Thursday, June 17, 2010

From Tiny Acorns........


....grow pieces of artwork. I wish I had taken photos as this piece progressed, but I was working on several things at once (as usual!) and was just flat out too lazy to stop and mess with the camera.
Bad me. I'll take my licks. I am glad I took the shot when I laid the leaves out on the canvas, which if I recall right is about 4" x 8" and a deep gallery wrap. Coats and coats of gesso for texture, of course.


It's sort of fun seeing the before with no color and then the after, with things slightly changed and other elements added. I *think* if you click the photos they should enlarge enough for you to see details....there are some fine elements that don't show too well. I did the leaves the same as the New Orleans piece and had one heck of a time getting that stem to gel down. The cap of the acorn is actually gel medium, acrylic color and Budgie Grit! None of the acorns I collected still had their caps. Necessity is the mother of invention!  ;-) Or maybe it's mess-making.....


A side view, to show some of the texture and paint detailing.....it is also nice because it shows the depth of the pieces on the front.


And on top, from Ces's own words about the set of Oak Awards; "The Quercus Society Of Blogworld". (it's a very nice group to be in!)


And filling the back cavity, a remembrance of one of the oaks who planted many acorns....the rich soil tended with two special vials, Hope and Love. The cap of this acorn is gold German glass glitter.
This was nearly impossible to photograph due to the use of interference paints, which as far as I can tell, throw off the auto-focus. There was a slight glaze of shimmer on the whole inside of the cavity. I wish it showed here. Well, some things you just have to hold in your hands and look at......
Currently, this resides at Ces's house.

Pax....

45 comments:

chickory said...

i love how you filled the cavity - i wouldve never thought of that. and i have never been able to figure out how and when i might use interference. so bravo on you...always enjoy your posts on process. have a blessed day!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Chickory,

Interference colors are best used as a last little bit of oomph or to bring something *up* in the painting. I generally use them very lightly, and sometimes smear the edges out with my fingers. A little go a long way!
They also can be used with stamps for a nice pattern, which depending on the color you stamp on, may be almost invisible until the object is moved under the light!

XXOO!!
Anne

Ces Adorio said...

Ah what a labor of love, and I am the lucky recipient! Thank you very much Anne. How very thoughtful of you. I had to smile at your special instructions. It is currently sitting on top of my desk and will find a more suitable place. I may take it to my office.

Thank you again for thinking of me. I love the little acorn especially that it is still sitting on its cup!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

LOL Ces!!! That acorn did NOT want to sit upright in it's cap, or the base medium. I was beginning to think I was getting a *message*...
It was fun to make; I wish I had photographed the process, but you know how it is; too many irons in the fire all at once!
Glad you like it!

XXOO!!
Anne

marianne said...

very nice! you're inspiring me to work natural elements in some
upcoming work.... love the texture

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Marianne,

It can be a lot of fun, and it can be a challenge too to get them to do what you want, and STAY where you want. The key is patience and of course low humidity and drying time!

XXOO!!
Anne

studio lolo said...

What a lovely tribute to Renee♥

That Ces is a lucky duck!!

beautiful job, Miss Anne ;)

xoxo
Lolo

yoborobo said...

Anne - this is just lovely. What amazes me about your work, is how you capture nature with the feeling of a shrine. I guess that must be your New Orleans heart, eh? Such a talent you are. xox! Pam

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Thanks Lolo!

I enjoyed it, and really liked being able to get that branch to stick.....and I hope it STAYS STUCK!!! LOL!!!

XXOO!!
Anne

Silke Powers said...

Oh, Anne, is is beutiful!! Those oaks and oak leaves just shine when you make them into art! And such a great tribute to Renee! Such a great idea to fill the back cavity like a small altar - never thought of that!! You are THE creative one! Hope you are having a most wonderful day! Love, Silke

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Pam,

I think it's the combination of two things;

~growing up looking at all of nature with wonder

~and yes, the influence of New Orleans and the culture of shrines and how in their cemetaries, they still have these little *altars* left in from of vaults

And then somehow, in this jumbled brain of mine, the art happens!!!

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Silke,

I cannot thank you enough for that box of oak leaves. I absolutely *KNOW* you thought I was crazy for asking for them....well, I am, but!
They have just been perfect for the artwork! Could not have made them without your help.
I love the little shrine niches---when I get time (haha) I want to work more with that type thing.

XXOO!!
Anne

Marie S said...

Oh Anne, this is incredible!! Just incredible.
You out did yourself!
Love and hugs.

audrey said...

OMG, Anne, this is fabulous! The texture, the color, the elements, the tribute ~ a beautiful work of art. I am sure Ces will find an appropriate place of honor for it.
BRAVO, Anne!!
♥ audrey

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Marie!

Thanks---I did not outdo myself; I was feeling like it should have been bigger, more complex, etc etc.....nd then I decided all it needed was that blue butterfly, which I equate with a soul flying! :)

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Audrey,

I was glad to do it....as with all the things I work on, it sort of took on a life of it's own and took me along for the ride. ;)
I love those tiny glass bottles....trying to get the paper in them was a hoot.....

XXOO!!
Anne

Anonymous said...

I have been collecting little acorns from our back yard and some I am allowing to get bigger. This is a beautiful piece. I hope I can do something as lovely with mine. It is hotter than you know what here and I guess there too. Blessings
QMM

Jan said...

Gorgeous Anne, what a lovely gift and wonderful tribute. Lucky Ces, to be the recipient.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Peggy,

On the acorns, put them in a ziplock bag and freeze them for a while. That way if there are little wormies in them, they won't grow! (ask me how I know....)
I am sure you'll find a creative use for them! They are so adaptable!

