Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Sketchbook Challenge--Adding More.......

St. Louis Cathedral, viewed straight on through Jackson Square

I think, with this challenge, the high point for me will be tinkering with methods I do not usually use. Take for instance transfers from transparencies. I tried this ages ago and had a horrendous experience. Well, to be honest, I had SLOP.
So I pitched the pack of transparencies into the ever growing paper pile and computer supplies and forgot about them.
Until making the tags.
I really wanted images for the front and back and somehow, those transfers kept bubbling to the surface. Thus, I took a deep breath and tried them.

Tag with soft finish transfer and remaining image on transfer plastic.

St. Louis Cathedral turned out excellent. I had done a nice wash of earth and sky color on the tag and all I had to figure was where I wanted to place the transfer. I opted for a little further toward the bottom to get the feeling of the image sinking into the soil; everything built in NOLA is slowly sinking. It's just a fact of building on waterlogged soil. I was pleased with both the colors and the image on this tag! Yes!
So then I was a bit too cocky, and when trying to transfer the image of Jean LaFitte's Blacksmith Shoppe (a tavern serving exceptionally potent drinks......exceptionally...) it decided not to transfer worth a HOOT. 

The transfer plastic shows how little effectively went on the tag, though the amount of red left is interesting.
I had a very vague image on the tag, which I had colored with sea and reef colors, and the remnants of the image still stuck on the transparency plastic. Okay, the unavoidable is happening. I am forced to take out Sharpie and gel pen and DRAW.
Hey, Anne, it is supposed to be a sketchbook.......hmmmmmm......

Yes, this building really sags. BAD. And you don't need a few drinks to see it either.
An aside.
You may think that LaFitte's is drawn cockeyed. Truly, it is not. The building sits at angles that defy logic. It is one of the remaining original structures from the very very OLD Vieux Carre, from the time before the massive fire that destroyed most of the city. The plaster has fallen off the brick, the timbers have sagged with time, the roof has not one straight line.
I probably have given it a bit of a facelift.......
Anyway, back to the tags. These will now be the front and back. There is still a bit to do on LaFitte's rough drawing, but that will be finished. The area where the soft gel transferred the image takes ink fairly easily, but the parts without it are much more difficult to draw on. And it is not easy to see where one ends and the other begins. Nor do I remember what all I used on the background..... I also edged out the tags with colored Sharpies, so areas where the white primed ground showed through are now covered and part of the design.
Totally unrelated to ANYTHING in this post, another *odd things in my hand* photo.

I should super-glue these to my forehead.....
I did a little work on the bench grinder with these crab claws and now have a perfect set of horns for some mixed media project, somewhere down the road. They were just too good to throw away. But I think they need to sit in some baking soda for a while as they still smell like, well, a CRAB.
So this has covered sketchbook pages, a Pirate bar and reuse of a dead crab shell.
Things are just normal here at El Milagro......yep. Life is good!

Pax.... 

45 comments:

Linda and Michelle said...

The tags are wonderfully "arty." I like the abstractness, missing pieces part of it. On the cathedral, it looks to be a "face" in the right pillar - very cool. These look like they are going to be fun to do, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them. How did you ever come up with the idea of the transfers?

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Linda, those transfers have been done for years--I should have put a link to mariannes art blog as she is the queen of transfers. She uses Elmers squeeze caulk (clear) as the base to transfer into; I used the Golden gels because it's what I had.
For whatever reason, I wanted the softness of the transfer on the covers---the inside pages will probably be drawing or collaging or...???
I just loved the cathedral and that *floati-ness*.....says it all!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

marianne said...

love the cathedral! looked at it, thought- she did a transfer! no silly, it's a sketch book & anne can draw! so imagine my surprise :) actually, both look great & the blacksmith shop has the same feel at the cathedral. can't wait to see what's next!

yoborobo said...

