I'm travelling into a new way of working, a new country, a new language, and a new hobby which I'm passionate about. Come with me for some of the journey...

Thursday 11 October 2018

Encore - Nature Assemblage

Encore Posts
Projects which made their first appearances elsewhere for Design Team duties or Guest Designer opportunities, but which only had a sneak peek here, are being gathered together in the pages of my virtual scrapbook while I'm away.
As always, the Encore Posts are formatted differently from the regular ones, so that you can easily spot them.  Please don't feel that you have to comment all over again!

Hello all!  Thank you so much for your lovely comments on my jumbo Autumn Splendour tag.  It seems I'm not the only one for whom it's a favourite!  I've another creation with autumn leaves for you today, but this time they're real leaves.  This assemblage canvas was created back in May 2017 for the PaperArtsy "Assemblage" theme.  Those leaves, and the fact that it uses Lynne Perrella stamps - she's on my mind because of the recent release of her Egyptian stamps, which I was lucky enough to make some samples for - as well as the subject matter of a woman connecting with the landscape around her, all made it seem like good timing for this Encore.  Here's what I wrote back then...
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Hello all, Alison from Words and Pictures here to share an Assemblage piece with you this evening.


The definitions I read spoke about Assemblage as essentially being three-dimensional collage - 3D objects projecting out from the substrate - and from the first moment of reading that, these Lynne Perrella houses popped into my head.


My imagination took flight from there - the woman from LP036 (probably my top favourite image from Lynne's latest exquisite releases) trapped inside the buildings, her domestic life, her position in society.


Her joy lies in escaping into the grounds of the large manor house she lives in and gathering botanical specimens, or natural keepsakes to remind her that there is life outside the walls of narrow society expectations.


And though her life is regimented, and she tries to follow the conventions in displaying her collections by lining them up and labelling them, nature always breaks out of the mould.


The twigs and branches refuse to be confined in straight lines...


... and so do the dried flowers, so carefully preserved.


The Frozen Charlottes are part of her own broken self - expected to behave in certain ways and follow certain codes...


... but feeling fractured and constricted by those expectations.


You can see how her obsession with the natural world has infected even her appearance!


And she feels ever more constricted by her world...


I'm indebted to Amanda at Treasured Moments of Inspiration for the background here.  I had my layout all in place, but I was struggling with what should go on the canvas itself - design paper?  Brayering?  Stencilled texture?  My usual crackle?  But thanks to a moment of inspiration from the blog visiting, I have these layered tags.


Over my tags, I applied a glazing technique picked up from one of Donna Downey's Inspiration Wednesday videos.  I used the PaperArtsy Matte Glaze mixed with successive layers of paint - applying and then wiping back with cloths both wet and dry, until I was happy with the look.  The paint layers were Nougat, Taupe and French Roast, knocked back at the end with Snowflake both as a glaze and, eventually, plenty of spattering.


I added harlequin stencilling with the Snowflake and text stamping using script stamps from Hot Picks 1006 and 1217...


... so that the background would echo the Tim Holtz paper used to make the houses.


I used a variety of mediums to add extra depth and shading - a Pumice Stone Distress Crayon, a Ground Espresso Distress Marker, and a Sepia Archival ink pad, and the final touch was some French Roast spatter to add extra depth.


The Matte Glaze mixed with French Roast was also perfect for distressing the Frozen Charlottes.


It's really easy to get the look you want, as the Glaze gives you so much extended time to play.


I almost forgot the roofs - another stamp from the LP036, featuring the little cottage where she dreams of living out a simple life...


... instead of in her father's great mansion with all the attendant privileges and duties.


So that was the journey my imagination took into the mind of this woman and her collection of natural found objects, as I was assembling this creation.


Thanks for coming along with me to share her story, and I hope you'll be inspired to gather some three-dimensional stories of your own.


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So there's another Encore post safely gathered in to my online virtual scrapbook of my creative journey.  One day maybe I'll have them all safely here in one place, but I warn you there are more than 100 of them still to go!  And of course every time I create something for another blog and only have a sneak peek here at Words and Pictures, that number goes up rather than down... ah, well.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I hope the autumn weather is being as kind to you as it is to me here in the Czech Republic.  There's something new up next (which this canvas also gives the tiniest little hint towards - you'll see what I mean on Saturday!) and after that I hope to find time to share some of my autumn photos of the beautiful Czech countryside with you, as well as a couple of the watercolours inspired by that landscape.  I've definitely been connecting with the nature around me, just like this woman, though feeling considerably more free!  In the meantime, happy crafting all!

There is an eternal landscape, a geography of the soul; we search for its outlines all our lives.
Josephine Hart

I would like to share this as part of Simply Neutrals Tuesday over at Apple Apricot

24 comments:

My name is Erika. said...

