Tarot card #7
Yes, Virginia, you can patina paper. Whoo-hoo!
Remember, the key is to seal the paper, otherwise it'll just drink up whatever paint you apply. A coat of gel medium or matte medium creates a barrier between the paper and acrylic paint.
Then you'll need metallic paint and patina solution, which you can find in a craft store kit. (You can find a how-to here.) Finally, finish up with another coat of gel medium. The second coat halts the patina process, so the patina doesn't continue eating away at the metal in the paint.
My dad was the Fixer in my life, and my grandfather was much the same for my mom. (Dr. Freud, you can take a break now.) Both were pretty practical men; one was an accountant, the other was a master plumber. Which is why I started out with the blueprint paper as a background and the idea of a balance scale.
But an ordinary balance didn't really do much for me. Then I thought of substituting the fulcrum (is that the term for the vertical piece?) with a pipe wrench. I found what I was looking for on FunDraw:
When I painted the wrench, I wanted to leave some of the detail apparent. So I went a little lighter on some areas, and left most of the shadowing alone.
It's funny: I don't know if either my dad or my grandfather would've gotten what I'm going for in this tarot card. Dad would've certainly understood some of the implications of the symbols I chose. He did have his artistic side: he collected a few Ernie Barnes and Erté prints. And as a kid, he went to the first arts high school in the country, where he played clarinet and sax.
But the main priority for both him and my grandfather was to spare their daughters the kind of economic pressures they were under. So I wonder if they would be open to this kind of personal exploration.
Remember, the key is to seal the paper, otherwise it'll just drink up whatever paint you apply. A coat of gel medium or matte medium creates a barrier between the paper and acrylic paint.Then you'll need metallic paint and patina solution, which you can find in a craft store kit. (You can find a how-to here.) Finally, finish up with another coat of gel medium. The second coat halts the patina process, so the patina doesn't continue eating away at the metal in the paint.
My dad was the Fixer in my life, and my grandfather was much the same for my mom. (Dr. Freud, you can take a break now.) Both were pretty practical men; one was an accountant, the other was a master plumber. Which is why I started out with the blueprint paper as a background and the idea of a balance scale.But an ordinary balance didn't really do much for me. Then I thought of substituting the fulcrum (is that the term for the vertical piece?) with a pipe wrench. I found what I was looking for on FunDraw:When I painted the wrench, I wanted to leave some of the detail apparent. So I went a little lighter on some areas, and left most of the shadowing alone.It's funny: I don't know if either my dad or my grandfather would've gotten what I'm going for in this tarot card. Dad would've certainly understood some of the implications of the symbols I chose. He did have his artistic side: he collected a few Ernie Barnes and Erté prints. And as a kid, he went to the first arts high school in the country, where he played clarinet and sax.But the main priority for both him and my grandfather was to spare their daughters the kind of economic pressures they were under. So I wonder if they would be open to this kind of personal exploration.
Fresh Paint
This year makes the third I've gone to the Fresh Paint arts festival with The Boy.
Now TwoBoo joins us; not yet independently mobile, but definitely enjoying all the pretty colors as we walked along the marina. It's one of those something-for-everyone events: artists at work like my friends Mary and Kim, children's activities, and this year, art cars!
Who knew you could get so much mileage out of old accessories? Yeah, I said it.
I think this one would've worked a bit better in a drier climate. I wanted to like it, but the wet-then-dried out feathers just kinda made it look like colorful roadkill.
The kids' favorite was the Toynota, by Ranger Kidwell-Ross. Some of the toys attached to the car still work, like the music makers. Plus... bubbles!
I preferred Margot Lovinger's Butterfly Car. She hands out an FAQ card that explains the car's raison d'etre. My favorites: she can always find the car in a parking lot, and the paint is also an anti-theft measure. "Who's gonna steal a car this recognizable?"
We got caught in in a downpour the previous years we went -- the weather is often iffy this late in the summer. Not this time, though -- plenty of sunshine and art.
Now TwoBoo joins us; not yet independently mobile, but definitely enjoying all the pretty colors as we walked along the marina. It's one of those something-for-everyone events: artists at work like my friends Mary and Kim, children's activities, and this year, art cars!Who knew you could get so much mileage out of old accessories? Yeah, I said it.I think this one would've worked a bit better in a drier climate. I wanted to like it, but the wet-then-dried out feathers just kinda made it look like colorful roadkill.The kids' favorite was the Toynota, by Ranger Kidwell-Ross. Some of the toys attached to the car still work, like the music makers. Plus... bubbles!
I preferred Margot Lovinger's Butterfly Car. She hands out an FAQ card that explains the car's raison d'etre. My favorites: she can always find the car in a parking lot, and the paint is also an anti-theft measure. "Who's gonna steal a car this recognizable?"We got caught in in a downpour the previous years we went -- the weather is often iffy this late in the summer. Not this time, though -- plenty of sunshine and art.Tarot card #6
Have you ever noticed that Hello Kitty has no mouth? I know, she commands a freakin' empire. But she still can't talk, can't bitch or moan, can't even smile.
Which is appropriate, in my mind, to represent the years I spent being Serious as a Heart Attack. Eyes wide open, mouth shut.
Sealed for your protection, as it were. (Those medicine bottle seals come in handy.) I also painted over the gel medium transfer of the girl's black & white image.
You don't hear much out of rabbits, either. Cute, but silent. I found these on a piece of nursery-themed paper, then blended the white background to that of the skates-printed background paper. The girl looked like she was floating, but not in a good way, so I grounded her (hah! Grounded her!) with the ruler bit.
Which is appropriate, in my mind, to represent the years I spent being Serious as a Heart Attack. Eyes wide open, mouth shut.Sealed for your protection, as it were. (Those medicine bottle seals come in handy.) I also painted over the gel medium transfer of the girl's black & white image.You don't hear much out of rabbits, either. Cute, but silent. I found these on a piece of nursery-themed paper, then blended the white background to that of the skates-printed background paper. The girl looked like she was floating, but not in a good way, so I grounded her (hah! Grounded her!) with the ruler bit.