Wax On... Wax Off

Ah, there's nothing like learning a brand new technique, is there? For many crafters, it's an opportunity to think outside their box, befriend a new medium, maybe even discover a previously untapped vein of artistic gold within.

For me it's usually a chance to see exactly how far off course I can steer the old art barge.

I'm not one of those people who's able to visualize a finished project and then recreate it in the material world. I'm more an, "Okay, let's try THIS and see what happens!" kind of crafter. Consequently, for every pretty good piece of art I manage to turn out, there are something like four (hundred) pieces that just plain stink.

I'm still debating which category this latest piece falls into.

"Why is this key sticking out of my forehead?!"

I love online tutorials, and Suze Weinberg does some of the best. I just adore her, anyway, and wish I could hang out with her in a coffeehouse some rainy afternoon and listen to her tell stories about her life. Suze makes everything look fun and easy and completely do-able. So, when I watched her turn a vat of melted beeswax pellets into a ridiculously gorgeous piece of assemblage art, I figured, "Hey, I can totally do that!"

Well, it wasn't anywhere near as simple as the video made it appear (not Suze's fault!), and I learned that beeswax and I are going to need a nice, long courtship before we make any kind of commitment to each other. Still, I do love the cool texture it gives (which unfortunately doesn't translate well into cyber-photos), and when it's brushed with Perfect Pearls, it looks amazing-- like glossy, jewel-toned leather... or something similar.

For this piece, I used the beeswax to layer torn bits of metallic blue and purple paper onto a black gesso-covered canvas. I edged it with a shabby frame of brown lace strips, again adhered with beeswax, then brushed blue, purple and pink shades of Perfect Pearls all over (truly, the beeswax takes the Pearls beautifully-- you've gotta try it sometime). Then, because it just wasn't shiny ENOUGH, I used the stylus tool to melt bits of metallic crayon over the surface.

The vintage photo got a thick coat of Ranger Crackle Accents, and the Grungeboard wings were painted with Bronze Distress Crackle paint, While those dried, I painted the Grungeboard mini letters with gold Adirondack acrylic paint, then edged them with Vintage Photo Distress ink. When everything was set, I used a blending tool to rub more Vintage Photo into the crackles on the photo and wings. The postmark and stamp are rub-ons, which I antiqued with a little ink after I'd stuck them down. I used Sepia Accents to adhere the photo, Grungeboard pieces and Idea-ology key, and finished by picking off the cat hairs that had stuck to the waxy background.

So, that was my "new technique" du jour, and the more I look at the finished piece the more excited I get to play with this stuff again. Suze, I hope someday to do you proud! Right now, though, I need to figure out how to get beeswax drips out of my yoga pants.

ISO: A Way to Fit It All In!

I have a hunch I'm not alone in saying that I have two main challenges when it comes to creating art: Space and Time. It's the physics of crafting:  Where do I put my stuff, and when do I actually get to use it?! I'm happy to say, I seem to have finally found a good solution for the "where" question, at least for now. The "when?" Yeah... I got nothin'. Anyone??

(The Scrapbox, closed, with Stella providing a visual scale)

Scott, the three cats and I share a two-bedroom townhouse (the cats take up most of the space). I bought this place last summer and I absolutely love it, but it's been interesting figuring out where to put our stuff. Up until a few weeks ago I had all my craft supplies crammed into plastic bins and stacked in a closet. Boy, did that ever makes it super fun and easy to do art on a whim! So, one night when I was perusing an issue of Cloth, Paper, Scissors (a.k.a. "The Great Enabler") and saw an ad for a contraption called The Original Scrapbox, my inner shopaholic started to hyperventilate. I couldn't navigate to the website fast enough, and, sisters and brothers, once I did, I was done for. I became a woman obsessed, so overcome with Product Lust I was willing to ravage my savings account, wipe out my Christmas bonus and compromise the virtue of my emergency-only credit card, all in the name of Scrapbox ownership. And that's exactly what I did.

(Perceptive readers will note that I did not in any way imperil my craft supply budget in order to purchase the Scrapbox...)

(The Wonderland that is the open Scrapbox)

Questionable budgetary maneuvering aside, let me just say right now, the Scrapbox is the coolest piece of storage furnitue even engineered by human hands. Much like Clark Kent, when it's closed, it's just a mild-mannered creature, handsome but sedate. Then you swing those big doors out and fold down the table and... Whoa, BABY! All those totes! All that ROOM! Little drawers for trinkets, big boxes for paper, clear pockets for pens... whoever thought this up is a freaking genius. For someone like me with serious space constraints and a raging compulsion to expand her product collection ad infinitum, it's the Holy Grail and a perfect red lipstick, all rolled into one.

