There is a new gourd project at my gourd work station and I’m excited to be creating gourd art once again after concentrating on Mixed Media Assemblage the past few months. In an effort to simplify my gourd designs, I’ve decided this time to concentrate on a rim design and the eventual color. Even with my goal of simplifying, I’m facing challenges. But it’s all part of the learning process, right?!
My favorite gourd shape is the canteen gourd. My woodburning technique has improved greatly and the wavering lines in the design are due more to the bumps in the gourd shape than an uncertain hand. Not that my woodburning is perfect – only improved.
I plan on embedding cabochons around the rim. The two you see are only loosely adhered to the gourd at this time to check on the overall look. I like it.
And now for the bigger challenges! See the natural discoloration on the left? To my way of thinking, I’ll need to paint the gourd with acrylics rather than dye as dyeing will leave the pattern uneven since it is transparent. Also, notice the scarring at the bottom left of the gourd? It is natural therefore it is beautiful – or at least that’s how I’ve been advised to consider such imperfections.
And finally, see how the lines seem to slant downward to the left? That is an even line from the rim which was measured evenly from the top of the gourd before I removed it. Sigh.
This remains one of those gourd mysteries as I have used the “pencil on the stick” (gourd compass) to measure up from the bottom on previous projects and felt the same sense of unevenness with the top cut of the gourd going one way and the lines going another.
So next time, I’ll try cutting the top of the gourd off by measuring from the bottom up with the gourd compass. I’ve tried that too with mixed results but I’m hoping it improves with experience.
Regardless of these challenges, I believe this will be one beautiful piece of gourd art once I’m done. More later!
Last week I wrote about Little Bits of Bigger Things – turning big items into unique embellishments for your Mixed Media or Assemblage work. It’s my favorite type of hunt – finding objects that will be so much more useful if only cut up a bit or taken apart.
This past weekend, I discovered a new-to-me flea market/vintage marketplace (it is now on my list of favorite haunts) and brought home a number of these large items that I immediately turned into little bits. Two were necklaces – no big secret on how to dissemble those but the results may surprise you. But first, let me start with the picture frame.
A resin frame for a 4″ x 6″ picture, it drew my eye. If I used frames, it would be a possibility for our cabin. Second, it was priced for only a few dollars. But I passed it by and kept up my hunt. However, I returned to it twice before convincing myself that it would be perfect for Mixed Media Assemblage work if only it was… broken. Yep, it now sits in my Art Room in delightful pieces.
So, guess what I did first when I arrived home? Took it apart.
Then, it was time for the fun. Placing padding beneath and over the frame, I let my mallet do the work.
Now I have these wonderfully 3D pieces with a flat back – perfect for adhering to a canvas. I consider this a definite win as I just can’t find embellishments like this anywhere and as I slowly blend them into a number of art pieces, each will add yet another bit of uniqueness to its piece.
Next is the belt. A pretty belt for sure but not one I’d use in my wardrobe. Plus those pieces of silver are closer to tin and the belt was not well made. But that center silver piece? Around 4″ across – a perfect focal point for a larger work of art. And all of those other silver adornments – perfect embellishments!
It’s not a silver finish I’d use in a Mixed Media Assemblage piece, but that is easily changed. I’ll either antique the silver or paint it with Ranger’s Vintaj Patina. Just look at the yield when I finished disassembling!
Now the necklaces – the first was sweet for sure but hung in an indiscernible mess. And the price was right.
Disassembled, look at the number of embellishments. I love working with hearts so they are a welcome addition to my stash any time.
The second necklace is sort of a no brainer for disassembling but the yield looks different once in pieces.
The beads are large and unusual and, most importantly, will require no painting as I work with these colors often and they are aged ever so perfectly. I don’t find beads of this nature sold individually for anywhere close to this cost. Their width is approximately .75″ and they cost me $.20 per bead. Definite score.
I encourage you to go on the hunt next time you see a flea market or vintage marketplace. Going in, know that prices in these markets vary greatly – the first market you enter may price their items three times as much as the second market a few miles down the street. I usually find the least fancy looking markets carry the best finds.
My art room is filled with objects to include in my Mixed Media Assemblage work. Most are found objects – little items I discover while on one of my flea market or estate sale hunts. I also use a good percentage of new objects found at hobby stores or online. But there’s another type of found object that I value even more which provides me with numerous uses – the larger item that I take apart to use bit by bit.
The possibilities are endless as there are so many objects that are actually more interesting once taken apart. I may move on after seeing a beaded purse at a flea market because I have no interest in paying $15.00 for a single item. But as I continue shopping, my mind may return to that purse as I think about the treasures waiting to be uncovered if only I’d buy it. Its unattractive colors are of little consequence since I can always paint a piece to coordinate with whatever color scheme I have in a particular design. As I walk over to take a second look, I realize that the purse would yield at least 50 bits of beaded design to include in my art work. That means each piece would cost me a quarter. Now, looking at it that way, the purse is quite affordable!
To the right is a perfect example. It is, in fact, that very purse. I wish I had snapped a picture of it before cutting into pieces. It had a shoulder strap (completely usable) and a sixties look to it. And to my eye – an unappealing color combination.
And here’s a close up of all that beaded action. Excellent for mixed media!
But look at it when used as an element in a work of art. You see the light blue and green beads highlighted with gold on the lower right? It extends up the center to close to the top. That’s the same black fabric with its red, yellow, blue, and white beads. Its look is completely transformed. Even the texture of the backing fabric adds interest.
That close up detail is taken from Tree of Hearts where you’ll find even more use of the former beaded purse.
And then there is this little pearl purse with the broken zipper that I have been reducing in size little by little as I have used it over and over as an embellishment. Cost – under $5.00. Yield – beautiful enhancements to at least 20 Mixed Media Assemblage pieces.
