Vibrant Assemblage Color

Vibrant Assemblage Color

Vibrancy! Purple and orange put on a show but know how to step into the background for the central three-dimensional design. All of my art features upcycled items and here you will find that with dozens of vintage found objects. 

Measuring 18″ x 14″, it’s slightly larger than my usual offerings. Texture plays an important role with a background built from multiple coats and spritzes of paint and waxes over several stencil designs utilizing dimensional paste. Woven into the background are pieces of Tyvek (transformed into art by yours truly), further enhancing this intricate background. On a gallery wrapped canvas, the depth of this piece is 2.5″. 

Take a closer look at the three-dimensional nature of this piece.

Look closely and you will see approximately 100 embellishments – both vintage and new. Vintage items include fragment of resin wall hanging, toy plate, various metal belt pieces, assorted beads, crescent moon pendant, button, metal flower, segments of red beaded collar, large rhinestone brooch, metal decor, woven button, necklace, clock face fragments, mechanical elements, and a piece of a resin decorative container. Newer elements include buttons, metal leaves, winged heart, beaded arch, beads, arrow, and round focal point.

A wire hanger is attached. With the gallery wrapped canvas and finished sides, there is no need for framing.

Dimensions: 18.0″ x 14.0″ x 2.50″

Weight: 3 lb. 6 oz

$219.00

Available at my Etsy Shop

All Assemblage Art pieces sold at Art Creations by Vicky are original works from artist Vicky Hensley and one of a kind. 

Vintage Found Object Elegance

Vintage Found Object Elegance

Presenting my largest Assemblage Canvas to date. Its design is composed of approximately 300 found objects – most of which are vintage. Measuring 28″ x 22″, I concentrated on collecting larger found objects to better fit the the size of the canvas. 

Here those vintage found objects include imitation pearl purse sections, metal flowers, various belt sections, chains, crescent moons, round focal piece, broken clock pieces, earrings, clothes pin, pendants, brass beads, hors d’oeuvres fork, toy plate, woven buttons, resin pieces, arrow, pot lid, spring, necklace sections, buttons, shells, clock spring, musical notes, crinkled tin, drawer pull, chandelier decor, and various mechanical elements.

Hills and valleys – found object placement allows movement in the depth of the artwork.

Newer elements include beads, cabochons, fan, arch, arrow, abacus, and elephant. 

Dimensions: 28.0″ x 22.0″ x 3.00″

$495.00

Available for purchase at my Etsy Shop.

Weight: 5 pounds, 12 ounces

Other points of view…

A wire hanger is attached. With the gallery wrapped canvas and finished sides, there is no need for framing. 

Due to the size and weight, this piece will ship Fed Ex Ground. Upgrades are available.

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

Sunny

Sunny

This sunny take on steampunk is part of my 4 Inch Art line. It’s an original 3D collage measuring 4″ x 4″ x 1.125″. Before painting, the entire canvas was textured with a dimensional paste pattern. Found objects used to form this design include a metal sun face and acrylic leaves. 

Dimensions: 4″ x 4″ x 1.125″ 

$39.95

Available for purchase at my Etsy Shop

Please note: the two tiny flecks of turquoise paint you might see in the photos were debris from a photo session involving several pieces of assemblage art. These are not part of this piece.

For hanging, I prefer using the canvas frame to do so. This piece can be framed although I don’t believe this type of artwork needs framing. It also displays nicely on an easel.

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

Adoring Blue and Skinny

Adoring Blue and Skinny

A popular shape for decor. It stands on its own or fits in nicely with a grouping or in a niche.

This 12.0″ x 4.0″ Assemblage collage encourages us to “enjoy the journey.” Among the myriad of found objects within the design is even a destination if your imagination so desires – a token to “The Greatest Show on Earth. This particular canvas size is an especially popular one as it is a unique accent piece for your wall – it’s lovely displayed alone or works beautifully in a wall arrangement.

