Steampunk'd Halloween Queen & The Castle Bootique

I am fortunate be a part of a wonderful group of talented Halloween artists and we are known as the "Artistic Halloween Queens". The group recently had a "Steampunk Halloween" challenge and I just couldn't resist taking part in it.  

"Steampunk'd Halloween Queen"

It's not too early to get your gears spinning for Halloween!

This unique Halloween Queen was made from layers of real copper sheet which had been chemically etched & patina-ted for beautiful depth and color. The metal has been sealed with gloss lacquer to prevent further oxidation. The background collage was created with a variety of images and surrounds the inside walls of the 6" x 8" shadowbox frame.

Although this queen has a new home, there is plenty of more Halloween art still available at the Halloween Queen's Bootique. If you haven't visited in a while, be sure to visit to check out the new updates which have been added recently.

I'm in Somerset Studio!

Somerset Studio magazine had a call for "Alice in Wonderland" artwork last summer and since I still had my "Down the Rabbit Hole" assemblage, I decided to send it in. I have always loved Stampington & Company's publications, but I had never submitted anything before and I had no idea what to expect. When I picked up the the latest March/April issue, I was so excited to see my art published on page 117. 

It's about Time...

There has been quite some time that has past since my last post. The adventures of life have been a little overwhelming these last few months and had kept away from doing anything creative. 

Fortunately, a few weeks ago, I came across an awesome book, Creative Time and Space: Making Room for Making Art. It is full of inspiration, guidance and a valuable information for any type of artist. Not only was it a beautiful book to flip through and a joy to read, it has helped me to learn how to manage my time a little better.

I am also extremely fortunate to have a wonderful group of  friends and artists, who have been so supportive and have given me much needed motivation to be productive again.

Without further ado, here is my latest creation....

"Once Upon A Time" 

This is a beeswax collage which I created on 8" x 20"canvas.

The background consists of pages from an antique storybook . All of pages are stories that begin with "Once upon a time...", which can be seen along the side edges. A few of the titles included are: "The Sleeping Beauty", "The Little Red Riding Hood" and "Little Snow White".

I also used vintage flash cards and a clock face which I designed and made with metal sheet which was hand embossed, distressed, and painted. It has been formed for a raised dimension and back-filled with beeswax for support. I embellished it with transparent iridescent stars and glitter and finished it off with antique finish brass corners.

More Steampunk....

(Click photos to enlarge)

Steampunk Mixed-Media Altered Art Doll Assemblage

Approx. 13-1/2" tall

I created this piece using an unfinished miniature armoire/cabinet for the "body", which was stained, distressed and embellished with antique finish brass hardware.

The base is a wooden candlestick which was sanded, distressed and painted to look like old metal pipe fixtures.

The head was created with black Apoxie Sculpt and I purposely kept the facial features to a minimum because I didn't want it to look too human. The goggles were handmade using snaps and small rings which was fitted with copper/green iridescent film and filled with resin.

The inside features an antique thermometer. In the center is a vintage watch mechanism (with jewel bearings intact) and additional embellishments: garnet red crystal and clear acrylic gem cabochon. The background is a hand-stamped image of a ribcage on distressed paper.

The wings are wood which was painted to look like antique brass. Hinges were added and the wings can be moved for a variety of display options.

The back of the head features another vintage watch mechanism, and the back of the box displays part of a page from a vintage steam engine book which was distressed and embellished with brass tag corners & various gears.

Steampunk'd

Yup, I have officially been steampunk'd...

I'll admit that it wasn't until about a year and a half ago, that I had actually first heard of the term "steampunk", but the more I learned about it, the more I realized that it was a perfect genre to incorporate into my art. I had started a few steampunk pieces a few months ago, before my creative hiatus, and this is the first completed one. I will be listing it on eBay this weekend.

(Click photos to enlarge)

"Steampunk"

Mixed-Media Beeswax Collage
20" x 8"

Created with antique book pages, rubber stamps, distress inks, acrylic paints, chipboard, pigment powders, metal corner embellishments, gems and beeswax on MDF.

