As in . . . a distraction for YOU . . . something interesting to look at . . . because I’ve got very little “knitting content” for you at the moment. (Quick update on the knitting: I’ve just agreed to do a sweater test knit, so I now have that kick-in-the-butt I need to get going on the 2nd sleeve for Tom’s woolly man sweater . . . STAT. The sock is now on hold.) (But I’m excited about the sweater I’ll be knitting for myself, so it’s all good.)
Anyway.
You can take a look at what I’ve been playing around with in my art “studio” instead. (These are two related projects, by the way.)
I created the set of four collaged panels earlier this summer. I’ve had these wood panels (each is 4″ x 12″ x 1“) laying around for a long time, and I wasn’t sure what to do with them. Inspired by a Fodder School workshop, I coated the panels with some gesso, and then gathered up a bunch of papers I’ve made . . . papers I’ve dyed and drawn on and painted and stamped and collected . . . and just started mixing and matching and tearing and gluing and sanding and painting.
I’ll tell you . . . this is an incredibly satisfying way to get lost in creativity and “making;” a great way to find “flow” and forget about the problems of the world for a little while.
Using the same papers and techniques, I also collaged the top of a box I had laying around. It’s kind of like a cigar box or school pencil box with a hinged lid, and it worked brilliantly for this kind of project. (My box came packed with some “products” I ordered last spring; it was pretty snazzy packaging . . . and I’d saved the box.) I covered up the existing promotional design on the top of the box, et voilà! Something from nothing!
And what am I going to do with these things? Well. I don’t know quite yet, actually. I’m thinking of finishing them off with a layer of encaustic wax (another Fodder School workshop). It looks really cool . . . and I have the materials on hand to do it, but there are a couple of barriers for me. First, I like the panels and the box just as they are, and I kinda don’t want to risk messing them up. And, second . . . well. The encaustic process sounds a little complicated and I’ve never tried it, so I’d need to just get over the hump and DO IT, y’know? (Which is always the bugaboo for me . . . )
So. We’ll see!
=====
How about you? What are you working on these days?
It looks like you found a good way to lose yourself and escape from the depressing and worrisome news. Escape is a good thing but especially when you make things as interesting as these. I’d hang the panels up as they are and put all my “secret stuff” in that cool box. You can always try encaustic wax on something else that doesn’t look so intriguing and finished.
These look like a lot of fun! I am someone who also keeps interesting boxes and bits of things, even though I rarely have a plan and often wind up doing nothing with them (but they might be useful someday, right?!). Someday, when life isn’t so hands-on, I hope to have the time to play with art the way you do, and maybe then I’ll get to all those things I’ve saved (assuming my husband hasn’t thrown them out before then).
These look really intriguing, Kym. I have a box obsession that relieved a lot of folks from thinking too much about what to give me for gifts – LOL. Maybe I have a lot to hide? Who knows, I have loved boxes since I was a kid. This is a great idea to dress up some of my boxes. For now, I am still working on my house.
These are just lovely. I like the softness of the collage. I haven’t been playing with wet art lately but now I am inspired.
Congratulations on the test knit! Love the peek into your creative distraction … I’m still distracted (in a good way) cutting diamonds for a quilt and bought yarn for a fall cardigan yesterday.
I’ve been concentrating on my Alabama Chanin project, which takes up the majority of my worktable, but had a thought yesterday to “play” with some of the fodder that I have collected (and continue to collect… it’s an obsession, I tell ya!). (Instead, I spent some time calculating/designing a crochet project.) I’ve always been intrigued by the encaustic wax process, and love the look. I echo Bonny’s suggestion to try it on something else, first!
These are beautiful – and even better if they were an absorbing pleasure to make. I just went down a rabbit hole reading about encaustic wax. Wow! I’d be on team Bonnie – You could make something just to play with the wax, and see if you like what it would do to these collages. Or you could be bold, if the spirit moves you.
Those are really amazing – they look like something that would be very expensive in a high end art gallery! I love your creativity.
I like your progress so far.
These are very cool. You have inspired me to make a bunch of paper to have on hand. I rarely do that any more but I should!
Plus I’m trying something new–assemblage collage jewelry. We’ll see how that goes.
Those are so cool.
What a great project! Fun and engrossing and beautiful results at the end.
For my projects, I started a new cardigan yesterday and spent today emptying and cleaning our mudroom.
Looking forward to hearing about the test knit!
Wow, Kym! Just wow! They are gorgeous! I am eager to see where you put the wood panels (they are absolutely worthy of having a special spot!) but the box! Oh my goodness! It is just awesome! I am off to Google encaustic wax… and maybe the Fodder School! XOXO
Your creative projects are always so interesting and unique (at least to me). The papers you made, painted, dyed, etc. are so very pretty and soft. They work together so well on your planks and the box–oh, my, the BOX. It’s we all have a thing for boxes and pretty, painted and unique boxes (handmade) are always so attractive. I love watching your creative energy focused on the unique and fun. You do amazing work (play)!
What cool beautiful projects. I love the panels just as they are but this is your project. The photo of the other project doesn’t show on my screen but from the description it sounds just as amazing. Whatever you decide – enjoy.