Monday, January 11, 2010

Fruits Of My Labor....."With Love"

 
(Paris, copyright AMH-Lockard 2010)                       (Love Entwined, copyright AMH-Lockard 2010)

Well, finally!!! Some finished work to share....  :-)  It is with great pleasure that I write this post because I have been so happy with the pieces and also anxious for feedback on the different ones.  I am hoping, as you are reading this, that I am again ready for a day at the table, but that could still be up in the air. We'll see.....


(Damask Hearts series, copyright AMH-Lockard 2010)

These two presented opportunities I had not thought about when I covered the panels with the thin paper. I knew I would go for shading and the addition of some color, but then there was this particular *blah* with the patterened background. I wanted to preserve it, it was elegant in design, but it needed something--in the words of Emeril--to *kick it up a notch*. I sat them aside and worked on the other pieces. "Paris" was pretty easy....it made itself; I just applied the right colors and mediums.  "Love Entwined" was a bit more demanding in that I used some gel medium with color added on the bottom and had to wait and wait for it to be thoroughly dry before adding shading. The background though needed something else, and a bit of glitter paint seemed to add the magical aura necessary for this cheery and almost child-like heart piece.
And then I was back to the "Damask Hearts".
Hmmmmm.........


Somewhere in the back of my addled brain, I remembered buying a bottle of a crackle agent I had never tried, and after finding it, took a deep breath and painted it heavily onto the B&W backgrounds. And again, I waited.
These are products that cannot have the drying time forced. They won't crackle if they are hit with a hairdryer or heat gun...though I have singed a few pieces in trying this! And lost all crackle in the process. (it says on the containers....don't try and speed the process...I read that every time....)
I was very, very happy with the results. Enlarge the above photo and see what a lovely effect it gave! I felt it was similiar to a piece of old, crazed china or printed ironstone ware.
Then the outer edges were coated with very fine German glass glitter in black, the finishing touch to these elegant little numbers!

 

The final application to all the hearts is a heavy coating of high gloss varnish and sometimes a touch of glitter. That makes them pop from the backgrounds, which I occasionally vary by using a satin varnish, thus adding more depth and visual seperation.
And now, I want to get back to work......enough resting.....I want to paint and cover myself in gel and glue and generally make another creative mess!
We'll see. The health is first.
Hope you've enjoyed this description of how these progressed. It really is hit and miss, isn't it???  ;-)
Have a great creative day, a good Monday and for the whole week.....

Pax.

32 comments:

marilyn said...

They are beautiful and each imparts a different feeling of love. Have you tried the Yes Paste when working with papers? Karlyn Holman recommends it in her book, Watercolor The Spirit of Spontaneity.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

I have not tried Yes Paste simply because I have so many jars of the Golden mediums and have been pleased with their stability and preserving factors.
However, I am always looking for something new to try, and DH gave me a gift card for art supplies.... :)
So it may be on my list for the next purchase. Thanks for the recommendation and comments!

XXOO!!
Anne

Linda and Michelle said...

So I would gladly own all of these. I really am taken with all the texture in the small hearts - they look like expensive old tiles, they shine, and they just ooze love 0 if that's possible....Someday I will see Paris in person (on my bucket list), but I love the romanticism of well-done Eiffel Tower pieces. And the flying hearts - joy to the soul! Thanks for starting my week of great!!!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Thanks Linda!

I was excited with the small hearts looking much like ceramic; I added one more layer of varnish to the hearts on them last evening to make sure the glitter was sealed. (haven't even checked that yet...)
Just got a couple more ideas; it's going to be hard to be good and STOP and REST today!
And you made MY morning!!!
Thanks!

