Thursday 12 May 2016

Studio mayhem...

...has struck again, with a host of projects on the go.

I'm in steampunk mode, making gears from fun foam (and yes, I did fussy cut these).


I gave them a heavy coat of black gesso, and then tore into them with three or four colours of  Inka Gold.  I think they're starting to get that steampunky look, don't you?  The largest is about 8" in diameter and I will not tell you how long it took to cut them.


I've got a lot more to cut, gesso and gild before there's enough for a 47" diameter clock created by Bart Bjorkman of Puffin Design.  The clock itself he's repurposed from an old table top:


I think the combination will be a knock-out, if I can just get the scissors and time to cooperate; I've been calling this 'The Impossible Clock' for so long I'm afraid the moniker will stick.

I'm also working on a couple of large floral paintings/collages for an upcoming show in Kimberley. The flowers, leaves and stems are all Gelli prints.  In this photo, I'm working on placement of flowers and flies on the background...somewhere in my studio chaos are some stems and leaves to add to the mix.



The second large floral has an entirely different colour scheme as you can see in this sneak peak...it's more my usual subtle colour style don't you think? 


I also finished a felted piece, my first ever, last night at Carmen's workshop.  What an amazing experience that was.  I somehow managed to forget my camera, although with water dripping from every part of my body throughout the night, it certainly wouldn't have accomplished much anyway. Suffice it to say that wet felting is just as colouricious as any other visual art form (although very much wetter, I must say).

All in all I feel progress is being made and I fully expect you will see some completed pieces here in the next while.  I hope your creative life is going gangbusters too.



22 comments:

  1. WOW! Those gears are fabulous. I have cut a number of things from fun foam to make stamps and I know how hard it can be so I say again - fabulous! Your flower pieces will definitely be a bit different this time with the gelli prints. Nice to see you having so much fun Win.

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    1. Thanks, Val - one really does have to wonder how we artists get so obsessed with creating, right?!

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  2. That clock is a project and a half! The cogs and wheels look wonderful. Can't believe you cut them by hand - they look so accurate. What a labour of love.

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    1. Isn't it just, Tracy? I'm half hoping and half afraid it will sell on the floor before I get all the gears cut. Then I'll have to invent a project large enough to take the gears I'm making!

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  3. OMG! I cannot believe you fussy cut those gears!! I thought they were bought somewhere when I saw them in our group!! Win, You are A-Ma-Zing!!! No lie sister!! That clock is going to be the total BOMB!! (that's awesome-Bomb)And the floral is just totally delicious thus far! Cannot wait to see the felting!! You rock the art world my friend! xoxo

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    1. I know, Jackie - totally crazy, right? Thanks for your kind words; the only ones I can think to apply to myself right now are nut-job and lunatic. :D

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  4. I can believe you've cut those gears by hand Win! You crazy girl, LOL! They look amazing once painted - I could have easily mistaken them for metal! I'm working on a Finnabair lesson at the moment - you may have just given me an idea with that ;)

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    1. Crazy is right, Zsuzsa, and with more to come it's certain I'll be even more so! I look forward to seeing your fun-foam-gears-inspired project, my friend!

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  5. Those gears are spectacular! I can hardly believe you used fun foam... Congratulations for your patience!

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    1. Thanks, Sabrina - needs must when an artist needs gears far larger than any commercially available chipboard ones!

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  6. Oh boy Win! I can hardly believe you cut those by hand! it must have taken ages but they are brilliant. Look forward to seeing the competed project. Happy crafting, Angela x

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    1. Ages, yes Angela, and I don't even want to think about more to come, but I'm loving how they look so far!

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  7. Totally incredible that you fussy cut those MARVELOUS gears Win. Wow. Now THAT is an accomplishment. And boy are they looking fantastic with the golds on them too. I can only imagine how FABULOUS your "POSSIBLE" clock will be when you are finished but what an undertaking - whew!! And of course, you know I have to like the second large floral color scheme best because I am all about ORANGE!!!! But the first one is going to be really special and probably the most popular because it will go with so many types of decor. And when you talk about your felt - it just makes me tired!!! I know - crazy huh??!!! You are to be commended for wrestling with the wet stuff to get to your end goal of LUSCIOUS CREATIVITY!! XXj.

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    1. Many thanks, Joi - the gears are going to look good on that clock, I think. I'm totally with you on the red hot orange, but occasionally I have to at least try for subtlety! Have a delightful weekend, steeped in creativity, my friend.

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  8. Wow! I just love what you have been working on and can't wait to see the finished products! Those gears are crazy, I can't fathom cutting them all by hand! I love your flowers, too. You are inspiring!

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    1. Thanks, Kimberley - there are time when I follow the muse I'm sure she's lost, and perhaps this is one of them. :D

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  9. I'm sure you're up to the challenge if that should, by some chance, happen :)

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  10. Beautiful fussy cut gears ... you've done an amazing job. The IMPOSSIBLE CLOCK is not impossible - not now!

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    1. Thanks, Alice, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed (a tad difficult to cut more gears that way, though) that you're right!

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  11. Wow I'm afraid I couldn't have stuck with cutting out all of those gears, but the clock is going to look amazing. I can't wait to see your finished pieces, especially your hot orange flowers xx

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    1. It's funny, isn't it - I didn't think I could stick it out either, and with more to do before the clock additions can go on, there's still some doubt. I'll keep you posted on progress, though.... :-)

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