Second on the 2nd: Mixed Media Assemblage

 

"Failed to Publish" is back.  I can publish about once every 12 hours or so.  Very frustrating.  

As most of you know, whenever possible, I like my Second Look to somehow reflect what our current host at Art Journal Journey is featuring.  That means I looked for something that included Alison's chosen theme, Autumn Colors and Inspiration. This post was originally published on October 7, 2015.  It was for a challenge and the theme was Autumn. 

  This was my first ever assemblage made using a book cover for the substrate.

I thought this looked like autumn, especially after I colored the white flowers (yes, they all started white) with yellow pan pastels and brown walnut ink.

I sprayed each flower with a fixative before I added it to the cover.  I'm out of E6000, my adhesive of choice for anything like this, so I grabbed the hot glue gun and promptly made a mess of things.

Except for the very first (and last) photo, these were all taken before I realized I hadn't cleaned the hot glue strings properly from the piece.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.  I started with some autumn fabric and sprayed it (using a spray adhesive) to the book cover I had gessoed late last month.

To that I added fabric I rusted, some of my handmade paper, and an image of a young girl I fussy cut.  I sewed the paper assembly to the rusty fabric, then was horrified because the yellow from the pan pastel got on the rusty fabric.

Although I eventually noticed the problem, removing all that pan pastel dust

was a real problem.  I also forgot to show the back, which I covered in shaving cream paper I made several years ago.

One final look at this first altered book cover after I removed the hot glue spider webs, but before I got rid of the excess pan pastel dust.  I still need to punch holes to add a wire hanging, but I wanted to show this before time runs out on that challenge.

Materials I used were five white flowers I colored, filler grass from my yard, commercial fabric, rust dyed fabric, handmade paper (made by me), a printed image, thread, shaving cream paper (on the back), all on a gessoed book cover that was about 8 inches by 10 inches (20,32 centimeters by 25,4 centimeters).

Now it's time to share your own Second on the 2nd.  The rules are quite simple and everyone is welcome to join the fun look back.  All you have to do is bring back a post that you are especially proud of, or perhaps one you shared before anyone knew your blog existed.  Any post, any genre, any artistic endeavor is acceptable, as long as it's been published sometime in the past.  Then link below (direct links only, please) and Bleubeard and I, along with other Second on the 2nd friends, will be by to visit.