XXOO!!
Anne

marianne said...

these are lovely! what sort of trasparent crackle medium do you have? btw, now your secret is out- you have plenty of golden products too, eh? :) but the yes paste is good- itis dryer, so with thinner paper it is (theoretically) possible to paste w/o wrinkles. if you're not me. happy monday! hope you get to play!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Marianne,
LOL!!! Anytime I use thin paper old big hands here puts her fingers thru it, sooner or later. It's that impatient thing that I have to *touch* everything.....
Oh well. I do think I will try some and see how it works. Add it to the *arsenal*!!!
Yes, I LUUUUUUUUUUUV Golden mediums. I would own every one if money was no object! (ha. artist, remember?)
The clear crackle is (and I hate to admit this is more of a crafty product, but it works the best of anything I've tried) DecoArt's "One Step Crackle".
And it IS one step. Just put it on thick---don't try and brush it thinner or nothing happens. You can stain over it, but I like the clear crackle. It appears to be very hard once dry.
So now all my secrets are out...sigh....no longer a woman of mystery..... ;)

XXOO!!
Anne

Robbie said...

love the look of the hearts (but I commented before on them)...I have Tim holtz crackle but haven't used it to it's full capacity! hmmmm wonder if it made it to Florida with me! Thanks for the inspiration AGAIN!!! and sharing your secrets!!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Robbie,

I've not tried the Tim Holtz; maybe I need to put some of that on my shopping list too!
I have baskets of *stuff* that I've purchased, tried once and then was not able to get it to do what it was supposed to or it just wasn't what I was looking for. I've tried to be good and cut back on some of the supplies....but I do use other Tim Holtz products....hmmmmmm.... ;)
Thanks!

XXOO!!
Anne

Bunny said...

Anne I just love all of them but my favourite is the Paris one it is outstanding. I see that you are on a roll now. Nice to see that your creative juices are runing.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Bunny,

It is always fun to see which pops out to whom. I have more ideas for sister pieces to most of them, though the Paris piece would probably be about the same as the first due to the actual paper used. Sort of limits the options, and that's okay too!
A couple more BGs drying, some patterns cut...off I go!
(then rest time.....I promise!)

XXOO!!
Anne

audrey said...

Anne, they are BEAUTIFUL. It would be hard to choose. You have a certain technique that makes these uniquely yours.
It is a good thing you don't have an etsy shop right now ~ I would be broke!!!
I am happy for you that you are able to create again!
Have another creative day and I hope the leg is feeling better.
♥ audrey

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Audrey,

Had I nothad to take two days off for stupidity pay-back, I would have had these posted in the shop I built sometime back!!! I do take paypal.... :D
They're just so fun.....it is nice the brain is somewhat working---seems to be helping to get the cobwebs of meds out. Seriously---it is as healing as some of the other stuff, as long as I do NOT overdo the standing!
Off to the table!

XXOO!!
Anne

Georgina said...

Anne, I love them. That crackle effect is fab. Considering you've just had major surgery, and in pain, you sure haven't lost your lust for creating...big envy!!! Can't seem to get my stuff together...I've got a block...right between my ears!!! LOL Anyway, I think your hearts are wonderful and I still want that apron...I think I'll treat myself to it for my birthday coming up soon.

Love ya,
G

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

I have that apron in a box for you----I knew it would be going to Texas! ;)
I think it was the time away from everything that just cleared the mental palette and let the creativity flow through. Also, the fact that I have very limited time I can stand/sit to do it is part of it.
If I have free time, the brain goes numb, I dawdle and nothing happens.
Plus, this is normally my more productive time of year, and I think there is extra push from being down half the day.
be patient; try writing or doodling or something completely different for a bit.
Or clean the studio, look at old unfinished work, etc.
It will happen! :)

XXOO!!
Anne

yoborobo said...

Oh, Anne! I am drooling over those shiny red hearts! They look like enamel work - love them! And I have never had any luck with any crackle product, but I'm wondering if I applied it wrong, or was impatient (who? me? haha!). The pieces are just lovely. You have the best sense of color! xo Pam

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Pam,

Any crackle medium requires a few thing; first being LEAVE IT ALONE!!! LOL! (how do I know???)
Low humidity and generally a fairly generous application, then set it aside.
Way aside.
I do like the enamel look they get, and the fun thing is it's just from learning to tonker with the papers, etc.
Three boards covered and I think I am taking the papers, patterns and scissors in and stretching out to cut them. To be good...... >:(

XXOO!!
Anne

Lutrah's Ocean Alter said...

