Assemblage fun

 

This post was originally published in April, 2014.

I've wanted to create an assemblage for awhile now,

and the idea of using found objects to create one fit perfectly with the concept of recycling.  So I grabbed a few metal pieces, and set out to create something fun.

I began by covering one of my 12 inch X 12 inch X 1 inch (30.48 cm X 30.48 cm X 2.54 cm) wooden blocks with paper scraps.  I laid down bits of watercolor to create a bit of color.  In addition to the metal pieces, I got out some of the Sculpey I had been given in exchange for a tutorial, and made a few faces and hands from a mold I own. 

As I was creating this piece, those words kept running through my head, so I knew this was what I had to name it.

Some of the details are shown here.

Today is Day 8 of 22, and I recycled a block of wood, several pages from books and dictionaries, a rusty can lid, a metal ring, and a metal piece I have no idea what it's called or what it was used for in a previous life.  I also managed to use some of the Sculpey, too.  Please enjoy my Mother and Child Reunion and thank you for visiting.  

 

What is the meaning of ?

 

Today we welcome a new and very talented first time host to Art Journal Journey.  Meet the incredible Tracey of Hotchpotch Creations.  Her blog is called New Beginnings.. Creating in my Corner.  Tracey has chosen What is the meaning of for her theme this month.  I look forward to playing along.  I learned I was quite literal with this theme.

For me, the question is

What does it mean when rust forms?

 

Just look at all that gorgeous rust.

In case you can't read this:

Rust is a naturally occurring phenomenon when steel and iron are exposed to oxygen and water over time.

Other metals may corrode, but there's an actual chemical change when rust occurs.

I even remembered to add the date this month.

For this page, I started with 110 lb. cardstock that I rusted.  I have several tutorials on rust in case you want to know and understand the process.  I then took another page that was rusted darker and used it as the mat for the words I computer generated, then rusted, although I didn't leave the words in the rust very long because I was running out of time.  Thank you beyond belief for visiting today.  Tracey, Chris, Erika, Valerie, Yvonne, Bleubeard and I are delighted you joined us and hope to see you this month at Art Journal Journey with your own take on The Meaning Of.  We welcome art journal pages that meet the size requirements, altered book pages, canvases, loose or stand alone pages, and digital art.  We do not allow cards, index cards, ATCs, or ATCoins.

 

The rusted heart

Something to consider.  The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) will not as Trump contends, "magically disappear" and is not intimidated by presidential tweets.

Today I'm back with my final entry at Art Journal Journey.  I will also have a wrap-up of the month, too.  Of course, I'm still in recycling mode, so I'm also joining Try it on Tuesday. 

Let's start with rusting our heart.  If the heart looks familiar, it's because it was the template I used nearly two weeks ago for cutting the hearts I shrunk.

Unlike real rust, which must be handled with disposable gloves, this rust begins with black acrylic craft paint

that I spread on the heart cut from the soda cracker box originally destined for the recycle bin.

While still wet, I added the terra cotta craft paint

and spread it on the heart, too.

Immediately after the two colors were on the heart, I added a ton of ground cinnamon

to the heart.  When I removed the heart from the card stock on which I created it, much of the cinnamon came off, too.  I think by taking photos along the way, I allowed the paint to form a thin crust/skin that prevented the cinnamon from sticking thoroughly.  I let the heart sit for about two weeks, because I was not sure where to go from there.  In the meantime, however, I used the card stock with the outline of the black heart in my tribute to Kobe Bryant and David Stern.

As an aside, the cinnamon was purchased to use in crafts, not food safe items.  Even though it is edible, I don't mix food products with craft products.  It doesn't cost that much to purchase items for craft projects and different ones for food.  Safety above all else, I believe.

I finally came up with a spread I liked.

I only wish the center line on the heart was less noticeable.  It was less noticeable until I knocked all the excess cinnamon off the heart.

For the background, I used a mat that had been in a rusty tray. 

