Wednesday, May 20, 2009

The Box Canvas---FINISHED!!!!!

Well folks, you've been quite patient, and today I have all the photos of the box canvas posted; you get to see the sum of all the little parts and tidbits you've been teased with! I have to admit I am more than happy with it---in fact, I really don't want to give it away but go it must.

I'd also like to add that the photos that are the lighter yellow reflect the real color of the piece. It was one of those shades that just went weird every time I would go for a close up and I am far to lazy to readjust color each time...... ;)


The cross was built up with layer after layer of rice paper and gel medium. This allowed a slow but manageable shaping of the piece. What surprised me when I painted it was the fact that it really looked like wood! A nice surprise!
This is, of course, a liberal interpretation of a Jerusalem Cross, which usually has four small crosses in the corners representing the four gospels. Well, why not put the evangelists there instead? So right to left, top then bottom; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They are secured in the bottle caps, as small gilded frames, with a bit of superfine glitter acting as halos around the edges.

This is a very BAD close up of poor Matthew.....he's really not that orange.....
Then on each side of the canvas, I picked an appropriate Latin verse.

On the left side: "Be mindful, O Lord, of Thy servants."

On the top: "By the words of the Gospel may our sins be blotted out."

On the right side: "May Almighty God bless you: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost."

And obviously, on the bottom, as all prayers are ended; "Amen"
The worst part of the text was going through font after font after font to find something that looked very much like the old fonts used in prayer books, and then remembering that the first initial of each phrase was a decorative cap, in *that* red, and the rest of the verse in a plain font. The text was probably the worst to put together in the sense of imitating an old missal.
But the back......ah......it was glorious to work on! Again, the first photo is the most accurate for color and I can't help the quality of the close up...it's better than it was when I first uploaded it.
I did a tremendous amount of searching for the right icon image to put in the cavity--most were far too stylized and stern for my liking. Then I came across this one, but only a tiny JPEG, so I kept looking and lucked out, finding a very large photo. It was printed, applied with gel, painted over with fluid acrylics, metallic gold paint and German glass glitter around the edge of the halo. I sealed the glitter with Triple Thick Glaze, because I was NOT sure it would stay in place due to the nature of a canvas to expand and contract with weather.

The skin tone on the piece is actually a very natural color, but again, I kept getting RED. So you have to use your generous imaginations on this one!
After taking the photos, I finished with different varnishes; matte, satin and gloss. The background is satin, the body of the paper, matte, and the face and halo, gloss. It is very effective. I intend to experiment more with the combination of finishes, as it allows things to be pushed forward or back, as desired. Tonight we have our Artists Co-Op meeting and I am taking this to show.
So thanks for sticking with me on this piece, and a very big WELCOME to a new follower! While I am glad this is done, it is with sadness, too, because it truly brings to reality the fact that our minister will be moving on. Steve is a great man, has put up with me like a saint (the patience of Job, we're talking...), endured my raucous and unfit jokes I have been compelled to e-mail him, and has been a pillar within our community.
Reverend Steve Ailes, you will be missed. Sorely. This is a very small gift to remind you of your community and home in Peru.
To the rest of you, take advantage of each day, try new things, cherish those about you.
And make ART!!!!!!

19 comments:

Tristan Robin said...

This is such an exquisite piece ... I can't believe you made it - it looks like an ancient icon.

The colours are breathtaking - and so well integrated it's impossible to tell that it was intentional and not merely the passage of time and elements that caused it.

perfect font - perfect images - good on you!!!!! you should be so proud of it. I don't blame you for wanting to keep it!

When I'm a rich famous artist, I'm commissioning you to make me one of these awesome icon pieces!

I'm so glad you let us share your process with you!

Talking Horses Arts said...

Awesome..really love this...gorgeous!
Thanks so much for sharing with us and telling us how it came to be.
This is so very inspiring!
Andrea.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Tristan, thanks so much for the generous comments.
Yes, it WORKED. I was worried it might not, and then you have all that time in....you know the story.
I am such an anal font-geek that it's awful. I'll search for HOURS for the right fonts. I lucked out, that's all I can say!
I really could keep this piece....but then again, I can make another---right? :)

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Andrea, thanks for following! Glad you liked the piece--sometimes I go in detail, sometimes something is just slapped up there for those days you have no time to breathe. I try and keep it arty or amusing, or at least an entertaining RANT!!!
Glad to have you here!!!

Gayle Pritchard said...

It's wonderful, and I agree, the colors are exquisite. So glad you finished it! Celebrate!!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

I am! I'm sitting in my PJs taking a short break before the day really starts! And for me, that's celebrating! Going to your blog now......

My Vagabond Heart said...

It is absolutely wonderful. I'm sure Reverend Ailes will treasure it.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Thanks Vicki---I hope so!

Jan said...

Everything Tristan said is what I'd like to have said but he gets up earlier than I do. It is lovely. It is perfect. Reverend Ailes will be floored and honored. Thanks for sharing the process.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

What are we going to DO with Tristan???? ;) I guess keep him, or I'm going to have to post at midnight so you can see it first! LOL!
Thanks Jan!

Julie Zaccone Stiller said...

Anne it is such a fabulous piece, and your minister is a very lucky person to be receiving it. I find it is hard to get a good color in a closeup shot, sometimes I have to go outside and try it. Not in the full on sun, because then there are shadows to deal with. Something about the natural light works well with getting the right color. Especially if there is shiny stuff or glitter.

bernadette ostrozovich said...

lovely! as always!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Julie, thanks for the tip on shooting the close ups. It is odd because sometimes they work, but this piece would ave nothing of it. I'll take it out on the porch, in fact--now--and see what I come up with. I really would like a good photo for my own records.
And yeah....gold and glitter are a real pain to shoot!

peggy gatto said...

This reminds me of the gorgeous russian icons, just spectacular!
And, I am so glad I got to see your quilt!!! You have to find a place for it!!!

Linda and Michelle said...

This is well worth the wait! I love how everything came together - and I really enjoyed following the process -this is such a different art form to me. Kudos!!

tallboy said...

Benedicte! This priceless treasure is such an exquisite and humbling gift.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Peggy and Linda---thanks for the comments. It is fun to see process, and even nicer when it works! I did so want it to look like an aged icon but still with my style, that it was decenable I made it. I think it worked... :)

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Steve,

Pax Domini sit semper vo biscum.
And at least it wasn't attempted to be passed off as an *original* icon! :) LOL!

Leslie said...

OMG, it is incredible. I want it, I want it. Wow!

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