Ooooh, these are cool! I love the texture with the overlaid image. :) But, you know what I love best? Yes, the crab claws! I can't wait to see what you do with those babies! Now get back to your laboratory, you crazy art scientist, you! xox

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Marianne,

I was thinking of you the whole time I was doing those transfers....yours look sooooo good and I was saying *bad words* while doing mine!
But I love the quality of St. Louis; it is dreamy, floating in time.
Maybe LaFitte's needed the harder edges.....
And for me, *sketchbook* encompasses anything I put in it~~~I have a very loose translation on that one! ;-)

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

LOL Pam!!!!

Yeah, I knew you'd get the vibe on the crab claws! I still think I should glue them to myself, but, you know.......I would look odd in church.... ;D
Yes, I have lately felt like a Mad Art Scientist, especially the mad-as-a-hatter part.....

XXOO~~♥
Anne

studio lolo said...

I get so distracted when I see all the fun techniques you're all doing out there! I must try, I must! I love the way the tags came out.

And um, ahem, those claws do make for a nice set of devil horns ;)

I'm glad you're starting off the new year right, making messes and playing in the studio!

~♥Lolo♥~

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Aw, see, I knew posting the crab claws was going to be the *real* point of interest...LOL!
Yeah Lolo, this is fun tinkering with all this stuff I have collected and not had time to use or do anything serious with. (or not serious, as the case may be!)
Transfers are so unpredictable---even people who do them all the time have some that don't work, so if you try them, be prepared for odd stuff. Which is okay; I guess I am too much a stickler sometimes....
Go figure...HA!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Janet Ghio said...

Love your tags with the transfers and the colors you have chosen!

Karen S said...

I do like those transfers -- I, too, tried it and didn't like it -- I didn't get ANYthing to transfer during my attempt -- I rather like the dreamy, floaty look to the transferred image. I guess I'll have to try again. Later. Much. Like Lolo -- I find you distracting! But in a good way!

Love those crab claws! Devil horns?! ROFL!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Janet,

Thanks! I actually put some thought into the colors I wanted for the backgrounds.
As opposed to my normal *just slap it on* technique. <:-)

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Oh Karen---I wish you could have seen my first attempts....OMG.....it was a big sloppy mess. I was furious! I had seen all these transfers others had done and they were beautiful and I had a pile of SLOP!
So, I just got brave......and I am quite happy with that dreamy look.....
What--MOI? Distracting??? LOL!!! Just because I threaten to glue crab claws to my head.
Hmmmmmmm....... ;D

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Anna Rosa Designs said...

Hi Anne,
Well done on the transfers!
Yippee for you getting stuck straight into art the first week of the new year, and what ART it is.
The course sounds great.

Hm, I'm not really motivated at the moment. Still getting over Christmas and the seeing the New Year in. LOL
Hugs,
Anna

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Anna,

I think had waited so long to have studio time, the 1st of January I just HAD to get out here and start. And it has been nice too.....little things perking...ideas flitting about....a nice way to start this new year!
I still have to *de-Christmas* the house, but that's for another day. LOL!!!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Vanessa Brantley Newton said...

Where are my horns he he he he! Everything looks great. I LOVE THE SHIPPING TAG ART!!! How fabulous. It's simply divine. Great work. The colors and the print is magnificent. Great work once again. I have to try this sometime. Hope that you had a wonderful New Year! Hope that you and hubby and the feathery men are doing well. Hugs to you.
V

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Vanessa,

I'll share my horns with you, but they are still a little *crabby*....LOL!!!!
I'm thoroughly enjoying the tags---they'll come together in a nice small manageable book.
Without driving me totally crazy.
That's the biggie!
We all had a good holiday and Santa Budgie came and visited the Peep-Meisters, so everyone was HAPPY. (at least for 5 min...heehee!)

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Caio Fern said...

you're briliant for be able to work such presious details.
very good work . i loved.
hugs.

GlorV1 said...

How funny. Super gluing the claws to your forehead. Tee Hee. I like your sense of humor. Those transfer images are great. Where do you find transfer images?? I've wondered about that. Maybe I'll just stop being lazy and look it up. You've been busy this first week and it sounds like you are having lots of fun. Nice post.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Caio!

