give me broken chunks of that building. I just knew those 3D bits would work well in future Assemblage pieces. So, I added the resin building chunk and let the piece sit again for a few days as I worked on other Assemblage canvases. Now and then I’d glance at it and carry over another embellishment or two to add to its growing idea stack.

This is how art grows in my studio. Rarely do I just sit down and start a piece knowing where it will go. Instead, I first plan my color scheme and then create the textured background. Next, I choose the focal point which sometimes takes me days (now you can see why I usually work on four or five art pieces at a time). In this piece, the focal point is actually three pieces – the figurehead, heart, and building. Once I’ve selected the focal point, I start searching my multiple embellishment boards and sectioned boxes of assemblage elements for those items I think would work well with the growing theme in my head.

Finally – when I did start the actual assembling of this piece, it flowed easily. I worked and worked – caught up in the creating but not knowing exactly where it would end up. It was almost like it had a bit of an aura that drew me to create in a specific manner.  When I felt it was almost completed, I searched for the final element and saw the REMNANTS charm hanging on one of my embellishment boards and knew it was a perfect finishing touch.

And now for the official description…

Inspired by the combination of a centuries old figurehead and a scrap of an ancient building, I dove into this 3D Assemblage wall art on canvas not really knowing where it would end up. The stunning result has a bit of an ancient feel all over and it’s filled with found objects, both vintage and new. The “REMNANTS” word charm seemed to be the perfect finishing touch.

I chose a blend of light violet and light blue mixed with gray tones for the foundation and then started adding complimentary colors as the layers of elements increased. My Assemblage Art is best described as “original 3D collage on canvas”. It does have a mixed media vibe as well but its many elements place it firmly in the Assemblage category.

Measuring 12.0″ x 9.0″ with a depth of 1.875″, the background is textured with stenciled modeling paste and finished off with a number of paints, spritzes, and metallic waxes.

Vintage found objects include:
Brass flowers and leaves
Chandelier trims
Rectangle metal piece
White bird
Buttons
Jewelry – earrings, beads, and base pieces for building jewelry
Metal leaves
Filigreed and Ivy embellishments
Wood half rounds
Decorative hors d’oeuvres forks
Resin piece of ancient structure

Newer elements include quote charm, metal embellishments, resin figurehead, filagreed rounds, beaded bracelet piece, wings, bark, filigreed heart, flower cabochons, and styrofoam heart.

Original article updated Nov, 2017 to include current status – SOLD

Dimensions: 12.0” height x 9.0” wide x 1.875″ deep

Hangers are attached and, while I prefer the no-frame look, this is ready for framing. This piece will also display nicely on an easel.

All art pieces sold at Art Creations by Vicky are the work of artist Vicky Hensley and are one of a kind.

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Spending time in natural environments has always been one of my favorite things to do. I long to be deep in a forest or looking out over a mountain or standing in a stream. Fortunately, our cabin fills many of these longings with trails deep into the woods and a mountain view. And sometimes, I just have to transfer my longings for nature into my artwork.

Finding the polymer clay mold for this woodland nymph inspired today’s work. When creating, I let this one sit for days at a time as I contemplated my next move on its design. One thing I knew I must do – keep the elements large since I was working on a larger canvas. I knew filling a 16″ x 20″ canvas with hundreds of tiny objects was not the direction I wanted to take. I wanted the nymph to stand out and I pulled it off!

Now for the full detail…

3D Woodland Collage – Forest Nymph

Discovering a polymer clay mold for this gorgeous forest nymph (in round frame), my imagination went into overdrive as I saw visions of a woodland collage – Assemblage Canvas style. Straight from Greek Mythology, I envisioned an original 3D wall art piece featuring the woodland goddess in her natural environment. Some may call her a fairy rather than a nymph and that fits too!

One of my largest pieces to date, it measures 20″ x 16″ x 1.75″. Its background is comprised of numerous layers of paint and spritz sprays and stenciled texture paste in a number of designs. The art form is called Assemblage Art, a method of creating a larger art piece from smaller (found) objects. My assemblage art is on canvas rather than free standing.

The found objects used in creating this piece are, in a large part, vintage. Vintage elements include:
Round wood frame
Tin candy mold
Brass flowers and leaves
Chandelier trim
Jewelry – earrings, brooches, and beads
Beaded flowers
Filigreed and Ivy embellishments
Piece of beaded purse
Piece of beaded collar
Rhinestone button

Newer elements include polymer clay face made by yours truly, buttons, resin heart, and metal embellishments.

$149.00

Available for purchase at my Etsy shop

Dimensions: 20.0” height x 16.0” wide x 1.75″ deep

Hangers are attached and, while I prefer the no-frame look, this is ready for framing. This piece will also display nicely on an easel.

All art pieces sold at Art Creations by Vicky are the work of artist Vicky Hensley and are one of a kind.

 

I haven’t been around for the past two weeks as I’ve been preparing for and running the third annual Cousins Camp for my grandchildren. It’s fun in the very biggest way as I hold it at our cabin in the country and our days are filled with artwork and field trips and… no toys or electronics are allowed. Next year, our numbers will be increasing by two as the youngest cousins will be turning 4 – the magic age that proclaims you old enough to be a Cousin Camper. That means I’ll need a Camp Counselor and my daughter has been called upon to start getting ready now!

