I have dropped this artwork, three bloody, motherf**king time. SERIOUSLY! It was smashed and broken beyond repair (well, almost). But, I was the little train that could; and I just kept going. Bot proud of my self for persevering, because it was a close one, let me tell you! 😑
There is nothing in this world more perfectly matched then skulls and vintage lace…
When someone I hold dear, asks me for something of the arty persuasion, they truly know, not, what they do.
[…] because:
a) I have trouble saying that word…you know, that word, the one opposite to ‘no’.
AND
b) I don’t, ever, ever, ever, ever do things by halves. In fact, I may be known to go, well & truly, over-board. All of the times.
Every.Time.
Soooo, one of my teacher friends wanted a name plaque/artwork proclaiming the title of the room’s occupant.
I.did.not.disappoint.
However, maybe, just maybe, the required function of this object, may have (just a touch…) gotten way-laid; and when I say way-laid, I mean, gone beyond all hope.
*shrugs*
Oh, well.
I recently demolished a VERY old Jarrah chest-of-drawers; it was over a 100 years old. Wait, before you start, It was very broken & rickety…don’t worry, I’m not a complete heathen!
But I didn’t throw out a single scrap or even a splinter. There’s some quite large boards, all beautifully stained & distressed from a century of use.
Such a perfect blank canvas for me.
Soooo, what to do, what to do?!
Well, I guess I’ll just start, here goes…
Oooooo, I love PRISMACOLOR pencils; they’re so soft and have such a rich palette.
(unfinished piece, 2017)
MIXED MEDIA: coloured pencil, gouache, ink, clay, gesso, polymer clay, leaf pressings, feathers, wood laminex, applique, false eyelashes, snail shells & jewels on distressed, recycled wood.
I spent a long time simply making all the different elements and types of leaves and so, when it came to constructing the 3D elements of this piece, I kept hesitating. What if I couldn’t get it to work? It was a question I didn’t really want answered…
But I finally braced myself and…voila. It’s working so far; now for the faces and filling the little gaps within the petal mass. Wish me luck…
The burnishing process with coloured pencils…can be, well, tedious and hard on the old hands. Like any artist worth their salt, I have art-calluses on my hands and fingers; and burnishing ALWAYS contributes to said calluses.
But the final effect is worth any subsequent pain; the depth of colour and the seamless movement between highlights and shadows isn’t comparable; and so…I think I can, I think I can, I know I can, I know I can.
#fml
Recently, I was asked if I could make an over-sized clock, but in the guise of my art.
Right. How do I…what?! I don’t even…ahhhhh…Bloody.Hell.
Okaaaay….it took me two full days, of continuous ‘what.the.actual.fuck’s’ to wrap my art – brain around this new challenge; but when I did…it felt pretty awesome.
I am currently creating something that would never have even entered my realm of ideas and possibilities…and yet, here I am! Even though I have a long way to go…it’s coming along, in a timely fashion…*see what I did there?* 😉 Lame, I know.
So, here I sit, working, the little train that could…choo, fucking choo!
***how the bloody hell do I install this…argh!!!***
She’s finally finished! Artistic endeavors, time & toddlers don’t mix; , recipe for disaster much?!
I always find myself painting subject matter outside my comfort area when painting comissions for friends; and yet, I find myself still enjoying the process…somewhat.
Grae Hastings 