July 19, 2008

Muerte de Medusa

Yeah!! Another project not destined for my UFO (UnFinished Object) pile LOL

I was a little nervous about the time on this. I signed up for Michael de Meng's Found Object Alchemy class. Half a day was spent hitting antique stores in search of objects to alter. I figured I'd be coming home with a half-finished projct ... but whew! I got about 95% done in class ... that' pretty good for me LOL

I had a bit of a headstart on mine. Part of my assemblage was fashioned from an old lamp I found in the rust pile at my Aunt's house posted a few weeks earlier. It was a major feat to get the roof and base removed, so it's good that I had this done ahead of time.


The base is made from an ornate metal jewelry box I gutted. I had it in my head to do something with a Greco-Roman feel, but it turned out quite differnt. Michael pointed out the colors has a Latin American feel and the vines and medallion on the front gave me a feeling of Medusa, so I am calling this Death of Medusa.

I'm also posting the back, which seemed to be Michael's favorite part LOL I just hate velvet. It was covered in black velvet and I knew I wouldn't have time to do anything elaborate to get rid of that look, so I just gessoed and painted it and I ended up with a faux rust look.

Muerte de Medusa
Interior RIght View
Interior Left View
Front Texture Detail
Shrine Back

22 comments:

Val Foster said...

Wow Karen. These are so cool, great, beautiful, and I'm searching for other words to describe them. So very, very artistic and the kind of art I LOVE. Kudos to you, fearless leader. I love this piece, and kind of wish I'd taken M de M's workshop. Maybe sometime in the future.....

I just put six sardine cans in a gallon glass jar with vinegar water and salt added. It's sitting out on the picnic table in the hot sun, and yes it's VERY hot today. I don't know how long it will take them to start rusting, but rust they will, and I'll be thrilled with that. Hopefully, once they rust, it will motivate me to finally do my very first assemblage.

Thanks for posting this, I can't wait to see it up close and personal our our meeting next week.

Kathy McElroy said...

This is fantastic Karen. Wow, you put a lot of work into this. You should send Michael an e-mail so he can see the finished product. It's awesome.

Kathryn Costa said...

How lucky for Medusa, this shrine is gorgeous. The details are so intriguing. When I saw the man on the inside, I caught my breath. What a mood you have created. Lovin' it!

Aileen said...

Karen your deMeng inspired piece is fabulous! Love the elements and look you achieved and you give new inspiration to using velvet LOL great job!

peggy gatto said...

I love what you created and what a great challenge. This again proves what a great teacher he is!
Nice piece!!!!

Joanne Huffman said...

Your Muerte de Medusa pice is extremely you and extremely cool. I also love your Under the Sea pages.

Joanne, who is catching up on blog reading

Moonwillow said...

This is an amazing piece, I love what you called it and the feeling just pours from it. Well done!

christygrant said...

Great piece, Karen! I can see why he was intrigued!

Karan said...

I LOVE the colors... and the images you used really evoke a feeling Karen... awesome job! He is such a nice guy, I am DYING to take his class... That is my ideas of a fun class.. scrounging for stuff in stores first, and then altering it the rest of the class... Looks like you had a lot of fun!

Altered Route said...

Wonderful aseemblage girl! I really like how you showed the yard pile of rusty stuff...then all the way to finish. That's the kind of thing that inspires me!
Connie

Anonymous said...

Great Assemblage Karen I love all the texture, very yummy. Colors are fantastic and it came together beautifully

Elizabeth Golden said...

Very cool Karen! I love what you gessoed over and did with the book. I really like the whole thing - the composition.

Unknown said...

Muy fantastico! excellent assemblage Karen! yummy colors.

jackie said...

Amazing art, Karen BP!! I love the textures and the embellishments and the colors! I am amazed that you got so much done in half a day! Beautiful!
hugs,
jackie

gedert said...

WOW! This is amazing. excellant!! what an inspiration!

Karen Owen said...

What a wonderful work of art! The whole piece is amazing, and everything works together so well. The back IS awesome. I would have never thought to do that.

Karen

artbeth67 said...

Beautiful! It's so obvious to see how much time, love and effort you put into this piece! :)

Linda East said...

Hi Ms. Karen...haven't been over here in a while...I'm totally impressed with what has been going on with you this summer... first of all I think you should give your aunt and uncle a big ole' smoocher for that rusty stuff...wow what a find...then of course you put it together with that jewelry box and your usual fabulous creative talent and wah-la (of course you added a little deMeng inspiration) a fantastic piece of art...you really are incredible...Linda (Okla)

marcia said...

love your work you inspire me nominated you for Brilliante Weblog Premio 2008 Award

www.xanga.com/livefreeinharmony

laurel said...

Love all the detail you put into this and the colors you used. I saw a book by Michael de Meng that I almost bought. I'm going to have to add it to my growing list of books for techniques to try.

Anonymous said...

Karen I love this assemblage the texture is wonderful, the colors yummy. There is so much on this piece to explore. You come through this piece beautifully.

The Backporch Artessa said...

This is so wonderful! I just LOVE it! I wish I could reach out and touch it- it just BEGS to be touched with all that wonderful texture! I think this is such a strong piece! KUDOS!