And you're thinking, "Yeah, right, she's obviously getting a kickback from the Scrapbox people." Honey, I wish! If I were, I'd buy their desk, too. But just so I don't sound like an infomercial-- and because forewarned is forearmed-- let me offer a few caveats for anyone considering taking the plunge.

(Grey Kitty selects a shade of Distress Crackle Paint)

Promises of easy assembly notwithstanding, I feel like we should both get some kind of honorary engineering degree after putting this contraption together. For us, it was a two-person, multi-hour extravaganza, and it became one of those experiences that we'll someday look back on and laugh, if you get my drift. I recommend a nice Beaujolais to make the process less painful.

Also, let's face it, the Scrapbox is expensive, and unless you happen to luck into a free shipping deal like I did, you'll need to tack another $300 onto the price for freight charges. (BTW, it's worth becoming the company's Facebook fan so you'll know when they're offering that promo again.)

(Scott, good-naturedly enduring the Scrapbox squish)

Finally, as smartly designed as it is, the Scrapbox still requires a good chunk of space when it's open. In our little shared office upstairs, we're talking about an entire wall. Poor, patient Scott has to do a sort of sideways limbo dance to sit down at his desk when I'm crafting, which is totally entertaining to watch but kind of sucks for him.

All that aside, I'm still convinced that this is one of the best purchases I've ever made. As George Carlin once wisely said, "We all just want a place for our stuff." I have to concur. And guys, I've shoved every craft supply I own into this baby, and there's still room to grow.

Good thing, too...

Myth-ing Pieces

This is so weird. It's January. In Boise. And I've been out running errands without even bothering to grab my coat. This can't possibly last (and for the farmers', plants' and planet's sake, I hope it doesn't!), but still...This freakishly warm weather we've enjoyed the past few days has been awfully sweet. And it's got me thinking about Spring...

Always a geeky kid, I got very into Greek mythology in junior high (this carried over into a somewhat embarrassing fondness for the cheesy Hercules TV show as a grown up). One of my favorite stories concerned the myth of how the four seasons came to be (the actual seasons, not the Frankie Valli group). You remember this one: Persephone, the beloved daughter of the earth goddess Demeter, was a little hottie who caught the eye of Hades, the bad boy god of the underworld. He swept her away in his chariot (the ancient Greek version of a cherried-out TransAm) and held her captive in his lair. Demeter was so distraught and p.o.-ed that she neglected her job as Mother Nature entirely, and the crops all died. Eventually, through some Olympian wheeling and dealing, Persephone was returned to her mother, and the rebirth we call "spring" occurred. However, there was some weird loophole in the agreement concerning food consumed in the underworld, and since Persephone had downed a few pomegranate seeds given to her by the the ever-sneaky Hades, she had to return to him each year for a few months. During that time, of course, Demeter moped, and winter set in.

By now, you're thinking, "Good grief, Linda, what the heck does this have to do with an art blog?" Why, it became an art project, that's what!

I made this little shrine to Persephone a few years ago, after a particularly long winter. The box itself is one of those cheap plywood cabinets you can pick up for a few dollars at a hobby store. I gave it a thick coat of gesso all over, then painted it with purple and silver Lumiere paints. The decorations are a combo of inkjet-printed clipart and images stamped onto tissue paper that I decoupaged on with Diamond Glaze (which is why it looks so blindingly shiny).

Inside the shrine, I used more Diamond Glaze to attach tiny mica chips and pebbles all over the walls and floor. The little table, flower pot and candle holders are just wooden dollhouse findings painted with acrylics and glued into place. The image of Persephone ("Proserpine" by Rosetti) was printed on glossy inkjet paper and mounted inside a little hobby store frame. And of course, I had to add some tacky red rhinestones to represent those pomegranate seeds.

I remember this being a really fun project, and now I'm wondering why I haven't made more shrines over the years. I mean, there's room on my shelf for a Springsteen shrine, and a Tim Holtz shrine, too. Not to mention a shrine to chocolate...

Three Questions, Answers Included!

My very first ATC, circa 2001

I'm still reeling from the amazing love fest I've been soaking up these past few days, and want to thank you all again for being so kind! Please understand, I was the kid who always wanted to be an artist but without exception messed up EVERYTHING I touched (just ask my parents), so to have so many artistic people say such nice things... well, it makes me all teary eyed.

Tonight I'd like to answer a few questions that came up in that Big List of Lovely Comments, but since I don't expect anyone to scroll through there trying to find them, I'll do it here...

First, a few people asked if I'd be doing the 12 Tags for another holiday. My answer, after consulting my Inner Child, long-suffering boyfriend, work schedule and pulse rate is: Yes! Bring it on! Being more or less forced to get out of my itty-bitty art box and learn all those new techniques was nothing short of awesome.

