Art in Nature An Under the Sea Composition

The month one of the things I'm focusing on is art in nature.  

Here is a composition I made during our Mixed Media Mingle, a local group of crafters who get together once a month to play with mixed media.  

Nature is in the form of our sea and shore.  I love going to Sanibel Island to walk along the beach and collect shells.  It's such a wonderful way to admire what beautiful works of art (especially shells) are created by nature. Unfortunately, right now the sea is wreaking havoc with our shores in Texas and Florida as well as coastal areas. My art is a reflection of quieter times.  

Process:

This is the backside of a 10x10 inch canvas which I used as a shadow box. I started by gluing scrapbook papaer on the sides to cover the staples as well as the inside to have a coherent substrate, followed by a coating of gesso.  Next step was to spray Dylusions Fresh Lime and Maya Road Hydrangea Blue. I played with a bubble stencil to layer the two colors. I sued a vegetable net on the top corner and a heavier net across the bottom, along with some strands of pearls and some gauze here and there.  The inside bottom has Prima graphite mixed with sand. Then I placed my embellishments on the canvas (the art pebbles being placed on top of the bubbles from the stencil), glued, and topcoated with gesso. I used Prima 3D transparent Gel to glue the embellishments and modeling paste to add interesting texture.  I sprinkled two sizes of art stones inside the clam shell and around the bottom for filler.  Once dry, I again gave another dose of the two spray inks.  

At this point, I took my composition to our Mingle and relaxed by using a variety of paints to highlight the embellishments.  I used the Prima Finnabair Rust Paste set on the two mechanicals and the seahorse to provide a visual triangle. 

Where needed on this canvas I layered with Dina Wakely turquoise, Liquitex ultramarine blue, and Dylusions fresh lime acrylic paints.  Highlighting was provided by Finnabair Art Alchemy Acrylic opal magic green gold.

I used ArtQuest vintage watercolors across the frame to tie it all together and then sprayed with Perfect Pearls Sunflower Sparkle Mist.  (No matter where I took photos, the shimmer did not show up, but it's there!) The chipboard words are from Tim Holtz.

Entering this:

A Vintage Journey: September Altered Art #11 x
I turned one of those many canvases (I've collected for an on-line art class) into a shadow box.  I wouldn't necessarily call them unwanted or unloved, but I have a plethora of Melange art pebbles from Finn's workshops so I turned a few into "bubbles".  I also repurposed my daughter's shell collection.

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge 195:  September Anything Goes Mixed Media #11
******Our Guest Designer spot goes to #11 Helene and will be for the 27th October challenge.*****

Rhedd's Creative Spirit September Anything Goes #14 x

Path of Positivity: (a new format) Challenge 51:  Surround Yourself With Art  
Sept. 4-Oct 1 #4
In addition to the comments above regarding finding art in nature, to expand on this month's theme here, I will include that I am influenced by Finnabair.  This piece is done in the style that she teaches. I've taken three workshops in person from her as well as one on-line workshop.  I follow her blog and design team tutorials.  Her products used in this piece include Melange art pebbles, paints, and hardware.

Use Your Stuff:  Challenge 278 No Cards or Layouts ends 9/9 #15 x
I used the back of a canvas, glued on some very old scrapbook paper, then proceeded to use jars of paste, compounds, paint, and embellies that have been collecting for ages.  Some jars had totally dried out! :(

Mixed Media World:  Challenge 28 Twist: Mood Board due Sept 8 #34 x
I went with the green photo, the berry stems transitioned to pearl stems, and the texture in the yellow photo


Mixed Media and Art:  August Mood Board until Sept. 14 #49 x
Once again, inspired by green and the sense of mystical objects along with some mossy, twiggy vegetation


Our Mixed Media Moods Facebook Group and Blog #4 x
This board has been on my mind since it was posted.  I think you can see how the photos inspired me--color, texture, shells.