Three-dimensional from every angle

The depth of this piece is 1.50″. The background is first textured with a length of cheesecloth and strips of balsa wood and finished off with approximately 55 embellishments. 

Embellishments include a number of vintage pieces – a brooch, bracelet link, beads, flower pin, and the show token. The newer pieces include a clock face, several cabochons, gears, word band, flower, leaves, bird head, button, a piece of a berry wreath, and various metal embellishments including the cat sitting in the clock’s center and the diamond patterns.

A hanger is attached and, while I prefer the no-frame look, this Assemblage Art piece is ready for framing. It will also display nicely on an easel.

Dimensions: 12.0” x 4.0” x 1.50″

$65.95

Available for purchase at my Etsy Shop.

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

Upcycled Vintage Beauty

Upcycled Vintage Beauty

When I started this Assemblage canvas, I knew I wanted to make the two vintage chandelier flowers the stars of this show. They were an incredible find, setting the mood for a rather extravagant piece using a combination of blues, greens, and ivory. Around 70 embellishments, mostly vintage, combine to make this a beautiful piece of art.

Another look at the three dimensional design.

Measuring 16″ x 12″, it’s slightly larger than my usual offerings. Texture plays an important role with a background built from multiple coats and spritzes of paint and waxes over several stencil designs utilizing dimensional paste. Pieces of a vintage fabric and filigreed metal enhance its intricate background. On a gallery wrapped canvas, the depth of this piece is 2.50″. 

Most elements are vintage – a goal of mine with every piece.

Vintage elements include two large metal chandelier ornaments, 1980s jewelry makings, chain, clock spring, frames of resin ornament, sections of four metal belts, picture frame section, dangly earring, various bracelet segments, watch band, wood carved pelican pen, filigreed door, icing cone, seashells, necklace pieces, part of a tiny teapot, button. Newer elements include filigreed rounds and leaf, beads, gear, cabochon, button, locket, and pendant. 

A wire hanger is attached. With the gallery wrapped canvas and finished sides, there is no need for framing. 

Dimensions: 16.0″ x 12.0″ x 2.50″

$195.00

Available for purchase at my Etsy Shop.

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

A Contemporary Take on Assemblage Art

A Contemporary Take on Assemblage Art

My last three months have been spent sheltering in place at our cabin in southeast Oklahoma. It is a glorious place for creating with nature all around and big windows and porches to enjoy the rather spectacular weather we’ve been having. My creations from this time at the cabin are many but the ability to list these items or even write an article for this site from this isolated place was almost nil. Now that I’ve returned home, I can finally publish articles and listings! Yay! But I will really miss soaking in all that nature.

Introducing my contemporary take on Found Object Art. It falls into the category of 3D steampunk but it screams contemporary to me. This colorful 12” x 6” assemblage collage is especially eye-catching with its vintage elements making a strong statement of style. 

Texture plays an important role in this piece with a background built from multiple coats and spritzes of paint and waxes over several stencil designs utilizing dimensional paste. This creation is best described as a 3D collage on canvas made from “found objects” as well as newer embellishments. This assemblage collage contains around 45 found objects/embellishments. 

Here those vintage found objects include rusty tin pieces, hair comb, computer board, various metal elements, toy plate, orange beads, metal beads, bobbin, metal belt section, and watch band. Newer elements include beads, gears, button, and cabochons.

Hangers are attached making this Assemblage Art piece ready for hanging. With its gallery-wrapped canvas, it needs no framing. 

Dimensions: 12.0″ x 6.0″ x 2.25″

$54.95

Available for purchase at my Etsy Shop.

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

Sheltering in Place – an Artistic Challenge

Sheltering in Place – an Artistic Challenge

Preparing for Sheltering in Place. Six canvases – textured, painted, waxed, and spritzed – ready for the central design.

