Wednesday 26 August 2015

"The Oracle" - Collage on the Edge of Steampunk and Industrial

Hi again my loves.
Some of you know that from all the different projects I keep putting together collage and assemblage is the one I love the most. There are many reasons: the joy of finding, matching and transforming random objects - considered by most of people to be simply "rubbish" - is simply hard to compare with anything. Possibility to change them into something else, giving them "new life" is really inspiring idea, sparkling my creativity and giving me loads of energy to make art. It is great, almost never-ending fuel - the only ingredient which is really crucial in the process is time!

Speaking about time - this assemblage below was waiting to be completed for months.
I was really ecstatic when I found the porcelain doll on the flea market - it was perfect in size, it had a nice face and the price tag was really appealing. As soon as I got home I started to look for the proper background for the project that started to crystallize in my head... but it took me some time to find a right size piece of wooden board (I REALLY wanted to see the real wood structure in it!) and then some cool "industrial" elements to start with. In the end I decided to recycle one of the old motherboards I had in my stash...

"The Oracle" - collage/assemblage on wood (34x40 cm)


The process off assembling continued for days. I knew what I was going for - a marriage of cold, Industrial feeling with elements of more traditional Steampunk look. If possible  - all that in a nice, not too girly colour palette!



I added some old radio's parts, old lock, some  pieces of old belt, cogs an gears... in fact tons of these... there were some wires and some shells used together with buttons and metal embellishments but again it took me weeks until I found the last set of pieces matching in size to the composition. I wish I had access to some nice junkyard on the regular basis!



In the end, when I had all of my elements in place I could play with some art mediums. Of course my first choice were my products from Art Basics and Art Extravagance Line.
I used Art Basics 3D Gloss Gel for gluing elements together, my Art Extravagance White Crackle Paste to add some beautiful, weathered look and finally Art Basics Black Heavy Gesso to prime all the project before painting. It took me a longer moment to cover all the details, but it all turned out great!



Finally - the painting... this step was done after a very long break and I wasn't sure the effect I was going for will be possible to achieve, but in the end combination of Art Basics White Heavy Gesso, sprays, and metallic acrylic paints was a great choice. I am really happy with the colour palette: cold, industrial in feeling but warmed a bit with touches of gold and pink. Mission completed!


I know of course this kind of art won't be appealing to everybody - I know personally some lovely people who are seriously freaked out with just the idea of using dolls' parts for assemblage or collage and no matter how hard I will try they won't change their minds :)
I love them anyway and i understand their point of view - but my heart was telling me this is the time for something new and bold - so here it is.
I believe you have to listen to your inner self, even if sometimes it will speak to you with a bit creepy voice... ;) don't you think?

I hope you will have a wonderful creative week! don't forget to check the blog on Friday to see another amazing tutorial from my wonderful CT Members.
See you soon!

34 comments:

Janka said...

Amazing project! Love it!

Nirvana said...

ROOOH I'm IN LOVE!! Really!!!!! I kept an old wooden gate , I will also take care soon !!

Adventures in Paperland said...

You made me laugh, I know some too that would freak out but your doll head looks awesome. This is so detailed and I need another look to take it all in. :-) So glad you are home and have some creative time for yourself. xx

Unknown said...

wow....Speechless

Evelyn Walter said...

Simply gorgeous, dear Anna! And although it´s a bit creepy, it´s beautiful at the same time - real art <3.
xxx Evelyn

Aisha said...

AWESOME !!!!

nelda said...

I know what you mean about the doll. The screws in her hand make her look pinned down and helpless. Like being crucified.

Cariena said...

It is so true what you say about people who won't love it - but the most important thing is that YOU stay true to YOURSELF - as each one of us should! I can see and feel the love and effort you put into this - and I am constantly amazed at the light and shadow effect you achieve...... I hope she gives you HOURS of pleasure!! xxxxxx

Marianne/skorpionen said...

