"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!