Thursday, March 27, 2008

New Technique..I'm so excited

I don't usually show works in progress. But I am sooo excited about this I had to share. While cruising around Bloglandia I found http://valsalteredheartjourney.blogspot.com/ and was blown away by the piece she did in her March 13 post. This artist is brilliant with backgrounds and texture.
So I had to try for myself. I used crumpled tissue paper, bark, dried mushrooms and fungus, a dollhouse window, a scrap of rodent wire, a couple of keys and the thing you stick the key into. Oh and a LOT of oak leaves big and small.
So I started sticking stuff on using matte gel medium. Then I gessoed over everything. Then I added more stuff because, well you can never have enough stuff. Then gessoed again. Then I decided to go over the leaves with light modeling paste to make them stick out more. Then I drew the veins in the leaves with a bamboo skewer. Then more gesso.


Then I decided it needed an eye peeping out of the leaves. So I did the paper clay thing again and after it dried,gel'd it on and added more leaves. Then gesso again. Now it is ready for painting.
The hardest part is to think monochromatically. Because it doesn't matter what color the things are 'cause they will all be gessoed and painted. The drying time is hard too. Patience is not my strongest virtue. And there is a LOT of drying in between layers and what not.

So as you can see the first layer of paint is burnt sienna. I have to get some more colors, but I am leaning towards reds and red-oranges and coppers and golds. Maybe a green, I don't know.

So check out her work, you will be inspired too.

Peace

6 comments:

Val Foster said...

Hi Mary. I'm so honored that you featured me on your blog and gave me credit for inspiring you to do this piece. It really looks great as far as the mega texture you've achieved. I know once you get it painted and done, it will look fantastic. I can hardly wait to see it then.

You've put a lot of time and work into this piece, not to mention the patience involved in waiting for it to dry. I know it can be hard to wait. Since you have so much great texture, it might take a long to paint and to get all the nooks and crannies. Unless you decide to spray paint it, which would probably be easier and faster. It took me a long time to paint my pieces.

I think your choice of colors will look wonderful. I'm excited that my work and tutorial inspired you to do this piece. And I definitely want to see it again when it's done.

Kudos to you for trying this technic. I'm so glad you did.

Val Foster said...

I forgot to say I love the fact that you used real leaves on this. I love using leaves in art. I really am excited to see this when it's done. Great work.

Val Foster said...

One more thing. I love the idea of using the eye. How cool is that? Great idea, an eye peeking out at you.

Christy said...

Mary,
Wow! I too saw this posted on Val's site and knew I would eventually give it a try. I'm so glad you decided to do it. I am already inspired by Val's work and your work but now I am going to go outside and 'collect' some of nature and try this. I have these huge letters that I have not been able to decide what to do with. Guess what... this is what I am going to do. Inspired by you and Val :)
-Christy

Inka said...

OMGosh! … this is unbelievably fabulous! I have to give it a try too! I am just so amazed with your other stunning creations too! Noteworthy is incredible! I want to make one similar for my office, if you would not be offended? but I won't if you don't want me to … however you feel, I am a fan! :)

Eileen said...

Mary, all I can say is Wow!!!! This piece is wonderful....

Eileen