A bit more

Well it's been busy this week back to work and all that! My atc from Sanderijn has arrived and it's beautiful! Here's a peek...

This pic doesn't do it any justice of course. It is much more beautiful in person. It has a shimmery background in multiple colours then is embossed in gold, edged in red glitter and overlaid with lovely fabrics and a beautiful brad and pin and it smells like heaven! Yes that's right it smells wonderful! My whole desk area has a wonderful fragrance surrounding it now. I must admit I hadn't thought about adding fragrances into the mix , now there's some food for thought! I told you she was a wonderful artist, what a fab idea. If art is for the senses then this makes perfect sense (ahh, no pun intended there). I believe a little experimenting of my own will be happening soon.

Now for something of my own. Over on Blue Bazaar they hosted a series of mixed media challenges last year which greatly increased my interest in this artform and has resulted in my own delvings into the area. I watched with interest as the girls plunged into various challenges and techniques each month and did some exploring of my own. Towards the end of the challenges came the fabric challenge. I had been tossing around a few ideas for a fabric piece of my own anyway and decided this was as good a time as any to have a go and so... to battle! And here she is!

Here's a few closer peeks...

and...

The central picture is constructed using unbleached calico and an iron on transfer of Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" which has been reversed by the transfer process. The background is coated in polished pigments and impasto which gives it that beautiful shiny look, then edged in vintage lace. The overlaying mask is constructed using felt and vintage silk sari fabric then it is built up in layers using more of the silk then some vintage laces and trims, beading, silk and velvet flowers and leaves and a few little charms to add some interest. She was then attached to the background which was made from a lovely course textured fabric and appliqued with gold vines and leaves. The whole idea for the piece came about from looking at a series of beautiful photos of the venetian carnival. Since the early Renaissance period the city of Venice undergoes a transformation and around February each year Carnivale is born. The city's residents don fabulous costumes and masks and enjoy a range of festivities culminating in the masked ball. Now doesn't that sound like a great time! Anyway I love Vermeer's painting and why not get the girl out for a good time! So that's it really, there she is. She now graces my wall and I was very pleased with the result too! Hope you enjoy looking. Leave me a comment if you do, or even if you don't! I love feedback!