The real rust on the mat looked about the same to me as the faux rust of the heart. 

In case you can't read the sentiment, it is:

He missed her so much his heart turned to rust.

The photo, a TH found relative,

was encased with a black heart.

A few more photos

For this page, I began with the faux rusted heart that I set aside until I had a plan for the page.  I had this rusted mat I'd saved from a rusty tin drawer.  I carefully washed it (after donning disposable gloves) using baking soda and water to neutralize the rust.  Once the rust was neutralized, it was safe to sew to the background, a sheet of 110 lb. card stock.  I used green variegated thread because I know rust sometimes turns green when exposed to air.

Next, I added the faux rusted heart, the found relative, and the black open heart in that order.  I computer generated the sentiment, colored it using two water soluble crayons, and added it to the page.

In case you are wondering, for Try it on Tuesday, the heart was recycled from a soda cracker box, and the rusty mat was recycled from a rusted tin drawer I left outside over winter last year.

Here is a recap of the other Hearts I created during February.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Your visit means the world to me.  I hope to also see you in the next few hours at Art Journal Journey.   I also hope to see you at Try it on Tuesday with your recycled project or your green project.  

And to completely finish this month, here is my completed February calendar.

Left side

and right side.
 

Trust rust

I had planned to play in WOYWW today, but it took me until late Sunday to visit every person last week.  Because I'm still not feeling well, I didn't want to get that far behind again.  Instead, I decided to join Chris of Pear Shaped Crafting, our host this month at Art Journal Journey.   Her theme is Art for art's sake.

Today I'm placing my trust in rust.

Although I hate my handwriting, I'm trying to use it more often in my art.

There are several techniques in this journal entry, the first of which is this beautifully rusted lid and slightly rusted pipe fitting that are paired with a rusty heart and a piece of rusted book page.

Note the background, though.  I started with a map of a room that I glued to my substrate, an 8.5 X 11" sheet of heavy card stock.

Then I added some fluid acrylics that look like or remind me of rust.   For my next step, which you can't see unless you look at the entire piece, I soaked the entire piece, minus the rusty assemblage of course, in dark coffee.

Finally, I ripped off part of the overlapping piece I had glued to the substrate.

Only a small portion of the map remained once I ripped it away.  Lastly, I added the rusty assemblage.

Materials used include fluid acrylics, liquid coffee, a metallic gel pen, a heart created from a Yahtzee score sheet, a room map, and a rusty assemblage described above.

I am once again grateful and deeply touched that you chose to visit.  I also hope to see you at Art Journal Journey.  

Creating a simple wind chime

Everything today came straight out of the recycle bin (or my rust bucket), except the electricity!  That's why I am once again joining Try it on Tuesday where their theme this fortnight is Recycle Something.

This etcher may be older than me.  Seriously.  It did a good job, though, and I wish I had some of my calligraphy friends' skills.

Five lids, cut with my can opener that safely opens cans were used as "substrates."  The nail came from my rust bucket.  The hammer is one I broke one year and it now lives in my studio for performing small jobs.  

The wire hanger, the bane of anyone who has ever had dry cleaning was paired with colorful telephone cord wires in which I had previously removed the outer sheath . 

I love these wind chimes.  I wasn't sure it would actually make noise, but it does.  Since I have no place to put them on my front porch, I wanted something to hang out back.   That is when this idea took fruition.  It was perfect for my rusty clothes line.

It jingles and jangles and sways in the wind.  And boy, do we have wind!

Can you read my bit of humor?

"Wash, rinse, dry, fold, repeat."

This is Day 6 of 22 leading up to bEARTHday, and I recycled five rusting can lids, one rusty wire clothes hanger, and several yards of deconstructed telephone cord.  It may not be beautiful, but it sounds great and all it cost was the time it took to create it and a bit of electricity.  Today, you will once again find me at Try it on Tuesday.

Thanks for your continued support of my recycled art leading up to Earth Day.