You can find bits of this little pearl purse in the image that is the header to Art Creations by Vicky. At the upper and lower edges of this closeup, do you see the orange backing topped with a turquoise pearl? Yep – one and the same. Take a look at Sun Central to see this entire piece.
Repurposing old crocheted doilies works well too, especially if they are ruffled around the edges. In this case, the thicker the thread used to make the doily, the better the design for Mixed Media Assemblage purposes. I have been taking pieces from this ruffled doily for some time now.
Here’s a piece of that same doily ruffle in one of my earlier pieces. It’s stretched from the right of the straw basket to below it. Magnificent effect.
It’s Not Limited to Fiber or Fabric
Using bits of larger pieces is certainly not limited to fabric or fiber. What about a really old clock missing so many pieces that it is priced for a song? Steampunk is big and clock pieces thoroughly fit into that look. Bingo – your $5.00 salvage just turned into at least 10 pieces that provide distinction to your artwork.
Here I used an old clock face for the focal point of a steampunk piece. You’ll notice that its frame is broken. For Mixed Media and especially steampunk? All the better! I have the gears and other pieces to use at a later time. To view the entire piece, take a look at Steampunk Time.
Remember – when hunting for a piece to disassemble or cut apart, don’t consider the colors or even the type of metal. If the metal is too shiny, you can age it. If it is silver, you can paint it bronze without risking peeling if you have the right type of product. If you don’t care for the color of the fabric/fiber, paint it first with gesso then the paint color of your choice. The possibilities are endless.
I’ll be talking later in more detail about how to change the colors or age an item. There is a lot to learn but it is well worth the time!
One of the walls in my art room. Every wall is filled with completed art or work in progress.
I’ve been artsy all my life but only recently started taking myself seriously as an “artist”. Although I knew I was artistic, not many around me knew the depth of my artistic side as I had marked that part of my life as private.
Art is my escape from the every day world – my treasure – an activity so throughly fulfilling that it needs no outside encouragement to keep it moving forward. However, that said, I do love touching base with fellow artists and learning from one another. I do believe we can’t create in a complete shell – that to grow as an artist, we need to see what is out there, master new techniques, and share our own work. In doing so, it expands the scope of our own work and provides us with further inspiration.
Therefore, I’m finally doing it. I’m finally launching a site where I cannot only share my art work but teach others as well. By nature, I’m both an artist and a teacher.
What will you see here at Art Creations by Vicky? First of all, my works of art. I now create primarily in two mediums – Mixed Media Assemblage Art and Gourd Art. Eight years ago, I fell in love with Mixed Media and Assemblage art and started creating in a way that completely captured my imagination as I blended the two mediums into one. I also work with gourds, turning their hard shells into works of art by carving, burning, painting, staining, weaving, and adding adornments.
Both Mixed Media Assemblage Art and Gourd Art require a basis of knowledge. Of course, as a newbie, you can sit down and create in either medium and possibly be very happy with the result. But I have found myself more than a little lost when I attempt a new look without understanding the techniques needed to obtain that look. However, if you build slowly on your knowledge base in either medium, you can be very pleased with each step you take as your work becomes more sophisticated.
So, I’ll be sharing methods I utilize when creating my artwork. The definition of Mixed Media and Assemblage Art almost defies description as it is so vast in its inclusion – it can be expressed in so many different ways. It takes learning a few basics and then expanding from there. Where do you want to take your work next? That’s next on your list of learning. Fortunately there are thousands of YouTube videos and art blogs to provide you with step by step instructions. Find a style that speaks to you and follow those artists. Absorb the steps they teach you, personalize it, and then, turn out your own version. Respect the artist and resist the temptation to copy their creation (especially if you have any plans to sell) – it’s all about learning techniques.
Gourd Art is the same – it takes learning the tools of the trade. Fortunately, I had a gourd artist to learn from those first days who greatly helped me establish a base of knowledge. I still rely on her expertise from time to time as she is a fantastic teacher and encourager. But, I create on my own although it is very much a work in progress. I plan on sharing some of these lessons with you as well.
My art room is a very special place to me and I love sharing ideas on efficient organization, storage, your all-important work station, and making it all visually pleasing and comfortable. So, we’ll spend time talking about where we create.
I sell my artwork at Etsy – artcreationsbyvicky. My Mixed Media Assemblage inventory is strong right now – I still have many pieces waiting to be listed. I do have a small selection of Gourd Art and that will be increasing. I have been on a Mixed Media Assemblage kick lately and haven’t been giving my Gourd Art first place. But my love of Gourd Art is as strong as ever and I’m sure it will have its turn at first place.
Finally, I sell “found objects” (little pieces of old stuff). I’m constantly on the hunt for the objects used in my Mixed Media Assemblage pieces and love exploring vintage marketplaces, flea markets, and estate sales. Each Mixed Media Assemblage piece features a number of these “found” objects and I usually have many more of these objects than I can possibly use. Therefore, I’m spreading the joy and selling some of my found objects – either individually or in a grouping (ever heard of destash?) in my Found Objects section on Etsy. It’s a way for you to acquire unique items to use in your art work without having to wade through those flea markets or similar sales yourself.
You can also find me on Facebook. I only recently started selling in my Etsy shop and I’m launching this site at the same time as my Facebook page. So, I can sorta say “We’re at the beginning.” although I’ve been working up to this point for years now!
I want to thank my sister Mary for working with me on building this website. Although I know quite a bit about running the day to day affairs of a website, I’m not the technical type who easily comprehends (or even wants to comprehend) what it takes to set up a site (I’m sorta a technophobe actually). Many thanks Mary!
If you wish to message me, please do so here. I plan to enable comments at a later date after I learn more about protecting the site from spam.
