Thursday, April 22, 2010

More Parts, Please!

Yesterday I took time to go have lunch with a friend and see some art, wander about a bit, then come home and enter my tidy, completely organized studio with work waiting on the table.......
I seem to keep acquiring things on the table....this is actually after I straightened it up after a few *parts* went flying and were difficult to find.
(Note to self: do NOT turn on the ceiling fans when there are loose paper pieces....)
Yes, there were a few moments of panic as I frantically searched for tidbits of torn paper. And NO, I could not have replaced them with OTHER torn paper......I was having a *Monk* moment. I seem to have a lot of those.
At any rate, I think this is where we left off:


Well, maybe I had added more.....I tend to forget to get the amount of photos I should once I am in the creative zone. Anyway, I did do a few close ups so you could see some of the process. I tend to start aging things at this point. Adding, covering with gel, then paint---pushing backward, pulling forward. It is all rather by instinct as I get a feel for where the piece is going and I generally try and stay out of the way. When I begin to push, that's when I leave the studio and let things sit and brew.


Certain elements were slow work, such as painting the back of the tracing paper the skeleton had been printed on. Doing so allows it to be opaque and stand out. It is the primary focal point, though the piece has more than one, and this is where laying bits out and thinking helps.

I still have not applied the skeleton to the canvas; that will be the last part to do. It is integral that all the aging be done first, everything else that might need to be under it's edges finished. I double, well...no....I probably triple sprayed it with varnish in hopes of not having wrinkles when I finally plaster it down.


The heart is a stamped image, and is also painted on the back, but with fluid acrylics reduced with some water, so it is not as intense. Same paper as the skeleton, slightly different way to apply color.


The *wax* seal in the lower left hand corner is Paperclay, dried and edges sanded to shape, then painted and glazed with a bit of black to bring out the lettering....strychnine.....a must in all old apothecaries.


This is NOT how you are to mount loose rubber stamps.....but it works when one is in a big hurry. LOL!


And that brings me to where I am leaving it for more work on giving it a sense of weathering and getting the colors all balanced out right. The sides will need work, as will other areas on the top. It is a back and forth type of process....a little here....a bit there.....
I am not sure what I do is a style that would appeal to others. It is slow work and requires a lot of trust in instinct. Sometimes I hit the mark, and sometimes I miss.
But when it all works right, wow.
It is a LOT of fun!
We'll continue later....this post has become a tremendous headache as Blogger is throwing images left and right and eating words and changing fonts......I've had all I can bear for one evening.
Besides, "Bones" may be on the tube and I want to go vegetate!

Pax.

32 comments:

Debs said...

I love how this is turning out! :D Very interesting.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Thanks Debs!

The journey on these pieces is always fun....sometimes when I complete one, there is a little bit of disappointment that it is finished! :)
And thanks for signing up to follow!

XXOO!!
Anne

yoborobo said...

Anne - I love this piece. And your process is amazing. You manage to get a depth of color and richness with all your layering and varnishing and gelling (is that a word?). As for blogger, don't even get me started! xoxoxo Pam

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey PAm!

LOL!! LOL!! Oh, it was VERY UGLY here last evening when I was putting the post up. 1 hr. and 15 minutes......the air was violet blue from bad words!
Yes, I think *gelling* is a word, and works in two ways; as in, the gel medium, as in, all coming together! Quite clever, you are!
Thanks for the words; sometimes when I am doing it I do wonder if I'm sane....hahaha!
I love them whn they are done and look like they have history!

XXOO!!
Anne

marianne said...

so much fun to watch the process! looks familiar..... and i will have to try thr tracing paper trick too- did you use any sort of digital grounds or will tracing paper take inkjet ink nicely? can't wait to see what's next!

Vicki~TheMiddleSister said...

Enjoying watching the process. The skeleton reminds me of my best friend's Italian mother's favorite gesture!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Marianne,

I use older *well aged* tracing paper, and if you buy new, just feel for the rougher side; there is a slight difference.
I print at regular setting and don't touch it till completely dry.
Then I spray back and front well with workable fixative and use the heaviest gel medium to apply it. The softer ones have too much water. Buy some cheap paper and some better---see which works the best. I love the effect it gives!

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Vicki!!!

ROFLMAO!!!! And I bet I can see her in action, with the hands just going along with words expressing herself!

XXOO!!
Anne

Janet Ghio said...

So interesting to see how you did the skeleton and the heart--printing on tracing paper and then painting the back.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Janet,

It is a fun technique when you get the feel for it. It has pros and cons.....I think anyone who does mixed media should give it a whirl.
I have a regular copier and would like to try it with that at some point, just to see what happens!

XXOO!!
Anne

audrey said...

This is fun being able to see what you've done from one day to the next. Fascinating, Anne. It is already an interesting piece - eager to see it completed. You are adding some great elements and I always love your color and ageing process.
♥ audrey

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Thanks Audrey!

