In late spring, I was commissioned to create a larger form of one of my earlier sold works. Although 24″ x 18″ isn’t that large when you consider the size of today’s wall art, it is for the Assemblage wall art I create. These pieces are created on canvas and the weight of the many attached elements must be considered when creating any work but especially a larger work.

So, my first challenge was proportion – I needed to use larger elements for a larger canvas to maintain the same look. And then – the weight. With this piece I used a gallery wrapped canvas which is stronger and holds more weight if you purchase a better quality line. It also is 1.5″ deep compared to the usual .75″ depth of the more affordable canvases. That depth also gives it more of an Art Gallery feel.

My first week dedicated to this work was used finding the right larger elements and recreating the three clocks in the smaller work on a larger scale. This work had more than three times the surface of the smaller work as well and a number of the smaller elements on the original work were too small for the larger canvas. They would have been lost. And the weight was always on my mind. One of the three clocks I created from found objects, in the end, didn’t pass the weight test. A fourth clock was created and that was my process as I slowly gathered the needed elements to fill this size of canvas.

I was thrilled with the end product. Not only did I produce exactly the canvas I envisioned, I took two large steps in my overall design. I no longer fear the restrictions larger Assemblage wall art presents. I love the challenge of creating out of the box and plan on creating even larger wall art. Plans are firmly underway for a second art line featuring large wall art even as a write this. These pieces will contain a larger ratio of handmade elements and feature only vintage found objects. Also, those gallery wrapped canvases? Soon, nearly every work I produce – large or small will be on this type of canvas. I appreciate the professional air of the deeper canvases.

Of course, I will continue creating the smaller works – I love creating with dozens of embellishments! But I relish a challenge. More soon on that second art line.

Enjoy creating!

Vicky