Saturday, November 22, 2008

Shapes collage

This is a new piece I started last Saturday.  However, I wasn't liking it that much and it didn't feel done to me, so I set it aside for a few days.  Then I came home from work on Wednesday and decided what I needed to do to finish it.  I was happy to be working on art in the evening after work, because I haven't done that in a long, long time.  Most days, when I get home from work, I'm so tired I don't feel like doing much of anything.  Perhaps some of you can relate that?

After I added the shapes to this piece, I found I liked it much better.  This collage was done on an 8x10 piece of chipboard.  Normally I use frozen pizza cardboard for most of my bases, but with this being a larger collage, I wanted a sturdier base that wouldn't warp.  First I punched out various shapes out of junk mail cardboard -- the ads that aren't in envelopes, and glued those down on the base.  (I started out with a different idea of where this piece would go, and soon enough, realized it wasn't looking that way at all.  Does that ever happen to you?)  I was going to cover the shapes with a piece of crumpled tissue paper, but instead used a piece of scorched paper made with copy paper.

I made some pieces of scorched paper a long time ago, and never used them.  So I decided to use one on this piece.  Scorched paper is easy to make.  You just take regular copy paper and scorch it with a vintage iron.  This piece was crumpled and then scorched for more texture, but you can scorch uncrumpled paper also.  I use a vintage iron because it gets much hotter than the irons made today, and it's necessary to use a very hot iron to get the scorching and brown color.  I found my vintage iron at a yard sale for $2.00.  Lucky me!

After I glued down the scorched paper with matte Mod Podge, I then tore up a napkin and glued down parts of that, and also torn music paper.  Then I stamped on the scrolls, birds, and text.  Then I rubbed brown shoe polish (the kind in the round tin) all over the piece.  I wanted even more texture, so I brushed on gel medium thickly in random directions.  After that dried, I rubbed more brown shoe polish over the whole piece.  At that point, I set it aside for a few days.

Then I came back to it and finished it, by adding the shapes, the heart, and the key.  For the shapes I punched them out of paint chips.  The green shapes were distressed by sanding and using an awl and a dress pattern tool, then rubbed with brown shoes polish.  I really like the look distressed paint chips give.  I outlined the shapes with a paint pen and a black Sharpie.

You can't tell in the scan, but with the real piece the outlines of the shapes glued down first, under the paper, show up in a sublte way if the light shines on it right.  Anyway, the steps used in making this piece were simple ones.  I was happy to do stamping on this, because so often, I forget to make use of my stamps.  And I have far too many neat stamps that I have yet to use even once.  Isn't that crazy?  Unfortunately I tend to collect them more than actually use them.

So all in all, I'm happy with how this turned out.  And for the most part, I enjoyed making it and it wasn't a struggle.  I think setting it aside and coming back to it later was helpful and the right thing to do.

  

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really like the way this turned out. I also appreciate greatly your taking time to detail your journey to the finished product with us.

Michi Michaelson, Orange County, CA said...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE your new collage . . . the colors . . . shapes . . . design are AWESOME!!!! I agree with you, Val . . .I have SO many rubber stamps I have yet to use!! I just fall in love with the images and HAVE to have it! LOL!!!!

Anonymous said...

That's a nice collage. Just wish I could see the 3-D or is it 2-D to it. I bet it's even more gorgeous in person.

Anonymous said...

This has creative strength and I like it.

Mary S. Hunt said...

i definitely can relate to tired after work!
so if you were able to work after work...YEA
and the high you get from art working
!!
the piece has a wonderful hue and overall appeal
with the color
i like you are using your keys
kinda like the "key to..."
art
:)

rebecca christiansen said...

Val, you always have the most interesting posts and beautiful art! Your energy is contagious as you post about your experience, thoughts and progression while creating your pieces. Thanks for always sharing and allowing us to get to know you and love you.

Looking forward to your next one!
Rebecca Woodward ~ justgiddy
http://justgiddy.typepad.com

Iowa Sunshine said...

I really like what you've done! The textures are great! I wish i had stamps. I have about 6 now and they are all not so good. =) I'd be in heaven and using them if i had a lot. Thanks for telling us what you did, sharing the creativity helps others. HUGS

nancy said...

As usual, you've done a great collage. It's different than what you've been doing, but I love the shapes and colors. That's wonderful texture. You know, I scorch paper with lemon juice and my heat gun. Not everyone is so fortunate to get hold of a vintage iron. I sure miss those heavy old scorchers!
There is a message for you on my blog under "A Real Person...A Real Award.
Nancy

Brenda said...

Wonderful collage. Love the colors and texture.

morningDove said...

i too love the color and scorched paper. Love how the key theme is carried out with the cross/key surrounding the small key and below it what appears to be the keyhole. a great key-per.

Kim said...

Lovely Val, and the descriptions you give are terrific too. I certainly relate to being tired at night. I work retail and am on my feet all day, pretty much, but I really want to start making art in the evening again. I'll just charge ahead and try! Good for you too, art is a charger, not a drain for me... you too?

mary schweitzer said...

Ya know, I have run out of things to say about your work! I have used the words inspirational, awesome,beautiful,inspiring etc. over and over. I need a new word. But until I can think of one I'll just say Dang girl!
Mary

peggy gatto said...

Loved reading the process! It works beautifully!

Heather Robinson said...

Your artwork just excites me. It has such interesting dimension and always lots of delicious texture. My fingers are itching to start that background and get our swap underway....won't be long now!! Hugs to you...

Beth said...

Wow! Thats an awesome collage. I sure can relate to what you said about not wanting to do any thing when you get home from work. I try to do some art a few days a week after work but my inspiration and creativity is very low at that time of day. I just discovered you blog and I will be back, your very talented!
xooxoxox

di from di-did-it said...

oooo....I really like this one ~ very nice! I'd love to see it in person and admire it first hand. Thanks for sharing your creative process with us!

Di

Marva Plummer-Bruno said...

Hi Val - I like this! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Marva

Amyangel said...

I just discovered this site and would LOVE to learn this art style. I am a scrapbooker so I lean this direction in my albums but would like to learn this. Any suggestions? Thanks