This one had brewed in my head for a long time, though I have to admit some of the colors are being a little stubborn in coming up quite like I want.
I think it is from being away from the paint for so long.....

XXOO!!
Anne

Deborah said...

HA! I can just see all your parts flying! This is already looking very good. Speaking of wax seals, your letter arrived yesterday...was that the one you burnt your finger on? It was ever so enjoyable received handwritten mail on antique stationary. Yours is going out in the mail today. **kisskiss** Deb

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Deb,

No, I hate to admit, it was Marie's that the wax caught fire, then I gave it a shake to put it out and it flipped up on my finger....YOWZA!!! (it was funny though...) Promise better content next time... ;)
Maybe my brain will be working...I do need to bleach my hair and all that HEAT....ya know.....LOL!!!

XXOO!!
Anne

Jan said...

Glad to see you (your muse)are back in creative mode. This piece is coming along great and I can see how much fun you are having with it. You are so inspiring!

Marie S said...

I love this Anne. A wonderful process. Thank you for leading us through it.
I am thrilled that your table made it to normal in a matter of seconds. I always wonder how anyone can work in a sterile environment. And do you take things out and them put them back rihgt away, gheesh, I have no idea. As soon as I put stuff away I can't find it again and then I need it.
Happy Earth day Anne.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Jan,

Thanks! And thanks for the goodies (again!) you sent! I can't wait to try them, but I am going to have to wait or I won't get this done! HAHA! Very short attention span, ya know? (wink!!)

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Marie,

No...when I put things away I tend to lose them....
I did buy some of those cheap *wood product* shoe holders, square with the open fronts. That way when I do put things away, I generally can SEE where they are! Books, gels, etc. The paints are always out in plain view.
When I really have to clean up, I never know where anything is and usually am on a rant for days.....it's just easier rearranging the mess... :D

XXOO!!
Anne

Alexandra MacVean said...

Hi Anne,

Just catching up again. Been pretty sick and was completely down this past week...in hospital, etc.

Hoping to read through your other posts to catch up on you.

Much love. xo

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Sophia,

Just fired you out an e-mail with a short *catch-up* from Anne-Land.
It's a real snoozer....get strong tea! LOL!!!
Take care of yourself and keep in touch!

XXOO!!
Anne

Silke Powers said...

Oh, Anne, wonderful!! It's rare that I study a post like I did this one. I am enamored by your paper clay/stamp process. You must have incredible patience!! And I love the skeleton? Did I tell you I grew up in a "different" sort of family - my dad had somewhere bought one of those medical skeletons and "Theodore" lived with us until he found a new home with some medical students... Love, Silke

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Okay Silke....I am COMPLETELY jealous!!! (and maybe I should call this guy Theodore.....) How cool!
The paperclay and stamping is easy. I learned it from another artist. I should do a tutorial on here sometime to show what you can do.
It's a lot of fun, and the materials are fairly cheap. Lots of bang for the buck!

XXOO!!
Anne

Anna Rosa Designs said...

Hi Anne,
Ah, I think I'll call you the "queen of mixed media". lol
Thank you for sharing the pros and cons of shuffling, painting, geling, antiquing your canvas.
Happy Creating,
Hugs,
Anna

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I would have sworn (in court!) that your wax seal was real wax. As for mounting the stamp - any port in a storm I say. It's fun to peek into your studio too!

Unknown said...

wow Anne!!! this is beautiful!!! what a fabulous piece and I love your cook art table!!! so much to inspire....

Hugs
Diana

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Anna,

Mostly of late, it seems I have been the Queen of losing my temper with Blogger and FaceBook!
We have a weather change coming in and trying to answer these before round two of the migraine kicks up.
I doubt I will have studio time today.....

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi M.A.

Too bad we didn't have a bet going about the *seal*.....hahahaha!!! ;)
I guess I'm in here so much I don't think about other people wanting to see it, you know?
Have a good one--trying to get the computer work done before weather comes in.

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Thanks Diana!

I'm anxious to get to the detail work now.....making it a bit *dirtier* and doing a fair amount of work with colored pencils.
We'll see if I can see straight today....

XXOO!!
Anne

Susie Jefferson said...

Fabulous! And a tidy studio? Wow...

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

No Susie....no.....it is NOT tidy!
things just get shoved out of view, or cropped out of the picture!
Ah, the joys of photo-editing software! LOL!!

XXOO!!
Anne

Susan Sager Brown said...

Wow, this is amazing!! I so adore seeing your creative process as you develop this piece. The anatomical heart is very cool and the stamp/clay element is so clever. Love it!! I am a VERY messy worker too!! xoSusan

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Susan,

Yes, the harder I try and keep the mess contained, the less I get done. I need to just *learn to love it*......LOL!!!
It's just when I lose things in the pile......HA!

XXOO!!
Anne

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