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Thanks Jan!

I'm always thinking of all the woods you have there and wondering what could be collected and made into art!
You know how it is here....if you sit still long enough, you may get gelled to something! LOL!!!

XXOO!!
Anne

Elena said...

Awesome work! Truly beautiful and wonderful use of the cavity!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Thanks Elena,

I always love finding tiny things to put in the back. Sometimes I think I like doing the backs more than the fronts.....and need to just find some shallow boxes to fill! ;)

XXOO!!
Anne

Unknown said...

oh this is so amazing Anne!!! bless your heart ....you are so creative and so thoughtful....I think of Renee a lot...what a beautiful piece...I know she is enjoying this from heaven....

and you ...all about black and white...I would have never guessed that with all the amazing colour here!!!

Have a wonderful day!!!

Hugs
Diana

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Diana,

If you could see my wardrobe...heehee...B&W, and some RED! And when I did fiber art, I used a lot of neutral greys and black and then one pop of color.
I think my painting has taken me back into the world of colors, but then there is still the B&W photographer in me too.... :)
My dark secret! HAHA!!!

XXOO!!
Anne

Karen S said...

It's nice to see even some of the process ;-) ... and I just love the way the leaves are turning out. I'm going to have to play around with some in my artwork now. The colors you are using on this and the last "leafy" piece remind me of Pasadena (I can't say why, they just do) and make me want to do something with that.

Thanks!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Karen,

Isn't it odd how certain color combos can remind us of a place or person? There is nothing that one can specifically put their finger on, but it just happens.
I fnd that I am drawn to colors I used to never use, and they go back to some of the odd, antique colors in New Orleans.
yet they show up in a piece like this.....go figure!
Have fun!

XXOO!!
Anne

Anna Rosa Designs said...

Oh Anne,
You've done it again.
Another great piece coming out of your studio!
Hey, how sweet is the idea of adding something to the back of the gallery canvas.
I've never seen that before!
Hm, how come its at Ces's house?
Have a great weekend,
Hugs,
Anna

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Anna,

I love working on the backs of the deep canvas, but boy it is a pip to get the gesso in there and on good! Always needs more coats than the front of course.....
It's at Ces's because she's a *good nut*! ;)

XXOO!!
Anne

Magpie's Mumblings said...

What a great idea to put something interesting in the back 'hole'! I remember back in the day when I was taking folk art classes the instructor saying that we should always paint a little something on the back because inevitably people would turn it over.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey M.A.

I love being creative with the back of these; there is just enough space that you can combine collage and 3-D elements. I do think it is an extra treat to have the second side---if you get tired of the front, you can turn it around and look at the back for a while!

XXOO!!
Anne

Robbie said...

Well, what are you up to now! This is a great piece! I do like seeing the progression of your work so get with the program, will 'ya'! Make sure you ALWAYS have the camera at ready! Geezzz

Annie Jeffries said...

What a delightful surprise to find a tiny story tucked in to the back of the picture.

Sarah Anderson said...

Fabulous! I thought they were two diff pieces 'til I read the comments! Fantastic idea using the back, and I love the front too. and what a lovely tribute

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Robbie---LOL!!!

I had so much gel medium on me if I had the camera, it would have stuck to my hands!!!
Sometimes it's better off this way.....though this one progressed pretty much the same as the New Orleans piece, for all intents.

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Annie,

In the box canvas series I continue to work on, each has the back filled and completed. The front and back relate in some manner, some it might be by color alone, but if you know the story to each, there is a definite connection.
I think my mixed media link has more of them....

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Sarah,

I enjoy the possibilities of using front and back to tell a story.
I guess most of my *slower art* is story-telling in mixed media, now that I think about it.
Hmmmmm....yep. That's it!

XXOO!!
Anne

Deborah said...

**SQUEALS!! HOW WONDERFUL! OMGosh I love it. I have no more words. Yes, yes, Renee planted many many seeds...her Big Work. Just really wonderful and so happy you sent it to Cesalicious. **blows kisses** Deb

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Thanks Deb--
I did enjoy it; I wish I could have had a few less irons in the fire when I was working on it to enjoy it MORE! I loved those little glass bottles, but trying to get the papers (hope & love) in them, plus a dab of glitter, PLUS a dab of clear tar gel to hold things in place, well, I felt like I had gant fingers! LOL!!!

XXOO!!
Anne

Serena Lewis said...

What a beautiful and thoughtful piece, Anne....I LOVE that you utilised the back of the canvas too. Very clever!

Bella Sinclair said...

Oh, Anne! This is so heartwarming and goshdarn beautiful! All the symbols are very moving and significant. The oak leaves and acorns are fantastic. And yellow! Yellow was Renee's favorite color. Lots of love put into this, for sure. Lucky Ces!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Serena,

The canvas backs are great to use, but they take a lot of gesso to prime up. That is the only slow part with them, but usually I gesso several at a time so I have a pile on hand. No waiting! :)

XXOO!!
Anne

Bunny said...

Amazing, you are a great artist. Now I have Gypsy's glitter glass what product do you use to keep it on your artwork etc. It is gorgeous stuff.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Bunny,

Will pop you an e-mail about the glass glitter.
DO NOT SWEEP IT UP WITH YOUR HANDS!!!!! It cuts....don't ask....

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Serena,

Thanks---I really enkoy doing these; just wish I had *more time*! (don't we all!)

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Bella,

I am not sure what Blogger did getting these comments all mixed up!
That is so odd----I had no idea Renee loved yellow, and that shade is one I never, ever use! It was a whim that I put it on there; I think to match the acorn cap. Maybe other hands guided me...to get it *right*.

XXOO!!
Anne

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