Steampunk Assemblage Art – an oft-requested theme – this time on a 14″ x 14″ gallery wrapped canvas. My steampunk version of Assemblage Art features the industrial and Victorian aspects of this engrossing science fantasy sub-genre. Look closely and you will see over 150 embellishments – both vintage and new.

Assemblage Art on Canvas begins with the background – it’s not just paint. I start with multiple coats and spritzes of paint on stenciled dimensional paste and pieces of loosely woven fabric. I then add more spritzes of highlights and finish off with colorful waxes (which dry to a hard finish). Multiple layers of embellishments are then added to complete this 3D collage to bring it to an overall depth of 2.5″.

Vintage elements include pieces from four different belts (including one festooned with red rhinestones), buttons of all sizes, various bracelet links, checker, large pendant, ash tray, sewing machine parts, brooch, chain, mortar tie, broken glass, a bit of a pearl purse, broken pieces of a resin frame, clock gear, old bottle, resin clock fragment, crystal mint dish, brass necklace, and domino.

Newer pieces complete this steampunk look with items such as gears, various beads, rabbit head, wood supports, plaster face, buttons, cabochons, leaves, bracelet sections, decorative pins, diamond metal element, and various other metal embellishments.

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

Dimensions: 14.0″ x 14.0″ x 2.5″

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

Vertical Assemblage Collages sell well here at Art Creations by Vicky. It’s a shape that fits nicely in a variety of wall spaces. This time, I split the vertical into two canvases – where one leaves off, the second continues the design.

On gallery wrapped canvases, I blended a lighter green with turquoise for a background that is textured with stenciled modeling paste and finished off with a number of paints, spritzes, and metallic waxes. Embellishments are adhered to the canvas to form a three-dimensional design.

You’ll find over 130 embellishments in this pair of Assemblage Collages. Over two-thirds of those are vintage found objects including several necklace pendants, tiny oval box, tussie mussie holder, brooch (split in half), broken bottle glass, pieces from several belts, ornamental metal pieces, buttons, beaded flowers, fan blade, hearts, rhinestone buttons, beaded designs, imitation coins, thunderbird charm, chain, purple pendant, glass flower, and geometrical connector.

Newer elements include round connector, turquoise pendants, beads, filigreed metal, large hearts, and leaves.

Each canvas measures 10.0″ x 8.0″ x 2.5″ giving the set total dimensions (with a 1″ space between the two) of 21.0″ by 8.0″ with a depth of 2.50″. Hangers are attached.

$159.00

Available at my Etsy Shop or directly through me utilizing Paypal.

Dimensions when hung together as suggested: 21.0″ x 8.0″ Depth 2.50″

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

Time at the family farm in southeastern Oklahoma always brings me closer to nature. The woods offer wonderful trails for hiking. But the storms are magnificent and usually harmless. A big storm was moving in when I videoed this last week – I wanted to stay outside and experience it all so I planted myself on the screened-in porch. Lovely storm watching!

An overall three-dimensional surface design takes a starring role in this 20.0″ x 16.0″ Assemblage Canvas with a background built first with stenciled designs utilizing dimensional paste that is then covered with multiple coats of paint, spritzes, and waxes. And the embellishments! This assemblage canvas contains over 150 elements. Its depth is 2.0″.

This delightful 3D collage is part of my Large Assemblage Wall Art line. When creating this piece, elegance was on my mind. I added the old clock face to mix a bit of a steampunk vibe with a delightful emerging motif. For this artwork, I wanted over-the-top beauty so I chose gentle colors along with frilly embellishments.

Just what is assemblage? It’s the creation of a larger art piece from smaller objects. Best described as a 3D collage on canvas, my assemblage art pieces contain numerous vintage “found objects” as well as newer embellishments. 

The percentage of vintage objects within this art piece is higher than that found in my most of my work. Those vintage “found objects” include beaded leaves, beads, buttons, 1980s jewelry makings, earrings, various metal leaves, beaded purse sections, beaded collar piece, pendants, filigreed embellishments, a piece of a resin chess board, hors d’oeuvre fork, beaded flower, bits of a broken resin wall piece, a floral resin frame piece, broken pressed glass, silver purse pieces, buckle, pieces from two belts, petals, two brooches, metal and plastic flowers, tussie mussie holder, drawer pull, tin mold, round frame, and clock face.

