What do you get when you mix a bunch of random found things together? Something so clever, artsy and cute. Why does every piece of art have to be something? Why not just make and enjoy and create art that let’s you Explore Life. Sanna, part of the Canvas Corp Brands Creative Crew, encourages us today on the blog to do just that. The bits and pieces come together to create a little piece of art that is a conversation piece.
We are very lucky to live in NW Arkansas and have the opportunity to explore art in so many different ways and love that we are part of an international art community that has no bounds. Living in this area we have the privilege of being close to Crystal Bridges American Art Museum. This amazing museum is like no other, it actually begins with the first known piece of American art and takes you through the history of art in America.
Crystal Bridges give homage to art and has many traveling art shows, events, music and more. Our love for art might start close to home, but it spans the globe and inspires us everyday.
I recently had the opportunity to get together with an artsy friend from the US. She and I, besides sightseeing, of course had to sit down and get creative together. I tell you, meeting artsy friends is the best!!! We had such a good time together. Well, anyways, we thought it would be fun to go to a flea market and find something cool to alter. So we visited the Naschmarkt Fleamarket in Vienna on a Saturday morning and found this little brass pieces to alter.
My husband had promised we could go through his work area and search for something fun to alter there too. And we found two old bicycle lamps we immediately wanted to alter. This lamp art doll is the result of a fun, creative get-together. I so enjoyed creating this piece with my artsy friend!!!
Materials Used:
1. Tattered Angels – Decor & DIY Paint – Ebony
2. Tattered Angels – Decor & DIY Paint – Mankato
3. Crackle Medium – Viva Decor
4. 7gypsies – Jump Rings – Antique Silver
5. Silver yarn
6. Chipboard stars – Wycinanka Scrap & Decou
7. Half pearls – Zva Creative
8. Old latin book papers from a flea market
9. Vintage photo Distress Ink – Ranger Ind. Inc.
10. Lace from a junk store
11. Silver glitter glue
12. Brass elements – another flea market find
13. Tim Holtz Rub-Ons
Tools Used:
1. Scissors
2. Heat glue
3. paper glue
4. paint brushes
2. Heat glue
3. paper glue
4. paint brushes
Step 1 – First, attach the lamp and the podium together with screws and make sure the parts do not move around. Without sanding or pre-treating the surface, start applying the Black Decor & DIY paint onto the lamp surface. Let dry and then apply a layer of Crackle Medium. It is best to let it dry over night. Repeat the same procedure on the podium, but this time using the Decor & DIY and paint in the color Mankato.
Step 2 – If the Crackle Medium is strong like mine and the cracks are too wide/big, apply another layer of paint. I needed to do this.
Step 3 – Take 4 sheets of old book paper and fold them into a fan. Glue together with hot glue to create a circle. Attach it to the “doll head” with hot glue. Add vintage photo distress ink around the edges and spray with water mist to get the ink to react and spread. Dry with a heat gun. Then apply silver glitter glue for interest. Let dry.
Step 4 – Attach a brass crown on top of the “doll head” with hot glue. Add some Mankato toned paint on top to alter it. Attach half pearls on top. Next attach a piece of lace as a “hair band” and create a bow. Glue down with hot glue (but don’t burn your fingers!). Decorate with half pearls. Attach jump rings as earrings to both sides of the head.
Step 5 – Create a sentiment sign (mine says: ‘Explore Life’, and is made out of a piece of old book paper with a rub-on statement). Glue it in place with hot glue. Paint chipboard stars with Decor & DIY Paint in Black, and attach around the podium. Wrap a strip of silver yard on top and attach a half pearl on top of each star. Alter some brass pieces and attach with heat glue. I used various brass leaves for decoration. One on front and two as wings on both sides.
Step 6 – Finally use hot glue to glue down false eyelashes and attach a row of small half pearls on top. You can add more decorations to it if you would like, but I only added a little DIY lace flower on the back of the folded paper piece. That way the back of the doll also looks more interesting. The doll now decorates my studio area. The doll reminds me a bit of the Pixar lamp, but also has elements of a frilled-neck lizard, a gypsy princess and even Achilles. How’s that for a junk lamp art doll? I hope you get inspired to take a second look at junk lying around your house and create a fun decoration out of it!! Have fun!!!
So if you are in the USA and travel anywhere near NW Arkansas you must add Crystal Bridges to your list of things to do, and if you are in or near Vienna we know of a flea market now that is a must. Explore your creative side by seeing other people’s art, bits and pieces to make art or just go where your mind takes you. While in Arkansas, there is great hotel that let’s you even eat and sleep art. 21C Museum Hotel is an amazing concept that was started by Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson based on a passion to create a modern art experience. The boutique chain of hotels began in Kentucky and now has 6 locations including Bentonville, Arkansas. What makes this hotel so unique is the front of the hotel, the lobby, the rooms and the restaurant spaces are filled with very unique pieces of modern art, like a car covered with pennies, a chandelier of chandeliers or big green penguins that travel around the restaurant and can be requested to dine with you. So if you are in the area or want to find one of the hotels near you, check out there website.
Happy Creating and Happy Art!!!
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