Collage: Mail Art Continued

I finished my community art class about 1 week ago. Below are some updates on other techniques I learned in the class. And things I have continued to make using these techniques.

This was my favorite photogram. It's hard to see but it goes with my bird schema I've been creating lately. It was just a flat paper image of a bird cut out and the background on the paper looked a little veiny. It looks perfect in person and I'm planning on framing it or doing something to showcase it in the future.

Darkroom day! These are already made postcards with the appropriate marks on the back side. You just lay objects down for about 4 seconds in full exposed light, process and there you have it. This was very easy and fun but requires darkroom access. This is called a photogram.

We learned to make decorative envelopes from scratch and how to jazz up a plain store bought envelope. You can find patterns for envelopes on the internet or create your own. *A key is to use glue tape! Works wonders and completely sticks together without wrinkles, having to wait for anything to dry, and totally not messy!

This is using watercolor paints and a sponge, plus stamping, embossing and transferring.

I decided to hand make all of my Christmas cards this year.

Not So Angry Birds...My Biggest Canvas Painting To Date

I was hosting an art exhibit at work and got inspired by a couple of extremely large pieces of a transfer images of people on a flat bed sheet. I realized I've never worked large and decided I should use this opportunity as a self challenge. So off I went to Michaels with a 40% off coupon on a rainy Friday afternoon.

The canvas I purchased for $20 and then used existing acrylic paints. Just so you have an idea of the size... it was about 4.5 feet by 2.5 feet. The primary method I used was basically using acrylics like they were watercolors and various stamping techniques. I first took green and yellow shads of paint, watered them down and used up and down brush strokes throughout the entire canvas. This was my base coat. Because it was so watered down it created a resistant effect which looked pretty neat.

When the bottom layer had completely dried I then got 8.5 x 11 sheets of paper and cut them in half. I used fall colors (because that was my muse) and using those shades of color I put them one at a time on the half sheets of paper, watered them down then stamped it on the large canvas using my hand to burnish the paint on. I did this over the entire canvas and let it dry.

The third layer was of birds. I found three images online, enlarged them to about 8.5 x 11, printed several of each out and modified them as I cut them out to create simplified images. I took white indoor paint (because I ran out of acrylic white) and put a THICK coat on each image and stamped them on the painting. When the birds were partially dry I took some of the solid block prints and reapplied them over the birds just enough to add some color without covering the images.

And that was it! All done! I'm pretty pleased at the outcome and proud of myself for getting over my fear of large paintings. In hindsight I would have liked to try to add some various words mixed in the layers. I think that could have added an interesting look. Perhaps my next painting I'll give it a whirl!

Below are some of the steps but not all to this process. Sorry I forgot to take pictures each step of the way.

DIY Coat Rack

I created this coat hanger from all recycled materials. I took a piece of 80 year old gumwood molding (it was a small piece of baseboard from my home that wasn't being used) and cut it to size. The edges were routered. This made it look pretty nice on it's own. Then I filled in any uneven surfaces with wood filler and sanded smooth when dry. I used acrylic paints to paint the background and chose asian symbols that had the meaning I was going for and applied with a black sharpie marker. I had a few left over hooks from a converted closet in my house (again they were goldish in color and 80 years old). I scrubbed the hooks down and applied three even coats of a flat black rustoleum spray paint. Drilled holes on the front for the hooks and then a couple of holes on the back for hanging purposes. Tada... you have the final product...a pretty good looking coat rack for free!

Homemade Cards

I'm currently taking a 6 week community art class through Genesee Center for the Arts & Education. Check out their site: http://www.geneseearts.org/ The class I'm taking is

Collage: Mail Art. It's a blast! I'm learning new creative transfer techniques, get to explore with no grades or stress involved and I'm meeting new people. What could be better!

I received the tools I need to create transfers on my own for my birthday. This is all you need to do a pretty good transfer.

