Sunday, May 1, 2011

Steampunk Mosiac

I started this project by making this tiny canvas.  I had no idea, at that point how this piece would evolve.  I had a bunch of die cut tags from Graphics 45 and the scale was perfect for Tim Holtz's fragments.  I made a bunch of them and needed to do something, so i made mosaic on a tiny canvas.

  

I had enough to make another so I did.  That is when I had the thought to mirror the idea of a mosaic with canvases.  I had a stash of Steampunk Debutante paper that I had been "saving" and this seemed to be the perfect project.  I had a random few pieces of 12x12 and I also had an 8x8 stack.  


I recently hit an estate sale for a clock repair man where I found a ton of steampunky goodness, some seen in this piece.  My favorite image from this collection of paper is the gal with the gears in her hair.  It was a simple game of match up and her hair was soon embellished with real vintage gears. Many of my canvases also have altered tissue tape surrounding them.  This is a technique I recently discovered with alcohol inks with perfect pearls and it achieves amazing results.    



The next panel I made with Linda's recent Grungy Monday Challenge in mind.  I struggled with this technique for sure.  This was probably due to my thin foam frame.  I still made it work and also used the technique in another way.  I used the craft foam to make the image pop off the page to add dimension.  It may be hard to see here, but the girl on the top with the hat shows this alternate interpretation of the dimension technique. Since I had two sheets of paper, I fussy cut one of the images of the lady and backed it with foam before mounting in on another sheet of the same paper.   




I found a few ways to add texture.  Bits and pieces of clocks are scattered all over the piece.  I also used a few scraps of fiber to soften things up.  



I scored a bunch of the apothecary bottles from 7 gypsies at a really good deal.  I used a few of them along the top of one canvas and filled them up with the metal sticks that many of the gears were once pressed into.  The bottles were embellished with some scraps of paper.  A few of my gear sticks were also bundled with wire and used to frame out one of the images as well. I was pleased to use some bolts and screws since I had planned to toss them. 



I love the clock hands I embedded in this panel too.  I had to poke a hole in the canvas to get them to lay properly.  I also made another time charm with a pair of wings, and old clock face and a spinner.  

One thing that really stuck me when creating this layout was a memory of Yearbook class from junior high.  I recalled some of the principles that were taught in terms of the direction people are looking for good design.  How funny for me to remember that!



Thanks for stopping by!



27 comments:

  1. Wow! this is spectacular! I love all the little clock bits tying everything together.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow!!! This is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! Totally awesome!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. WOW!!! Oh, Rhea, this is STUNNING!! I love, love, love the steampunk paper (I'm hoarding this one as well) and the real clock parts. It looks likes some magical time machine!

    Vicki

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am in awe of this beautiful creation. It is simply stunning. T have to say that you are incredibly creative!

    ReplyDelete
  5. OMG That's so awesome!!!! I love every last bit of it <3 You are most definitely a very gifted artist.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Absolutely stunning. How come I never run across a yard sale like this? Gosh, this is just fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is absolutely stunning. So much to look at!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. WOW, I at a loss for words, your creation is phenomenal!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. It makes me want to spend time studying each piece - totally what good art should do! Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  10. What an amazing creation! Every inch has something wonderful to look at. Now all you need is a wall big enough to display it so you and your guests can enjoy it!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I've been hoarding the same paper waiting for just the right project! You've given me inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Fabulous piece. I love everything I see on your blogs. What inspiration you have given me.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Fabulous canvas collage, my dream is going to a yard sale of a clockmaker! SCORE!!!!!
    Lynn

    ReplyDelete
  14. Rhea: We missed you Saturday, it was a massive good time. Stamp Therapy may be moving to 54th and Division which would be closer for you.
    Love the Steampunk but really jealous of the good finds you get.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hello Rhea,

    This is a work of love, labour and time ! :)

    It's great to read how one canvas evolves into a big wallpiece like this.
    I like the overall look of it, but then my eyes starts wandering from one side to another discovering all the beautiful images you used, the embellishments of the gears and the watchparts ( oh my , you DID found a lot of this stuff ! ).

    I like it that the project is not contained in one rectangle, but that the canvasses are spread around .

    The whole project has a cohesive look by the coloruse, the embellisments that are spread over the whole piece,..

    I think you sit in your house looking at it with a very happy smile...
    I would !!

    greetings from belgium
    Inge

    ReplyDelete
  16. Absolutely stunning. I love what you have done in making your mosaics. Very inspiring.

    ReplyDelete
  17. WOW!!! This is a masterpiece! It's absolutely STUNNING! I love all the clock gears in the lady's hair, those bottles look sooo cool and antique. I love ALL the details, it's AMAZING!

    ReplyDelete
  18. this is wonderful!!! I love all the different uses for clock pieces and gears

    ReplyDelete
  19. I absolutely love this piece. Beautiful! I'm following you now. Shari (cricutrookie)

    ReplyDelete
  20. What an awesome piece of art :)
    Von x

    ReplyDelete
  21. WOW! A huge labour of love, but it is fantastic and so worth all your hard work.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow, an awesome piece, its fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
  23. LOVE this project! So much eye candy.... a real treat!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wonderful stuff!

    Tina Amsler

    ReplyDelete
  25. WOW! This is just incredible! I love your art project. I love the theme, I like the layout, the papers and the beautiful gears from estate sale! just fabulous!

    ReplyDelete

All the comments and feedback you leave affirms my creative spirit on a very deep level. I am grateful for your time and readership!