With COVID-19 threatening to knock on our door, I’ve been following the social distancing guidelines as well as staying in most of the time as both my husband and I fall into high risk categories. My concentration has been on the art of staying still as I’m not one who is naturally disposed to do so. I’m an extrovert and love to visit with family (grandkids!) and friends and attend one event or another. Bored is not a word that anyone could use to describe me as I’m always moving, creating, and searching for new ideas. I’m often out wandering around junk malls and estate sales to find the many vintage found objects used in my assemblage wall art. Needless to say, it’s taken me a while to settle into this new quieter routine.

Fortunately, my husband and I have a cabin getaway far into the country on the side of the world’s tallest hill, Cavanal Hill, in southeast Oklahoma. (Google “world’s tallest hill” and you will find us there.) 🙂 After staying in our city home for the first two weeks, I decided to temporarily move to the cabin as there is ample room to roam around outside and the “sheltering in place” doesn’t feel so restrictive. I brought with me a large amount of art supplies needed for assemblage art and I’m ready to create.

Creativeness blossoms in this – my favorite place.

So far, this time of sheltering in place both at home and the cabin, has ultimately proven to be very productive when it comes to creating new art. I’ve finished at least a half dozen pieces – large and small. But I had to force myself to begin – it took days of restlessness before I could finally focus.

I don’t have all six of those finished pieces at the cabin with me so I don’t have photos of all to share. Photo sessions of finished work have been placed on the back burner as I prepare for a show. However, using my phone, I took a few quick shots of several finished pieces on the cabin’s back porch to provide a glimpse of new pieces coming soon.

Left to right – a 12″ x 16″, a 12″ x 6″, and a 5″ x 7″ – all on galley wrapped canvases. The two canvases to the left aren’t full shots.

And another canvas in process measures 22″ x 28″ – large for assemblage art. Although it sits on an easel, it is not finished. I’m still shaping the central design – need to get it just right. It will happen… I’m leaving it for a few days and then I know, the finish will come easier.

NOT FINISHED. I’m still adding pieces…

Another important part of removing the “coronavirus blues” was the addition of a kitten into our household. I named him Blu and his antics are absolutely hilarious. I call him my “Art Kitty in training.” He’s with me constantly looking through every embellishment and chasing each dropped bead.

A nook of my art studio with Blu sitting in his favorite window.

I know it’s been a while since I posted. My apologies. I was shocked at how long it’s been. I’m putting it all on COVID-19.

Enjoy art in whatever way you can!

Vicky

Bright and Bold

Bright and Bold

Bright colors assemblage style. Featuring red, gold and turquoise, this 7″ x 5″ piece of 3D wall art definitely catches the eye. The background is textured with stenciled modeling paste and finished off with a number of paints, spritzes, and metallic waxes. Embellishments are then adhered to the canvas to form a three-dimensional design.

You’ll find around 25 embellishments adhered to this gallery wrapped canvas. Older elements (found objects) include hors d’oeuvres fork, tin flower, buckle trim, and buttons. Newer elements include leaves, plaster flowers, crown, cabochons, face, gear, and beads. 

Dimensions: 7.0″ x 5.0″ Depth 2.0″

$54.95

Available for purchase at my Etsy Shop

Hangers are attached.

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

A Pair of Assemblage Collages

A Pair of Assemblage Collages

Two Assemblage Canvases… together they form one piece of art. Hung side by side, where one leaves off, the second continues the design. You can space these just an inch apart (pictured) or separate the two more – it’s what looks best to you. 

On gallery wrapped canvases, I alternately blended a lighter gray with slate and white for the background. The background texture is a mix of paper and modeling paste that is finished off with a number of paints, spritzes, and metallic waxes. Tyvek has also been used in the background for a truly unique touch. Embellishments are adhered to the canvas to form a three-dimensional design.

Over 240 embellishments fill the design of this assemblage wall art piece.

Look closer and see a piece of stained glass, a bell that still rings, a very unusual knob, and a milk bottle cap now filled with an old medal that says “C.M. & L.. Co. 70 West Helena.” 