-tape

-scissors

-fresh black and white or colored images/words printed from a laser printer (not an

inkjet!) and (remember if you use anything with words you need to reverse the image before printing or your words will transfer backwards). **Best transfers are images printed within 1-2 days of when you will be using them.

-bone folder or something to burnish with (like a coin)

-"blender pen"- this brand works the best- Chartpak Blender Marker P-O. Not found at craft stores. Here we have The Art Store and Hyatt Art Materials or you can find it on amazon but the shipping is expensive. About 4.50 for the marker itself.

I found these great packages of blank cards with envelopes; all different shapes, colors and sizes for $1 for a pack of 8! I've decided for Christmas gifts I'm going to use these for gifts and bundle each set with a pretty ribbon. Right now they are just the transfer image. I'm still taking the class and I'm going to be learning some stamping and other neat techniques that I may later add to the cards. Also, I'm still working on some of the images and might do some over laying of words or other images on some. Check out the beginning of my collection sets. :)

The Vintage Collection

The Landscape Collection

The Inspiration Collection

Accent Table Finished

Here's the end result of the accent table I created for work. It looks great and is functional. Sorry for the poor quality of the picture. It's taken from my phone. My camera is being borrowed at the moment so when I get it back I'll update with a better picture.

Oh, I was able to sand down and reuse the knobs that were existing instead of using new knobs.

Recycled Furniture

I found the table for my work bathroom! It's all wood so no problems there. I found it on craigslist for $20 but got it for $15. My inspiration is going to be this picture from this site:

http://www.remodelaholic.com/2010/12/twin-end-tables-painted-green.html, but with my own spin.

My Inspiration

Again I'm going to try to recyle materials to keep the cost low. I'm thinking a black top with the rest being an "Alligator Green" (left over paint from my living/dining room walls) and then I have two wooden knobs left over from the arts and craft center project that I'm thinking of painting a solid black to accent the table top. I'm going to try the black glaze this time. I can't wait to get started! Here's the before picture of the end table.

Stay tuned for the finished product!

Distressed Accent Table

Before Image

I was looking on craigslist for a small table to refinish and put in the bathroom at work to spruce things up a bit. I found this one for $20 but got it for $10. It was apparently part of the Eddie Bauer Home Collection. Unfortunately it had a glass shelf which I was afraid would be a problem for work as it may be seen as a liability (I'm a therapist). I decided I could always not use the glass shelf and fill in the holes.

Since it was for work I didn't want to spend a lot of money so I just recycled supplies left over from other projects. Here's where I found my inspiration:

http://frenchcottageinteriors.com/furniture/tables/ and it is the piece titled, "Rustic Painted End Table".

The stand was all white with some paint chipping off. I used paint stripper and took off the top paint to find wood (I think it was a wood veneer on top of fake wood, but it was in excellent condition). I left some white paint on the sides of the top for a more distressed look. I used a "jaco bean" wood stain color on the top of the stand and the side edge and applied layer after layer with a rag until I reached my desired look. Actually at first I was upset because the stain started to interact weirdly with the wood not leaving an even finish, but then I liked it because it looked more old and worn so I kept applying more finish.

Then I used the same "laughing eyes" blue from my art center and same technique (watered down acrylic paint and a rag to create the antique finish look). I sanded between coats on everything and at the beginning and then sanded down parts to expose the wood and white paint below for a continued distressed look.

In the end I decided I liked the glass shelf so I put it back on. Then I took an old replica glass knob that I have had for a while from another project, drilled a hole and put it on the front of the stand. It looks like a drawer but it's just decoration. I sealed the entire project twice with a clear satin finish. I liked it so much and wanted to keep the glass shelf that I decided to keep the stand. I showed my sister on Facetime and she asked to keep it so that is where this piece will find it's new home. This was a fun project that took about a total of 6 hours over 3 days to complete and cost $10 due to using all recycled materials.

Alas, my search continues for the right end table/stand for the work bathroom. Stay tuned...