Ten years ago, when I started teaching myself what I now refer to as my Assemblage Art work, I often consulted Mixed Media magazines, Mixed Media blog posts, and Mixed Media YouTube videos for instruction. You see – in those early days, it was all about learning how to work with so many varying mediums. What was even available? Why couldn’t I make my paint look this way? Or why was that color so vibrant when mine wasn’t? How did I finish it all off? What about that crackling – I couldn’t figure that out. Or that light sprayed effect – where in the world did that come from? How did one get things to adhere that well? And why couldn’t I obtain that rusty look on metal? I didn’t realize that there were at least twenty different ways to paint an item depending on the end result you desired. Or that those sprays were much more than adding a bit of paint to water in an 88 cent Hobby Lobby spray bottle. And much, much, much more.

And learning Mixed Media techniques was the answer to all that. To become proficient in Mixed Media, one usually needs to learn how to effectively utilize a number of art mediums and the more, the better. And it is also discovering just how much there is to learn all while realizing there is still so much more to learn although you have already spent days, weeks, and months carefully following tutorials from YouTube or art supply sites and then practicing, practicing and practicing it all some more. Yes, what we now know as Mixed Media is the answer. Mixed Media is usually the term I use when searching the internet for a new process or product. And it delivers. But… Mixed Media does not describe the art I now turn out.

When I launched Art Creations by Vicky, I knew I had to properly describe just what my art was. And although I knew it encompassed a great deal of Assemblage technique, I still recalled all those years I spent learning Mixed Media techniques and felt I had to give homage to Mixed Media when naming the type of artwork found on the site. So, I started with “Mixed Media Assemblage Art”. As those two months of starting a site, an Etsy shop, and a Facebook page flew by, I didn’t think much more about my description other than it nagged at me – I knew it missed the mark. Now that I have the time to look around and find other work similar to mine, I have come to the conclusion that I need to remove the “Mixed Media” from the description. And I need to emphasize Assemblage Art.

Here’s a definition of Assemblage Art per Wikipedia:

 

Assemblage Art – an artistic form or medium usually created on a defined substrate (insert canvas here) that consists of three-dimensional elements projecting out of or from the substrate (canvas). It is similar to collage, a two-dimensional medium.

 

That’s it! That’s me! Finally, an accurate description of just what I create.

So, I’m removing Mixed Media from my art descriptions. It’s pure Assemblage Art. Mixed Media helped me arrive at this place but my love all along has been taking many small objects and forming a single art work with lots of three-dimensional action.

Other descriptive phrases that I feel work well for the type of art I create (other than Gourd Art) are Found Object Art, 3D Art, and even Repurposed Art or Recycled Art.

So, although all this doesn’t mean you will note a difference in what you see here at Art Creations by Vicky, I feel solid in selling myself purely as an Assemblage Artist. Thanks Mixed Media – you are part of what I create but the end product in my case is Assemblage Art. That feels ever so right.

Vicky

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By necessity, I have taken the last two weeks off. And it was just as I was ready to place the finishing touches on my latest work – a “two canvases make one” sort of Mixed Media Assemblage project. I am really excited as this one has felt good every step of the way even though it represents many hours of work.

I’m still adding a few embellishments to balance it all out. But the background will be the larger task as I plan to tone it down, remove the drips I purposefully included (and now feel must be removed) and cover up the deep red. I want the central design to be the focus without the background battling for attention.

So, time for a sneak peek! I hope to have the final product by Friday.

Vicky 

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!

Vicky

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.

Enjoy!

Vicky

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.

I’m looking forward to this new adventure!

Vicky