So my current fascination appears to be making assemblage art. Inspired by my recent clutter trouble, I’m trying to transition from simply arranging my junk nicely on the windowsill to putting it together as artwork.
I’ve made some half-assed attempts to do this in the past, but this is the first time I’ve really put effort to it, and the results aren’t totally awful. It’s interesting; when I draw or paint, the process comes so naturally to me that it’s almost like muscle memory. There’s not really any thought process involved beyond a pause once or twice to think about the composition. But with this assemblage stuff, everything I add, a twist of wire, a paint color, a texture, I consider. I look at the composition and think, How can I balance this out? What’s the significance of this element? I’m enjoying it quite a lot. It makes me feel very good.
Here’s what I’ve been working on recently. It’s not finished, though:
It opens, too, but my camera battery runs out really fast for some reason. Dunno. Anyway, here’s some closeups:
That last one’s a little grainy; sorry. More photos after the battery re-charges.
I feel like the transition between the gold leaf and the green book cover is too stark. I’m not sure what to add to the border to make it a little more gradual. Any ideas?
carla said,
January 1, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Hi Rain! I see you’ve joined my blog network, so I thought I stop by for a visit. This assemblage looks really cool. It’s so much fun creating something new from bits and pieces of old things. Have you thought about distressing that transition area between the gold leaf and the green book cover? You could actually make the whole thing distressed and then it would look like a golden relic – although it looks great just as is! Happy New Year!
Geri said,
January 2, 2009 at 12:09 pm
The assemblage looks great. I’m not an artist so I can’t really give you any feedback.
rain said,
January 2, 2009 at 5:40 pm
charles sheeler
Ryan Vance said,
January 3, 2009 at 6:23 am
I was thinking of some ways for you to transition between gold and green. Perhaps you could use a tool to bevel out small chunks along the gold trim and then fill it in with an amber enamel or translucent bronze. It could really add another element of depth which I think the part of the piece needs.
Rain said,
January 3, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Ryan, that’s an interesting idea. I think first I’m going to try to speckle some gold leaf into the green, and then use sandpaper to go over the speckling and the edge of the solid leaf. We’ll see what happens then!
Thanks for your help.
Ryan Vance said,
January 3, 2009 at 3:28 pm
I look forward to see the finished piece. Could you also upload more photos of your cottage in future post? I love the look of houses with an abundance of items. There is an antique store on south street packed wall to wall with everything you could possibly want. One floor in particular has chandeliers framing a small path from the ceiling with old paintings and clocks to your side. I feel like I am in the floating market whenever I visit.
Rain said,
January 3, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Ryan, sure, I’ll look for some photos to put up. It’s all very messy and jumbled. Where is the antique market?
Scott Bulger Photography said,
January 7, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Maybe hit the edges of the leaf very lightly with some very fine steel wool. That should ease the edges a little bit making for a more gradual transition.
Where are you located?
Eddy Fragment said,
August 19, 2009 at 3:17 am
Add to the border? Answer = Age.