You’ll find over 240 embellishments in this pair of Assemblage Collages. Approximately two-thirds are vintage found objects which includes: knob, fan blade, broken resin pieces, coaster, tiles, pearl purse bits, bobbin, bobbin casing, brooch, brass buttons, clockworks, steel round, bottle glass, bell, spindles, stained glass, buttons, various mechanical bits, brass rounds, sections from several belts, pieces of necklaces and bracelets, jumbo buttons, leaf, chain, plaster flower, icing tips, pendant, rose frame bits, wood flower, brass weight, milk cap, old medal, and toy piece. 

Seeing the actual size of your art

Newer elements include: buckle, belt section, arrow pouch, wings, metal embellishments, tiles, buttons, clock face, leaves, cabochons, tyvek, beads, gears, filigreed pieces, bracelet and necklace pieces, sun, and polymer clay decorative pieces (fashioned by yours truly). 

Each canvas measures 24.0″ x 12.0″ giving the set total dimensions (with a 1″ space between the two) of 25.0″ by 24.0″ with a depth of 3.0″. Hanging wire is attached to each piece. These gallery wrapped assemblage canvases usually remain unframed as the sides of the canvas are finished as well. 

Dimensions when hung together as suggested: 24.0″ x 25.0″ Depth 3.0″

$495.00

Available for purchase at my Etsy Shop or through Paypal (message me).

The three-dimensional effect is all important in my assemblage wall art.

This artwork will be shipped in two boxes to protect the three-dimensional elements.

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

Envisioning a Photo’s Size

Envisioning a Photo’s Size

Photographing a piece of art in a room setting makes all the difference. This piece is SOLD.

When starting my Etsy Shop several years ago, I engaged two consultants known for their Etsy expertise. The first was very general and not much help other than to tell me my art was stunning and truly unique and that, as wonderful as my work was, fine art didn’t sell all that well on Etsy.

So, not one to give up easily, I set up a session with a second consultant. She too felt Etsy was not the best place for one-of-a-kind works of art but she was determined to help me so we concentrated on search engine optimization (SEO) and photography. I knew my photography was pretty good so I was a bit surprised when she brought it up. She quickly told me that she thought the photography was beautiful but it was missing something vital – perspective.

Envisioning an object’s size isn’t something that comes easy to me.
When I read the size of a decorative item I’m considering purchasing online, I often bring out the measuring tape (or my phone for smaller items) to “see” the actual size. Why would those who purchase my art be any different?

Thus began what ended up being a long process – that of photographing my art indoors in a home setting. Lighting is such a huge issue so not just any wall will do. Plus what about more nail holes in those almost pristine walls?

Indoor photography is crucial for larger art. I usually setup my photo sessions outside when the light is just right. But large art doesn’t fit on my outdoor backdrops and, of course, there is no opportunity to offer perspective on an outside wall.

With the help of my sister Mary, a professional photographer, and my husband, we created a wall in my office specifically for photography. I purchased an inexpensive piece of furniture from Wayfair for my centerpiece and added a lamp and a few other elements I could change out as needed. I was surprised at the cost of lighting equipment as it wasn’t all that expensive. And, to my delight, Mary had given me the reflectors once used in their photography studio.

Now I faced the real challenge – capturing those crisp lines and exact details on each of my works – just as I did outdoors. I haven’t perfected it but I’m getting VERY close.

In the meantime, I discovered a few apps that allow you to place your art on a number of walls featuring many room arrangements. Wow – now that’s an easy way to see perspective. They don’t appear absolutely realistic but it’s all about seeing the artwork’s size easily. It’s an effective stop- gap for now.

My office’s photography wall is very, very close to taking over the indoor jobs as I’ll be listing my first assemblage collage with my indoor photos within the week. However, I think I might always be a little fond of these art wall apps.

Providing a perspective of your artwork’s size also offers other advantages. It adds a richness to your item. It allows the buyer to see how it enhances a room and the versatility of your art.

Enjoy your art – whatever it may be!

Vicky