Newer elements include seven hearts in various forms, metal embellishments, beads, buttons, filigreed pieces, wings, cabochons, numerous leaves, crown, chipboard, linen, flower, rose, bird, plaster flower, and a silk flower. Other embellishments include a shell and various clay shapes fashioned by yours truly. 

Hangers are attached and, while I prefer the no-frame look, this Assemblage Art piece is ready for framing. It will also display nicely on a medium to large easel.

Dimensions: 20.0″ x 16.0″ x 2.0″

$375.00

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

When I start contemplating a new piece of assemblage art, I tend to think large. My tendency is to create on a 14″ x 14″ canvas or larger these days. But I’m sure to always leave time to create small art – it sells well and its price point is affordable. And when it comes to creating these smaller art pieces, I know my choice of supplies will be smaller as well. Give me a few found objects, dimensional paste, a favorite acrylic or two, metallique waxes, and a Lindy’s Gang spray mist, and I’m well on my way to finishing one of these jewels.

I’ve been sharing some of my small art formulas on social media lately. I’ve consolidated a few here. Having the right supplies on hand fuels the creative process – no stopping to order that which you need.

All of these pieces can be purchased at my Etsy Shop or through PayPal. Message me for details or follow link to Etsy.

When I create these smaller pieces, I tend to use three products once the background texturing is done. Here I’ve used Finnabair products – Art Alchemy Steampunk Copper acrylic paint, Art Alchemy Bronze Age Metallique Wax, and Lindy’s T-bird Turquoise Flat Fabio spray. Available at Etsy or message me for Paypal purchase.

I love the freedom that comes with creating these smaller canvases. No extensive planning as the larger works require – just an idea, a few found objects, texture paste and these three products – Art Alchemy Metallique Stormy Ocean paint, Lindy’s Gang Azure Sea Asters Shimmer Spray, and Art Alchemy Waxes – Antique Brilliance Mystic Turquoise and Metallique Old Silver. The art piece can be purchased at my Etsy Shop or message me for Paypal purchase.

Colors for this steampunk creation – Art Alchemy Metallique Acrylics Brass Hardware and Steampunk Copper – Art Alchemy Metallique Waxes Bronze Age and Mystic Turquoise – and Lindy’s Gang Buccaneer Bay Blue spray mist. The art piece can be purchased at my Etsy Shop or message me for Paypal purchase.

Do you enjoy these Small Art Formulas? Let me know if you are interested in knowing the products of a particular Art Creations by Vicky assemblage piece – large or small.

Vicky

I’ve found alternating art forms fits me perfectly. My primary work station is reserved for my assemblage collages and remains the heart of my art studio. However, a second sizable table sits beside it and is now the home of my polymer clay mosaic creations. When the details of dropping the perfect little bitty element into my latest assemblage art creation becomes too much, I switch to forming the clay tiles you see here. It keeps me fresh and I can return to my assemblage work later with plenty of patience for those required tiny finishing pieces.

My desire is to create a line of these mosaics. Every sizable piece I create, assemblage or mosaic, requires time and thoroughness. However, the mosaics edge out the assemblages when total time is calculated which means the mosaics will be priced higher. I’m weighing the option – I love the art form and believe it fits in well with my assemblage collages.

Calculating aside, I’ll keep creating the two side-by-side. Often, one inspires me to alter or add something to the other. It’s a solution I’m completely enjoying!

Vicky

In the summer of 2018, I started envisioning a larger assemblage art line. Larger in this context means a measurement of 18″ to 36″ either vertically or horizontally. The number of found objects would be greater, of course, but some of the objects would also need to be larger to reflect the scale of the artwork. As an example, an 18″ x 24″ canvas requires more than that 2-3″ focal point you find on one of my 11″ x 14″ canvases. So, my first step was to search for larger found objects – one of my favorite parts of the process. Over the fall months, estate sales provided the larger pieces I needed and I increased my supplies of dimensional paste, gesso, gel adhesive, and paint, to mention a few. Then I started taking online classes of some of the more difficult mixed media techniques to add depth and texture to a larger work, allowing me to construct a lighter end product.

That decision a year ago took time to implement as I was still producing my regular art line and took the time to teach a couple of art classes as well. As I started creating these larger pieces, I’d say weight was my biggest challenge. I weighed each of the larger items before adhering as canvas remains my chosen substrate. A few times, I rejected a perfect looking large object after weighing. I knew I had to be careful each step of the way to prevent the art piece from becoming too cumbersome for shipping.