That is an amazing assemblage Alison. Wow. It blows me away. How did you come with with such a beautiful piece? Hugs-Erika

Mac Mable said...

So enjoyed reading your interesting and wonderful post.
Love your thought process and the story along the way.
Thank you for the fabulous step by steps and what an amazing background of tags, stamps, paints and stencils for all the wonderful elements to 'sit' on. Wonderful attention to detail, as always and enjoy the 'free' nature around you unlike the 'Lady' on your stunning creation.....Absolutely beautiful x

Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

Just a wonderful piece of art. I totally love your tag background. And as each piece was placed you have shared some wonderful inspiration for us all. Thank you Alison for the step by step. I so enjoyed my visit.

Roosterhead Designs said...

Hello Alison,
Can I first say I am looking forward to your (future) post with some photo's of the beautiful Czech countryside~ (where my husbands family originated.) That will be awesome to see.
And for your amazing canvas; it is stunning! I have only visited here a few times (very happy to now know your blog) and I have learned so much already. All the layering and inks and paints; bring together a lovely masterpiece! And of course, your story telling of this young lady and here 'confines' sets my mind and heart in motion. So beautifully done~ Thank you for sharing! I love it~ so glad you chose to join in @ Wen's Simply Neutrals party. Hugs, karen o

pearshapedcrafting said...

Absolutely beautiful - after seeing the layered tags and ephemera in your posts I am getting bits together to try this! Looking forward to seeing your photos! Hugs,Chrisx

froebelsternchen said...

OMG - I am in awe of this fantastic assemblage dear Alison! WOW!
You never cease to amaze me!

Hugs, Susi

Redanne said...

I was not sure that I remembered this one, at least not until I saw the layered tags, which jogged my memory. It really is a beautiful assemblage Alison! I, for one, would be happy to see many, many more encores! Anne xx

Meggymay said...

A wonderful revisit Alison, it is am awesome project.
Yvonne xx

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

I seem to say the same thing each time I visit your encores Alison but a huge Thank you for sharing again as I get to see those bits i've missed out on.
I always leave with a smile as it's all most marvellous.
Hugs Tracey xx
P.S Sorry i'm late and may have missed some posts but I will return as I try to catch up on it all x

Marci said...

Lovely!

Sue said...

Really good to see this one again Alison, I really love how you've used the tags, andthe houses are just genious xx

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Loving this Alison and using the tags to create the background is a brilliant idea. Sending hugs, Angela xXx

Lace Age Girl said...

Hi Alison, I loved reading your thought story as you created this beautiful piece. It's so inspiring to see how others approach making an artwork. The final result is gorgeous. I would have liked to see the tags a bit more - I didn't notice until you explained the background. Your caged woman sentiments were very pertinent to us all!
Hugs,
Jesse XX

Jackie PN said...

Encore or not, this has to be one of my all time favorite creations of yours Alison! Truly a gorgeous piece- so you, so me! heehee
Hope all is well!
Jackie xo

Dorthe said...

I love this Alison , so gorgeous an art piece. The tag background is great idea, and so beautiful a result with the doll, the leaves, the twigs , and much loved stamps .
Hugs Dorthe

Brenda Brown said...

A fantastic encore project to gather into your ejournal. The elements, neutral colours and wonderful design are just perfect xxx

Craftyfield said...

I remember this one!!! In fact I was so inspired I used the layered tags idea on my make for the Assemblages challenge...

AppleApricot Wen said...

Oh Alison, this is a gorgeous piece of art with such a beautiful story to it as well! I never tried assemblage, but it looks so much fun to create one. Thank you for joining again at Simply Neutrals, happy to see your beautiful work again! Wishing you a wonderful week, hugs xx

Kate Yetter said...

I loved seeing this project all over again. So many gorgeous layers and 3-d elements. Stunning, Alison!

Let's Art Journal said...

Wow, what an amazing make! I love how you layered the tags in the background and all the assemblage pieces look stunning - so beautiful 😁. Creative hugs and wishes! J 😊 x

Cocofolies said...

This was such an awesome project, SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!
Thank you for this great Encore post dear Alison, never useless even if I miss times sometimes to comment.
Sending love and hugs, hope you are well!
Corinne x

Linda Kunsman said...

visiting from Simply Neutrals. This is just gorgeous!!! And thanks so much for sharing the step outs too.

FiKenward said...

Love all the preview photos showing all the beginning layering, such a beautiful piece.

Neet said...

I love how you laid the tags to make the background in the first instance. True inspiration - something i immediately say to myself "why did I not think of that?".
I am not into assemblage as such but this has made me change my mind. I love the way you have woven a story into your board. The choice of colours is just pure heaven and as a whole it is a tremendous piece of art.
Hugs, Neet xx