So, early this morning my art studio was calling me and I was up at 4:30 a.m. (NOT my usual hour). I’ve been fortunate to sell quite a few of my artworks the past few weeks leaving the selection lower than I prefer, although still significant. It’s mostly filled with newer works as the older pieces have gradually moved on to their new homes. Production and finalizing pieces I’ve had underway is taking top priority.

Today’s Beginnings article will now run monthly and it will be filled with art in process rather than – you got it – finished work.

No embellishments have been adhered to any of the pieces yet other than the moon and its crown and quote charm. I’m still moving the elements around and adding to get a better idea of where I’m headed. I have most of my elements chosen for the piece featuring the blue heart with figurehead and I’ll just start gluing without planning further since it is a smaller canvas. However, I can’t do that with the larger pieces and I tread carefully as I fashion the focal point on the larger pieces. Then the finish occurs rather quickly.

See that black blob in the upper left – honestly, how can you miss it?! It actually represents a great deal of work to date as I’m layering it and using a few difficult techniques. It’s a work that will be built with black as its bottom layer rather than the traditional white/off white and feature a steampunk theme.

I’m a little concerned about that black canvas now. Its frame has twisted a little and now all four corners don’t touch the table. This is a new problem for me and, honestly, unless I can repair it, I’ll ditch it rather than build the intricate piece I’m planning. I haven’t started researching the cure for the problem (surely there is one?). If any of you know of a fix, could you message me here? I’d be most appreciative!

Here’s to wishing you a great June! I’ll be back later this week.

Vicky

When creating Roses on Canvas, I must have been in a rather extravagant mood. I mean… I kept adding roses! And it felt good to just let it flow knowing it would all come together eventually. The result is a rather lush look compared to my previous artwork but one I’ll definitely pursue again. I love the 2.5″ depth – that in and of itself feels extravagant for a 9″ x 12″ canvas.

The official Description:

All of my Assemblage creations fall into the category of 3D wall art, some more than others, as with this 9″ x 12″ lush 3D flower canvas that measures 2.5″ in depth. It’s rose art at its best with a profusion of roses spilling out of the basket in every direction and therefore earned the name Roses on Canvas. And just as with the majority of pieces, it contains numerous found objects – small elements I find at vintage markets or estate sales. The basket holding the roses? It’s actually part of large boy’s toy that reminded me of a pocket envelope.

In my Assemblage canvas art, the background is comprised of multiple layers. Here, I’ve layered stenciled texture paste, gauze, bias tape, mini beads, Battenburg lace, and numerous paints before finishing off with metallic spritzes and waxes.

Vintage found objects include: bead collar, half wood round, chandelier piece, beads, filagreed round, decorative hors d’oeuvres fork, hat netting, metal leaves, buttons, earrings, toy piece, and beaded cones. Newer elements include beaded garland, various metal embellishments, resin leaves, paper/fabric roses, floral cabochons, word charm, filagree rounds, more metal leaves, and metal hearts.

Hangers are attached and, while I prefer the no-frame look, this is ready for framing. This piece will also display nicely on an easel.

$79.95

Available for purchase at my Etsy shop

Dimensions: 12.0” x 9.0” x 2.5″

All art sold at Art Creations by Vicky are the work of artist Vicky Hensley and are one of a kind.

Thanks for stopping by!

Vicky

Spring is exceptionally beautiful in Oklahoma this year. It’s a time of year that carries with it an air of uncertainty as the storms and tornados roll in and the weather can dip down to freezing or hit 100 in May. I live in Eastern Oklahoma so we enjoy a landscape filled with trees, lakes and even mountains (and, yes, the occasional plain). This year we have been blessed with sunny mild May days hovering in the 70s and occasionally drifting into the 80s and I find myself inspired to celebrate this offering of nature before the summer’s heat and humidity hits.

Art featuring nature feeds my soul. And when I’m creating that art, I feel the need to make it blue… and green… and beautiful. My latest nature offering is named Capture Life’s Moment just as the word charm states. Finding a bird’s nest to peer into and marvel once again at the beauty of the whole process certainly represents one of those moments for me.

And now for the official description…

Capture Life’s Moments – that’s the sentiment running through this Assemblage Art on Canvas. I’ve framed this one – something out of the ordinary for me. Featuring a bird’s nest made of a leaf on a rose textured background, three eggs are perched within. Measuring 13.25″ x 11.25″ with a depth of 2.0″, the center piece is canvas board; its textured background is painted, spritzed, and waxed with Art Alchemy’s Antique Brilliances waxes. The wooden frame that surrounds it is also textured with stenciled modeling paste and then painted, spritzed, and waxed.

I attempt to feature vintage found objects in my Assemblage pieces and here you’ll find two – the faux pearls surrounding the rectangular piece that the bird’s nest sits on are actually pieces of an old pearl purse. And the bird’s eggs are from an old bird’s egg wreath I found at an estate sale some years ago. The leaf that holds the eggs (and acts as the nest) is old but I don’t think vintage. Newer pieces include the word charm, floral cabochons, Spanish moss, and frame.

The frame hangs from a wire stretching across the back. This piece will also display nicely on an easel.

$69.95

Available at my Etsy shop

Dimensions: 13.25” x 11.25” x 2.0″

All Assemblage Art pieces sold at Art Creations by Vicky are original works from artist Vicky Hensley.

Thanks for stopping by!

Vicky