Another fabolous creation and I loooove it!!
Have started a project myself with lots of findings and I ask for more hours and patience (which is not on of the good side of me LOL )
Thanks a lot for all your inspiration!!

Elen ArtCrafts said...

Super! So artistic!

Crafting Vicky said...

WOW this is just GORGEOUS!!!!!

Unknown said...

Spectacular! I love her and all the colors and the aMAAAAAAzing details!!!! 💖 💖 💖

smokeysmom said...

Another fabulous assemblage piece - I love it! People who don't like the addition of doll parts are only limiting their creative imagination, where anything goes. I just received my latest purchase from Mixed Media Place. Your husband is to be congratulated for handling your shop purchases in your absence :) Hugs, Maggie

Ann said...

WOW!

TangledBlueRose said...

So beautiful! I can appreciate the amazing amount of time to get it just right and find the parts, wow! This is just stunning and love the doll :) So many great things to see, what an adventure! Thank you so much!~kim

Jaya Raghuvanshi said...

Oh my! This is a stunner! Totally amazing and I loveee the colour scheme. <3 <3

Kathy Bradley said...

This new project is totally wonderful - I've looked it over and over and found something new each time. I love the colors and I love the doll's head.

Helen said...

Love it!

Unknown said...

This is FANTASTIC! I loved reading every bit of it and I completely agree, the inner self does speak sometimes in a creepy voice! Amazing details! Totally gonna be shared on my facebook timeline. *hugs*

mamablitger said...

AMAZING and AWESOME !!! Oh dear..love your collage. Fabulous work. Love the doll parts. Love all your embellishment items. You created the most fabulous piece of art.
Wish I could find old car parts. Would be great to add to collages.....
Thank you for sharing your lovely art.
Hugs from Monica... Spain

Axes DesigNs said...

Wow.. Yes so creepy but at the same very creative! I'm not super fan but I love the assemblage you did! so inspiring! I hope I can do something like that too.. well.. maybe not so creepy hahahaa... Thanks for sharing!!!

Gabistella said...

Amazing, luv!

CarrieStephenson said...

Stunning piece. So much texture and detail. The colours used are fabulous.

Anonymous said...

Wow is what I can say!!! Gorgeous!!! Some projects have to lay and wait for their HOUR. I know it for myself.

Sharon Y said...

Cool! Love it! So much to look at. Love looking through to try and identify all the bits you used. Great colors.

~Lori~ said...

Anna ... This is absolutely brilliant. I loved ready your explanation of how it all came together.

Unknown said...

Amazing project! Beautiful colours and composition! I love your style and all your masterpieces!

Mona`s Bittelille Scrappekrok said...

Wow! Absolutely love this piece. You are so creative :-) Hugs...Mona

Corrie Herriman said...

Fantastic !
Corrie x

Laure Janus ~ Little Joys Studio said...

I need to find a word that's better than awesome, but for right now, awesome will have to do. I love how the doll face is that wonderful cream color, but seamlessly blends with the rest of the piece. And I LOVE using doll parts; I have a glass jar full of doll heads, and another one full of various arms and legs; I think these pieces add "life" to a piece. Anyway, PLEASE let me know if you ever want to sell this creation. I'd love to own an original Finn, and this piece speaks to me. Stunning.

Lisa H said...

wow! all the details are amazing in this project.

Unknown said...

Wow, so amazing and wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us. I love your work, products, tutorials and blogs. You are so talented, and anything I can learn from you is so appreciated. Thank you.

Sandra C. said...

WOW! The Oracle is awesome! The doll parts make the piece even better. Love how you put it all together. I have an old desktop cpu, it's coming apart! Thanks for sharing your inspiring work!

Saigetsu said...

Inspiring, Im already looking for a wood board, used of course and Im lucky that I used to repair computers, so have lots of spares. I agree that the hunter and gatherer part is part of the creative process, frustrating when you looking for something specific and cant find it, forced to compromise with something else, which takes the project in a different direction but in the end, its worth it. Thank you for being my rolemodel.

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