But, I'm not going to do the same 12 Tags. That would be too... well, not easy, but too redundant. You all probably know that 2009 is actually the third time Tim has done a 12 Tags event, but several of you commented that, like me, this is the first year you've been aware of it. For all us latecomers, there are still  12 tags for 2007 and 12 tags for 2008 to be explored. And we all know what that adds up to:

TWENTY-FOUR new tags to do! TWENTY-FOUR new techniques to learn! TWENTY-FOUR more opportunities to detonate an art bomb in my house! How could I pass that up?!

So, I'm still formulating the deets, but, oh yeah, it's going to happen. And when it does, I'll post it here in hopes that some of you will want to play along! First, though, I have to figure out exactly where my desk is. It's under here, somewhere...

My second-ever ATC, circa 2001

Another question was from Jane Jeffress Thomas, who asked:
"Where do you find such tiny stamps of people in such detail?"

Jane, the stamps I used for Tags #4 and #6 are both Lynn Perrella's designs. I've had them for years and can't find the info for #4, but #6 is called "The Gaze" and can be purchased from Stampington (along with a bunch of her other cool stamps). I love Ms. P's style!

And finally, LucieShines333 asked if I'd post tips and tricks for the Valentine tags. Lucie, I'll be more than happy to answer any questions you have-- post a message here and I'll do my best to elaborate on the techniques. Do be aware, though, that whenever possible I followed Tim's instructions to the letter, simply changing the colors scheme and using different stamps and embellishments to suit the season. So, if you compare his write-ups to my tags you'll probably be able to see exactly what I did. But again, do let me know if I can be of any help to you.

Okay, guys, for all of you going to CHA, I hope you have a completely amazing time! I'll be with you in spirit, even as I sit here moping because I'm not there in body. ;-)

Seriously: WOW!

So, imagine that instead of Snoopy, it actually had been the Great Pumpkin who arose from the pumpkin patch where Linus sat waiting.

Or...

Let's say that all those mean kids in junior high who teased you endlessly just became your underlings at work.

Or...

How about this: Santa Claus is real. So is your Fairy Godmother. And, you got all five numbers in the lottery. Plus the Powerball.

You know what? None of those spectacular events could possibly generate an ounce more joy than all your incredibly kind, enthusiastic and supportive comments have brought to me these past two days. Holy cow, what an amazing feeling! I've been jumping up and down like a Price is Right contestant! I've read every word you wrote, over and over, and I cherish them.

I am utterly, breathtakingly blown away, and every cell in my body is giddy with gratitude.

What I'm trying to say is:

You guys ROCK!!!

And to Mr. Holtz: You, with your vision, talent and generosity, change people's lives for the better. You certainly did mine. I will be grateful to you, and inspired by you,  for the rest of my life.

This is better than chocolate! That's right: I said it.

Oh, and that Valentine up there at the top? That's for you, all my new blog friends.

Thank you. From the bottom, top and middle of my overflowing heart.

-With love from Linda

The Twelve Tags of... Valentine's Day!

This is the first year I've been aware of Tim Holtz's Twelve Tags of Christmas (why, yes, as a matter of fact I am always late to the party!), and I thought it was the coolest project, maybe ever. I followed it devotedly and managed to get the first four or five tags (pretty much) finished. But eventually the holiday madness overtook me... and that was all she wrote.

So, I was bummed and feeling like an A-List Loser when December 31 rolled around and I hadn't finished along with the rest of the class. It wasn't that I thought I had a snowball's chance of winning the tag contest, I just wanted to actually accomplish this ink-stained Herculean feat. Yeah, I could have kept working on them after New Year's Day, but let's be real: Come January, the idea of doing anything Christmas related is about as appealing as a root canal without Novacaine. To me, anyway.

Then, on an otherwise dull evening of Food Network reruns, inspiration struck like a two-by-four. Why not translate Tim's Christmas tags into Valentines? After all, I love V-day. I love red. I love chocolate (which has nothing to do with this conversation, but still...).

That's what I've spent every spare minute of this past week doing, and I had a BLAST! My house is a total wreck, but who cares? I finished! Champagne for everyone!

And that's a whole lot of yammering just to say, here they are:

 

Our Lady of Perpetual Longing

Actually, it just sort of sums up my overall mood for today:

This was done with white embossing powder used as a resist under Ranger Colorwash sprays. Can I just say, I LOVE the way these sprays work. They're messy, for sure, but so I am, so it's not like my studio space looks any worse afterwards that it ever does.

The image is from yet another of the ever cool ArtChix collage sheets.

Now, all that's left is figuring out whether I want hot cocoa or a Dagoba bar...