Anne...
They are just delicious! I have been itching to play with my paper and paints and glue... You always inspire me... now if I just had some time on my hands!
As for glue... besides the Golden mediums, my favorite is the Perfect Paper Adhesive. It has a lower water content, therefor you have less problems with shrinkage and wrinkling. I learned about it from a Librarian friend of mine who used it to repair books.
I too am looking for that perfect crackle medium...I think I have about four different jars... and the one coat is the leader so far...

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey There Girlie!
Thanks for commenting! I have not heard of the Perfect Paper Adhesive...one more for the *search* list. I will say for opaque crackle (as long as it's used per Golden instructions) I like the Golden; for the clear, the one I previously mentioned.
I have tried a lot that do nothing...well, they make me mad!
I will admit; sometimes I like the small wrinkles that develop in the papers as they pick up colors and gesso and hold it.
It's the papers you DON'T want to wrinkle that are always the stinkers, though the extra heavy gel medium is a low water content too......
So many mediums, so little money and time! LOL!!!

XXOO!!
Anne

Deena said...

Love your hearts and your beautiful avatar - that is you, isn't it? Your writing is wonderful.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Thanks!!!
Yes, for better or worse, my avatar IS me! That was a good hair day..... ;) ...I haven't had one of those in a while.
Thanks for the writing comment; I had not written regularly in years till starting the blog and have discovered I missed it a lot!
And thank heavens for the backspace key.......LOL!

XXOO!!
Anne

XXOO!!
Anne

Mary Helen-Art Saves Lives said...

I bought FolkArt Crackle medium for acrylic paints but I have yet to open it...but now It looks enticing to try in some manner shape or whatever. I have some new tiny glitter to employ ...I am not usually a glitter girl but who knows. I am still inside but will get back to work this afternoon. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Mary Helen,

I have found that every crackle medium works different, so READ WELL. (ask me why I write that...)
And I don't do a lot of glitter, but that super fine stuff...Well! That's different! ;)
Have fun!

XXOO!!
Anne

Anonymous said...

Simply put Beautiful!! I love them. WHat type of varnish are you using and where can it be found. I'm going to breaking out the paintbrushes soon and will have work that will need to be sealed. Hugs and I do hope your doing better today. Tammy

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Tammy,

For acrylics, I just use the Ceramcoat varnish. If you are doinfg mixed media canvas work, then sometimes an acrylic varnish from the paint store (and they will say if they can be used on paper) will be a good choice. I always look at Hobby Lobby or if I get to a Michaels and see what new varnish products are out there, buy the smallest bottle and then try them. But for the most part, it is the simple stuff.
It's the specialty products, like glazes and gel mediums that get me in trouble! LOL!
Felling better today; off to the chair for some serious sitting! HA! Walked 1/4 mile on the treadmill---which sounds like squat but I could feel it in the muscles. And the bad right knee has almost gone back to normal since the surgery---how the originaly pins twisted the leg caused the knee pain.
Hope you're doing well too! Glad you're back!

XXOO!!
Anne

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I was wondering what it was about the hearts that was different and someone in the comments said that they look like enamel...bingo! That's a perfect description of what I'm seeing. They all look great!

Leslie said...

I <3 them!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi MA!
Yep, that's my signature touch n them; making paper look like enamel---and it is a sloooow process!
back to the tables a bit today, then sewing and houasework that has been ignored....ACK. ;)

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Leslie---

(me too! heehee!)

XXOO!!
Anne

Anonymous said...

1/4 of mile is nothing to shrug of friend. I have to go very slow as not to hurt my muscles or ligaments. I'm up to 100 steps on the stairstepper. Have not yet done the treadmill as we must have proper room. Hard to obtain when in the middle of a remodel... but we'll get it worked out.

Your doing well!! Go Anne, go anne!!

Tammy

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Tammy, but doesn't it seem funny when you write the distance down, it seems so little, yet when you DO it, you're ready to get off???
It does help a lot, and has helped balance and strength and getting a normal gait back after almost a year.
So I shal waddle along, happy as a clam!
And good for you too!!! We'll both be running marathons soo.....or circles around our creative work! :)

XXOO!!
Anne

di from di-did-it said...

Damn these turned out great! You're gonna make me like hearts after all, aren't you?

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Yes, Di, I am!
See the secret is.....mine are made with lots of love!!! ;)

XXOO!!
Anne

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