I now have four listings that fall into this large art category and more in the works.

Turquoise Abstract Art – a vertical 20″ x 10″ piece

All Handmade – a vertical 20″ x 16″ fully handmade piece

Steampunk Assemblage – a horizontal 24″ x 18″ canvas

Two in One – a horizontal two piece fully measuring 23″ x 14″

And now for the latest new listing!

Steampunk Assemblage – the Large Side

This original steampunk work of art is 3D assemblage canvas art at its best with a background comprised of multiple coats and spritzes of paint over stenciled textured designs that is then finished off with a metallique wax. Measuring 24″ x 18″, this artwork is my largest to date (other than commissioned pieces) offered in my Etsy shop.

I love to include many tiny details in my assemblage artwork – not only adhering dozens of pieces onto the canvas but carefully painting and aging many of those items one by one. This piece includes around 150 embellishments plus dozens of metal beads. 

Many of those embellishments are vintage found objects including various belt segments, necklace pieces, assorted chains, pressed glass, belt buckle, clock parts, buttons, electronic piece, ash trays, hair barrette, stained glass, wine bottle magnet, mortar tie, brooch, child’s pie plate, earrings, resin frame chunk, metal art deco piece, metal beads, and large colorful beads.  

Newer elements include various metal embellishments, plaster face, buttons, propeller, miscellaneous beads, wings, gears, beads, cabochons, metal frame, acorn, necklace pieces, fabric, and the small brass beads.

A hanger is attached and needs no framing. The gallery wrapped canvas provides the perfect finishing touch without framing.

$395.00

Full details

Purchase at my Etsy Shop

Dimensions: 24.0″ x 18.0″ x 2.0″ 

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

I, for one, love free shipping. I often choose Amazon’s offering just because it offers free shipping. Yes, I partially pay for that as I’m an Amazon Prime member. Other times, I turn away from that free shipping offer as the price of the item will be more costly than those found at other sites where you do pay shipping. Their (Amazon’s competition) final cost for the item plus shipping can be less than that found on Amazon. Just saying… it’s something to think about.

And, I’ve been contemplating this problem lately as I have found myself in a situation where Etsy is requesting that their sellers offer a free shipping guarantee. Those who provide the guarantee expect to receive better placement in Etsy searches for their merchandise. Does Etsy tell sellers that? I doubt it is a promise – I’m not outing Etsy. Free shipping is the quick promise that lures sellers all over the internet. Etsy is just attempting to keep their merchandise competitive.

Yet, among Etsy communities, I have heard the old “just raise your price to make up for the free shipping” again and again. How is that FREE? I can see how a seller of hair bows or those offering personalized t-shirts can work that formula since their estimated shipping is fairly even (USPS First Class) regardless of where they ship in the U.S. And their shipping costs are comparatively small. But someone who sells fragile original art in a number of sizes and weights?? No way.

My larger art pieces can cost anywhere from $13.00 to $50.00+ for shipping… in the United States. That depends largely on destination although size and weight play a role as well. How do I include that range in a stated price upfront? I don’t. Yet, I have chosen to go the free shipping route as I do believe that the free shipping option places my shop higher in searches. Yes, Etsy still allows me to charge shipping but I’m scared of being lost altogether in searches and, in online selling, placement in searches is the name of the game.

As an example, here is a currently listed artwork at my Etsy Shop. This 20″ x 10″ x 3″ piece of art ships Priority Mail to Chicago for $25.40. The cost to ship to Yakima, Washington is $47.40. That’s a loss of $20.00 to the seller. Now, do we increase the cost of the item to cover all shipping scenarios and basically charge the buyer in Chicago for a service they aren’t receiving? My answer is a hearty “No!”

Two questions must be considered here. First, is Etsy the right place for artwork such as mine? And the second – where are the sites that sell unusual original artwork that can claim even half the traffic that comes to Etsy? And, you know, a site that allows an artist to do business as an artist without the bargain “two for one” feel. Unfortunately, I have yet to find such a site that would tempt me to change (although I am taking a close look at a recently recommended site). My conclusion? I don’t believe Etsy is the place for selling original one-of-a-kind artwork and that’s sad, as it was its original purpose.

For now, I’ve decided to lose a portion of my shipping costs. Transparency is important to me so although you will see a “Free Shipping Guarantee” on my Etsy page, those are Etsy’s words and I insert the following in each product description, “When you purchase an item from my shop, the cost of shipping is included in the listed price even though Etsy has added free shipping verbiage to the overall description.”

