Precursor

Although these pieces are technically not part of my 6 X 6 Art Project, I still wanted to share them on my blog.  I created them about 5 years ago or more (I really need to start writing the date on my pieces) and I think they are a great precursor to the 6 X 6 project.

They are both 8 X 8 canvases and the images are 1 inch squares.  I thought it would be a fun challenge to create a collection of tiny collage pieces that contain a single word.

Layers

Comprised of print from a Vanity Fair magazine, embroidery floss thread, gel medium, acrylic paint, a map and bits of paper from science and math textbooks.

Please click on the image for a closer view.

Traveler

Mixed Media on 6 X 6 inch wood panel

Pink Fairy

Lucky Charm

I started with the great image of the woman in the orange dress which I found in a magazine ad for a new book called The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani, then added various art papers that I felt matched the moody tone.  I finished it by adding some black acrylic paint, some yellow rinestones for her earring and the horseshoe token coin from Vinnies; a once popular Toronto bar/arcade that has sadly since closed.

The Problem Of Homework

Poor Philip is overwhelmed.

This piece started with the homework paragraph that I cut from a wholesome 1954 textbook called "Into Your Teens".  I took strips of various textbook pages and wove them together, along with the strips of red paper and a vintage photo reprint,  then affixed it to the 6 x 6 tile.  Marks from the teacher's infamous red pen finished it off.

Stormy Weather

Ah, the fun you can have with some black card stock and a hole punch.

Alphabet Soup

Comparing Luminosities

Patchwork 2



Patchwork

This piece was a bit of an experiment for me.  I wanted to try using a thick layer of gesso and draw lines in it as a base for the design.  I enjoyed filling in the little squares with pieces of maps, a chinese newspaper, stickers, art papers, as well as craft paint, crackle medium and even nail polish.  I really like how it turned out and want to try it again, maybe with bigger squares next time.

Creative Landscape

I had an abundance of extra pencil crayons and loved the look of all the pinks and oranges together.  Lined up, the pencils reminded me of a city landscape of buildings and skyscrapers, so that became the basis of this piece.

Secrets

I've had this idea bouncing around in my head now for about a year,

so I'm glad to finally have it out and finished. 

I wanted to do a physical representation of keeping secrets.

The Joy Of Action

I have a few really great science and trade manuals and study books that love to use in my art.  The unused beer caps reminded me a little of gears, so I thought theywould play into the retro industrial vibe.

She Pinned Her Compass To The Clouds

Untitled #1

Down The Rabbit Hole

In the past I've experimented a little with gel transfers, but had never actually included one in a finished piece.  Over the weekend I acquired a 1960's edition of Alice In Wonderland and the image of the white rabbit seemed like the perfect thing to try to transfer.  

I've always loved the idea of transfers, but have been putting it off for a while.  I'm so paranoid that I will create a nice background that I love and then ruin it with a bad transfer application.  There are a few things I would do a little differently next time, but I think it's not bad for a first try.

Bernice

Forgotten

Happy Mother's Day

"She truly appreciated what she had because she struggled to get it."

I apologize that this scanned image is not as crisp and clear as I would like it.

I created this piece with thoughts of all the women in this world that are

yearning to become mothers but are encountering physical barriers.