Thank you~~I appreciate the feedback!
I love working small. I think I don't lose interest before the project is over! ;D

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Gloria,

I have tons of old images, free clip art, creative commons items---it's scattered all over my computer. I often just look online and see what pops up at any given time.
There are CDs you can buy of it too, more vintage or subject specific types. Anything can be used you've photographed or drawn/painted. Just remember to use the T-shirt setting for printing so if there is any text it is going the right way!
Maybe I just need suction cups on those crab claws.....;D

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Butterfly Works said...

These tags are wonderful......and it's great that you explain how you did them......

Thanks for coming by for a visit.....

Emma said...

Love your tags & as I haven't managed to get here for ages I've been catching up, lots of lovely stuff ;)

Thanks for your kind comments & a happy & productive new year to you & yours!

Deborah said...

Anne!!!!!! Your tags are beautiful. Love your horns. I bet my cats would love them too. I woke up at 1:30 and have been up even since. I think I just ran out of words. I am feeling
s l e e p y. **kisskiss** Deb

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Nancy,

Between art and knitting, it is a miracle I get around to blogs to read; I have become a slug! (but this time of year is soooo nice to curl on the couch with a blanket and just knit.....you know?)
Hope your socks get done soon!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Emma,

Oh my gosh, I am running behind too! Life just seems to get in the way and honestly, I could spend a day reading blogs....except I never GET that day! LOL!!!
I am enjoying the New Year; the instant jump into art was a wise choice! Hope yours is super-good too!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

DEB!!! What are you doing up at 1:30???
Yes, no doubt your cats would love the horns as they are still quite fragrant even after a scrubbing.....I am hoping that goes away.
SOON.
No go rest oh beautiful one!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Karin Bartimole said...

I like the way your transfered covers turned out! Maybe it's the transfer sheets themselves that are giving your trouble in not releasing - perhaps they are old or something? Anyway, the sketchbook is off to a great start if the covers are any indication!! and I LOVE your crabby horns :) Life looks good indeed!!
Happy new year! xox K

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Karin,

You know, I actually had better luck with this OLD transfer film than when it was new! LOL! (know that's not how it's supposed to work...)
I think I did not have enough gel on the second one....who knows. It forced me to DRAW so that was good!
Things work out for a reason, yes?
Glad to see you back~~take care!

XXOO~~♥
Anne of the Crabby Horns......

Marie S said...

I love your tags. The backgrounds are amazing.
I love experimenting. How fun Anne!
I hope you had a wonderful New Year Dear one.
You are doing so well to start your year with all of this creative input.
I can hardly wait to see what comes from your other class. ;-D
Thank you for thoughts and prayers for my friend, it is much appreciated.
Blessings all over you.
Love and hugs.
Ps bright post :-D I loved it and the horns would look great on my head too.
I think you can search cleaning bones and and find something to clean those with.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Marie,

Thanks for the nice comments---I'm having a ball with this stuff and anxious to start the class too.
I am so used to cleaning chicken bones in peroxide to get them white, but I'm afraid it would take the color out of the crab. I'll have to google it and see what comes up.
I think I need to rent the crab horns out....there seems to be a demand... :-D

XXOO~~♥
Anne....playing with paint

audrey said...

Anne, you are so funny. Who else would mix beautiful transferred tags with crab claws in the same post?? HAHAHA
Your tags are beautiful. It is such fun to see what you do in your studio. Those crab claws have peaked everyones interest and we are definitely going to want to see what you do with them. I do not want to see them glued on your head (unless it's Halloween)!! (:
Great to see you in the studio! I can't find my studio ~ too much stuff everywhere.
When I was in college I lived in an off-campus house with 10 girls. I, being the art major, was making a room divider out of bones. I would pick them up at the butcher shop every day (for weeks) and boil them clean. Needless to say, the kitchen smelled wonderful. (NOT)! Those girls were SO happy when I was done with that project!!
After the bones were clean and dry, I took them to the woodshop and asked the guys in there to saw them into small segments. That smelled pretty bad, too. hahaha Oh, the good old days.
♥ audrey

Unknown said...

oh my heavens Anne!!! everything is gorgeous!!!! wow...you have been busy creating and I really love these tags....so neat!!!

Wishing you a wonderful New Year!!!

Hugs
Diana

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Audrey~~~LMFAO!!!!