I am looking into selling at regional art shows. That makes the most sense but I’ve resisted that impulse as it can be challenging to find the right venue for artists without competition from inexpensive Asian products. But I have opened my mind to the possibilities of shows and I’m enticed by the idea. I’ll always sell online but I’d love to shift most of my sales to face-to-face experiences. After all, there is so much more to see in my assemblage art that can’t be caught effectively on a camera.

If you can recommend an online site that targets artists with funky original work or a regional art show in or around Oklahoma, I’d love to hear from you. I can easily be reached here.

Vicky

My Small Art pieces (that usually measure 4″ x 4″) provide a way for my customers to enjoy assemblage art on canvas without the larger price points. Using a term from my teen years, these pieces are a blast to create! Simpler designs mean less time creating and therefore, lower prices.

Another advantage of my Small Art pieces is that of duplication. Occasionally, I have more than one of each embellishment included in a particular piece. Once the original small art piece sells, I can then offer it as Small Art Made to Order. Not all fit into this category as some of these smaller artworks contain one-of-a-kind embellishments. I’ll be checking to see if I have all elements to recreate this one at a later date.

Now for Moonclock…

Named “Moonclock”, this little taste of steampunk is part of my Small Assemblage Art line. It’s an original 3D collage measuring 4″ x 4″ x 1”. Its background is textured with dimensional paste, waxes, acrylics, and spritzed ink. Found objects used to form this design include a metal clock face, old jewelry makings, metal gears, leaves, large pendant, and moon face. 

$44.95

Available for purchase at my Etsy Shop

Full Details

Dimensions: 4.0” x 4.0”x 1.0″ 

My Small Art line contains both art pieces that are ready to ship (Small Art Ready to Ship) and art pieces that are made to order (Small Art Made to Order). This piece is ready to ship.

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

When you purchase an item from my shop, the cost of shipping is included in the listed price even though Etsy has added free shipping verbiage to the overall description. 

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

Working with vintage found objects is one of my favorite pastimes. Of course, using those objects in artwork is part of that but I think the even bigger joy of found objects is the hunt. I love looking for old stuff that can be adhered to a flat surface. Although jewelry is a definite part of that, it’s the other things that were never meant to embellish anything in particular that most fascinate me. So, I look for old beaded things that I can cut up, or a highly textured piece of glass that I can break, or such things as you see here – an unusual clothespin, a carved wooden pen, electrical elements, clock parts, a watchband, and even a poker chip.

I attempt to always use a dozen or two vintage objects in each of my artworks but sometimes, things work in favor of including a larger number. As I searched my found object boards and bins for this artwork’s embellishments, I kept finding old pieces that fit perfectly with the design I was creating. And, yes, this art piece does have many embellishments – around 150 (plus beads) but 50 of those embellishments are vintage found objects!

So, now it’s time for the all-official write up for this latest assemblage canvas.

When I started this Assemblage canvas, the only direction in my head was to strive for a rather extravagant piece using a combination of blues and green. The large flower that serves as the focal point is from a vintage belt. Surrounding it are around 150 embellishments (of which 50 are vintage found objects) and dozens of beads. 

Measuring 20″ x 10″, 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 purse and old beaded collar enhance its intricate background. On a gallery wrapped canvas, the depth of this piece is 3.0″. 

Just what is Assemblage? It’s the creation of a larger art piece from smaller objects. Best described as a 3D collage on canvas, my assemblage art pieces contain numerous vintage “found objects” as well as newer embellishments.  

Here those vintage found objects include various belt sections, large leaf pendant, chandelier embellishment, electrical elements, bits of beaded collar and purse, beaded leaves and bee, bracelet segments, clothespin, buttons, mermaid, wooden ink pen, earring, clock face piece, poker chip, 1980s jewelry makings, chain bracelet, watchband, necklace sections, and metal rose and flowers.

Newer elements include the beads, metal bird, glass bottle, winged heart, filigreed pieces, various metal leaves, crowned heart, arrow, cabochons, metal flowers, plaster rounds, paper and polymer clay embellishments, a number of metal embellishments, flower and diamond beads, and large blue bead.

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

$189.00

Purchase at my Etsy Shop

Dimensions: 20.0″ x 10.0″ x 3.00″

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