Finally... back in the studio

Well I am finally back! Not that I really went anywhere, I just really didn't have the time to post or create anything new. I am still trying to clean up the studio a bit so I can "find" where I left off. I have a few projects that got abandoned a few months ago and I am just itching to get them finished. As soon as I get my bearings, I'll post some pictures...

Lisa's 100th Blog Post Giveaway

I am excited to tell you that Lisa Lectura (ll*creations) is celebrating the New Year with her 100th blog post and she is having a fabulous giveaway contest. Lisa is an incredibly talented person who creates beautiful works of art. I am a very proud owner of a few of her works and I am always amazed each time I look at her creations, which are also beautifully made. Be sure to stop by her awesome blog for your chance to win one of her gorgeous works!
(Click here for direct link to her blog)

Alice In Wonderland Altered Art Assemblage

"Down the Rabbit Hole"

3D Mixed-Media Altered Art Assemblage

Wood box, acrylic paints, art papers, rubber stamps, apoxie sculpt, resin, holographic glitter & stars.

This is a project that had been on the back burner, in my studio, for the past two years. I just finished it and got it listed on eBay. Although the original concept remained the same, I added some new mediums and techniques and I have to say, it turned out much *cooler* than I originally had envisioned. I just love creating these types of assemblages and I have a few more in the works.

Coming soon...

Yes, I am still alive... and I realize that it's been quite some time since my last post. I apologize for that, as I have been busy with so many different "projects". I do want to let you know that I will be updating my blog soon with some of my latest work. I am also going to start posting pictures of all of my past creations. In the meantime, I have updated the music with some of my favorite Christmas songs. So... Hang in there, I'll be back soon! *promise*

"Witches Brew Recipe" Altered Art

This is a small wooden wall hanging, which has been painted, sanded, stained, stamped, embossed and embellished. The metal "page tabs" display charms for the book's subjects: "Potions", "Frog's Legs" and "Eye of Newt".

Blog Award

Upon my return from vacation, I was pleasantly surprised to find out, that I had been given a Blog Award, from a fellow artist whose artwork & blog I admire, Lisa Lectura (ll*creations). Thank you Lisa!

Lisa is an extremely talented artist who creates gorgeous works of art, one of which, I am honored to own. I hope she doesn't mind my posting this, but I just wanted to show off one of her beautiful paintings - "Soar". You can see more of her creations on her blog (Look for ll*creations under my Art Blogs list)

Nature's Art

Well...It's been a busy month, seems like August just disappeared!

I just recently got back from our family's camping trip to Killbear Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada. A beautiful and perfect place to "get away", spend quality time with the family, re-connect with nature and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. I have been there several times and I am always amazed at how gorgeous nature can be. Here are a couple of photos I took while I was there...

The beaches are crystal clear and are reminiscent of large "underwater" Japanese rock gardens with the lines in the sand left from tides & waves.
Sunset on the Georgian Bay from Lighthouse Point

Primitive Halloween Altered Art Tags

Click photos for details.

"La lune et les étoiles"

The resin has finally cured for "The Moon & The Stars" shadowbox. It has a 3-dimensional, stamped and stained, polymer clay moon face set in a resin background with "floating" iridescent stars and glitter. I am just finishing up on the frame and hope to have it listed on eBay this weekend.

"Magical Board"

I am just finishing up my first of the larger boards in the series. I just love how this one came out. The holographic stars truly make this a *magical* piece! I started with a 19-1/2" x 16" hardboard panel and added many layers of primer, paints, glazes and a "mirror-like", high gloss resin topcoat. I will be listing it on eBay tonight complete with a video to show the dazzling effects.

"Wicked Ouija"

Lately I have been creating a series of Ouija Boards - Different sizes, colors and effects (which you will see soon). I have always been fascinated by them because of the mysterious qualities they can possess.

"Wicked Ouija" the first of the series which will be listed on eBay tonight.

First Post

Welcome to my Art Blog!