I knew there was a reason we got along so well!!! I was cleaning cornish hen bones this morning after their way-too-long soak...LOL!
You don't happen to have a pic of that room divider, do you??? (and yes, I've sawed thru bone and KNOW what it smells like....)
I'm just having fun and hope to pass that along through the blog. I'm hoping some oozes out the other end for folks!
At least a laugh! :D

XXOO~~♥
Anne...a.k.a. *Bones*

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Diana~~

I tried to get on your blog the other day and Blogger was giving me fits--refused to load.
I need to take a pic of those free *Poison* labels you did at Halloween. I have covered my pencil tins with them (and a few red ink blood splatters! HA!) and LOVE them.
DH just looked and did not understand.
Oh well.
Happy Creative New Year to you too!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Robbie said...

Your tags turned out great! You just never know with transparences..but that's fun too! Nice job!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Robbie, you said it all about the transparencies! I think I'm a little on the anal side, and that's why I have avoided them.
But overall I was pleased and it did intrigue me enough to try them again.
Plus, the substrate was reeeeeeally lumpy, and only so much will transfer right.
I need to buy ink for the printer and try a few more.....

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Jan said...

Better late than never. I don't know why some posts get past my dashboard. Anyway, I love your take on the sketchbook challenge. It doesn't matter if one follows their prompts or not, i think the real goal is to get people creating and you are certainly doing that! These tags are great, love the colors and the subject matter. Artists are funny people, keeping weird things like crab claws. We should all make a post of "odd things in my hand" and see who comes up with the oddest. Who We? all your commenting followers.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Jan,

I seem to have the same problem with dashboard; suddenly I'll see a blogpost two days later, or just click on the blog link and see a bunch of stuff that never came up....good old Blogger! LOL!
I am with you---it would be fun to see all the odd things artists (fiber, mixed media, otherwise--everyone!) keep for *intended use*!
Maybe we should post THAT one as a challenge! ;-D

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I have yet to figure out how to use transparencies for transfers - I tried printing on a sheet once and nothing happened so perhaps my trans. sheets aren't the right sort. I still do the good ol' packing tape version which seems to work okay for me. Great tags by the way!!

Bella Sinclair said...

Holy hot beignets, Anne! Your tags rock! They are wonderful with their old-world-like images. LOVE New Orleans. And the random items in your hand are hysterical! Hahahaha, please don't glue these to your forehead.

Happy New Year!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Bella,

We all need a Beignet break, I think! I really do think I should glue them to my head---maybe the stink would run off the migraine that came to visit this afternoon....grrrrrr.....LOL!!!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Timaree said...

Great pieces for your covers. I don't like doing transfers myself as they seldom come out as I'd like. I think you've done pretty well here.

Your above post with the acorns is terrific too. You have been very busy! Personally, I like it with part of it colored in and part not.

*Ulrike* said...

Ah, the little horns are coming out! Had to laugh over the building and drinks, of course if I didn't back space and delete here you would be thinking I've had one too many!
Take Care,
Ulrike

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

I think this is one of those days that *one too many* is quite in order! :D
Or maybe TWO too many......

XXOO~~♥
Anne

BumbleVee said...

hahaha... like you said in a previous post somewhere...(I've been scrolling backwards through your blog) .... we tend to save stuff.... "we" who think we may get to use it in some project.

When I was a kid...I cut a bear's claw off an old carcass we came across at the city dump...yeh...weird kids.. allowed to go off on their own and get into whatever they found.... some good and some..well, we got into trouble.

Anyway... cleaned it out and let it dry...ohhhh man...it stunk. I didn't think of baking soda at the time..being a kid...but, I bet it would have worked. Anyway...finally it wasn't too bad...and weeks later I shellacked it... with clear nail varnish... pinched a little almost filligree jewellery attachment on the wide ends...hung it on a gold circle...and strung it on a golden chain.... wore that thing everywhere... hahahha.... haven't thought about it in years. This brought it all back... I think I was 12 to 15... we were certainly not doing things kids in that age bracket do today I guess...it was a different time. We seemed a bit strange now that I look back on it...

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