Sunday, January 3, 2010

MMM: Leftovers

"The Red Dress"
5 X 7 Canvas Board

This week's Mixed Media Monday challenge was to create a piece of art representing (or using) leftovers. It was such an interesting prompt as it could go in so many ways: should I do a piece of art on holiday leftovers or should I use leftover supplies to create a piece of art? While I choose to use leftover supplies, I also wanted to incorporate something that I have never used or thought of before as a way to really challenge myself. I looked at everything this week with new eyes, and when I came across a piece of broken glass under our Christmas tree, I knew I had found what I was looking for. The turquoise ornament glistened in the light of the holiday hurricane (that is, on the floor under all the hastily opened presents) and I knew that I had found yet another way to create sparkle on a piece. . .

The Red Dress was created using a Canvas Board, vintage text, crayons and a ton of beeswax. Not only was the beeswax used for texture and depth, but it was also used as the glue for the entire project. After priming the board with hot pink acrylic, I scribbled with yellow and orange crayons before applying the beeswax. I loved how the clear(ish) wax blended with the wax colors to create a pool of warm soft color. After applying text (in the rough shape of a tree) I added more color and wax, this time in green. The ATC size vintage paper dolls (Hannah Grey) were applied with more wax to create a clothes line. The vintage text was from a 1957 Learning To Read picture book (note the odd grammar) and the "mirror" was from an old Anna Griffin kit that I painted and distressed. Finally, the found ornament was glued on top to create a dreamy sky and a soft pink glass ball (okay, so I broke that one on purpose) was placed on the bottom of the piece, dripped in more wax. Also used were fibers, fabric and Swarovski crystals.

Whew! So there it is: my little piece of leftovers. To see more pieces on Leftovers, please check out www.MixedMediaMonday.Wordpress. com.

Happy New Year. Happy New Art. Kristin xox

19 comments:

LivArtNow said...

Happy new year!! this is wonderful, fun and creative!! love it!!

Linda

Diane said...

Kristin, this is a fabulous piece, so full of interesting elements - and what a wonderful use for the sadly broken Christmas bauble! Diane

Amy said...

TOO SWEET!! I always enjoy coming by your blog and being inspired. She is adorable and I bet she loves that red dress just so! Sweet lil' gems on the dress too. I loved the idea of using the ornaments..they have found a happy home there on your art piece!
Come by my blog..I have some blog candy..sign up ok!

Amy said...

P.S. I added your blog to my SWEET blog list!! So I can come by more often.

Sandy said...

OMG this is amazing.
So fantastic canvas. Love them.

Gayle Page-Robak said...

Terrific art piece for the Leftovers theme, Kristin...gorgeous work!! Hugs, Gayle.

Hermine said...

Absolutely gorgeous

johanna said...

fantastic, kristin, love the bright colors!!

WrightStuff said...

That's a great piece. It brought back a few memories too - those paper dolls with the paper clothes and little tabs. I haven't worked with beeswax before but it's on my list of 'wants'. I have to stop myself buying too many art supplies when I can't really afford it. It's always great to read how someone created a piece.

Effie said...

Fabulous.. I love it!

Anneke said...

wonderful collage on canvas

DMG said...

Your resourcefulness and creativity are so inspiring. My absolute favorite thing in the world to do is recycle unwanted or unused bits in my art, and you have done this beautifully here. The colors are just sublime!

Rosie said...

I just want to reach through the screen and smell the beeswax Kristin! I love the childlike simplicity of this in amongst all the wax and elements!
Happy New both to you too! xo

Aino said...

What a gorgeous work. I love this. So fashinating. That's paper doll style is awesome and colours are so nice and warm. Very beautiful work.

http://truutske.blogspot.com said...

Wonderful canvas collage.
I love it.

Lynn Stevens said...

Great canvas! Awesome

Nicola said...

Hi Kristin! Loving this piece! The colours you have chosen are so bright and vibrant, the orange of the background and the blue broken ornament work so well together and really compliment each other. I really should try this beeswax, it sounds so interesting!!! I'm finding it hard to get back into the routine of participating each week in MMM as it is the summer holidays over here and so the kids are at home. You have inspired me though to do something for next week!!!! Thank you so much for your lovely comment, it makes my day to read such lovely feedback!!! Happy New year and I look forward to seeing more of your lovely work!!! :0)

*jean* said...

kristin! so many amazing details! love the dresses and the background!

Unknown said...

Hi Kristin!!! wow ...this is amazing...I love it !!! the details the pieces...and your wonderful creativity!!! beautiful work and I love the new look of your blog!!!

Happy New year!!!

Hugs
Diana