outside the box, inside the box

I have finished my second 10 x 10 canvas and have a good start on the third, and I've ordered the 12 x 12's I need for the show in August at New Editions Gallery. Entitled Gridworks, the show will feature square pieces, the smallest being 12 x 12. I'm totally used to working small, don't know why, but I've always gravitated to journals, oversize puzzle pieces, ATCs and inchies... and now that I've gotten comfortable with 10x10 I'm looking forward to the challenge.
The show will remain up during the September/October World Equestrian Games. Scheduled to bring between 300 and 500,000 people (what about the horses?!) to Lexington, the Games are considered by many to be more 'important' than the Olympics. Wow. I know it will be great for the local economy but I think many of us are in denial about what it will mean for our small city, surrounded by even smaller towns. There are lots of people who are fleeing to parts unknown and renting their houses and condos out for outrageous sums - hmmm that would pay for a lot of art supplies, but then again I'd have to clean up the studio!! And fix the upstairs bathroom floor, paint the living room... and a few other important things.
OK, I'm way off track. Before I start on that project, I thought I would dabble with assemblage, altering boxes and other non-canvasy things. During our spring break trip to Asheville I picked up several really cool boxes, but I'm a bit stuck. Do I remove the ceramic piece from the lid of this one? Or, sand and paint? Why does tearing up a perfectly good box make me feel a little like a criminal? Because I want to make them really cool boxes!



The carving is also going to present a challenge... maybe I'll release it from the box and use it for a cradle/frame and alter the inside. Why is this so difficult? Once I embrace change I'm fairly OK with plowing ahead. I would certainly LOVE suggestions... heck, if the concept is good enough I might just send it to you and be done with it.

I'm in desperate need of storage but I like clear boxes and bins so I can see what's inside. It also seems a shame to put an antique box to work! This cigar box also has a cool lid but I can see lots of possibilities for working around the design, which I love along with the hinges. I caught my son and his friends smoking pretzels - the cigar kind of course - the other day after smelling something awful in the back yard. Phew, It's going to be a long summer. At least they didn't inhale:)



I have the same issue with these framed pieces. I was so excited to find them... maybe I'll hang them in the bathroom until I come up with a great idea. Maybe I need to stop thinking flat. Canvas.



Working in other media isn't totally foreign, I suppose it has just been awhile; I've focused on journals since early last fall (just dropped 5 off at the gallery - yay) and need to mix it up a bit. I think I'll use the Michael deMeng class I took in 2008 at Random Arts as inspiration (he was just there again last weekend and I really, really wanted to go, but... maybe next time. We made two really cool assemblage pieces, a Morpheus Box and an altered book. Looking at them now makes me want to go back and work on them again, add a splash of my current favorite supplies.

It's not like I haven't done boxes; I really like this tin, another piece from a couple of years ago, especially the wax part and finding the best rusting solution. Alcohol ink works wonders on metal and plastic and the Tim Holtz line is expanding with new colors - bought a couple recently and I'm itching to use them!






So, suggestions for the box in the top photo, please, you might just find it in your mail box!

Summer is nearly here and school is out tomorrow so I'm praying for art time, and blogging time, especially visiting all the wonderful friends listed in my blogroll and others I frequent. If too much time passes I feel like I'm living in a void! Hope you have great plans for the summer and if, like me, you have teenagers (or kids of any kind) they include time in the studio. Stay in touch!!

Comments

Lori said…
Just happened to be signing into Google Reader, and must have just caught your post! lol The boxes are awesome, as for the cigar box, the first thing I thought of was covering it with bees wax, some old text paper, sheet music, more bees wax, etc. The box with the ceramic tile, anything's possible there, painting the wood with a crackle medium, sanding the tile and covering it, just gluing found objects to the tile, numerous possibilities for all these great items. Good luck!
I really love this box with the ceramic tile. I would have no trouble altering it. You have so many wonderful paint techniques, and when you get over painting on wood (something I used to have trouble doing), you will be fine. Since the tile and the frame are on the same level, I would remove them. Then I would have two frames (one plain around the tile, and the carved one) and a "blank" canvas. From there, I would probably embed resin into the space left from the removed pieces. The resin would have something in it that matched what I was inspired to paint on the outside, or what I planned to put in it.

I am REALLY in love with that hand tin. It is totally awesome.
Karin Bartimole said…
I'm feeling myself nearly panting with the frenetic energy I feel emanating from this post Patti!! There are exciting things afoot with the opportunities presenting themselves to you!
then I looked down at my word verification and it's "hyperifi"!!
hmmmm My thoughts are to say deeeeeep breath my friend. Trust in your inner voice, because it is wise and has led you OH SO WELL so many times before, and given you have these 12x12 pieces to work on, perhaps they are where your creative attentions are needed and that's why the boxes are feeling unsure?! When the *right* time comes, the boxes will speak and say - me me me!!
Maybe for now they can be the collectors of items that speak to you for that future workshop with Michael or another artist you long to workshop with. Have them be treasure chests for an unrealized dream, and once they are filled the opportunity may just present itself...
loving you,
Karin
Caterina Giglio said…
oh the possibilities!! just let your imagination run wild!! xox
Kathy said…
I am a huge lover of rusty tins, and this one is fabulous. Lovely...
Gaby Bee said…
I'm a collector and love such boxes also:-) Your hand tin is adorable!
Ragamuffin Gal said…
Patti ~
I may be a little late here love, but I want to wish you a happy summer break!!! I feel whatever you do with them will be fabulous!
As for the wood, I hate to cover it up, but I don't mind distressing it a bit. I always save the things I take out of a piece for later creations. I am very excited for your show and can't wait to see what all you do for it!!! Wishing you blessings always! XO
Debrina said…
Hi Patti - I must first apologise for getting here sooner. My two year old is running me ragged right now...phew! Anyways, I've been catching up on all your glorious posts and I just love what I've been seeing and reading! Marvellous colours and ideas and of course, writing!! You sure haven't lost your touch!

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