Art Shrines

Breakthrough art – as a process – is sometimes defined as art that challenges the artist. It’s when an artist takes their work in a dramatically different direction, just to see what happens. Maybe they like it. Maybe they hate it. Either way, they learn something about themselves, their art, and their unique creative process. … Continue reading "Breakthrough Shrines Workshop – My 2005 Notes"

The Edgar Allan Poe Art Shrine is one of my favorite assemblages. The elements include a raven printed on muslin, in three sections. I found him in a Dover book, and added color in PhotoShop (Image-> Adjust-> Saturation). Then, I printed him on iron-on tee shirt transfer paper that worked with inkjet printers. (This was … Continue reading "Edgar Allan Poe Shrine"

Art should always be fun, and perhaps a little flippant. Here’s one way to make an art shrine using a small, empty matchbox… the kind you’ll find at a dollar (or £) store. Shrine to the goddess of mascara, Tammy Faye Bakker Messner Tammy Faye Bakker Messner (March 7, 1942 – July 20, 2007) remains … Continue reading "Making a Matchbox Shrine (Tammy Faye shrine and more)"

This is one of my workshop samples. It’s a pocket shrine in an embellished matchbox. When I made this, I was inspired by a visit to the China pavilion at EPCOT’s World Showcase, in Orlando, Florida. The left photo shows the outside of the shrine, and the right photo shows the matchbox, opened. For this … Continue reading "Prosperity Pocket Shrine"

I created this pendant shrine for a friend. The symbols in it were specific to her interests. When I started this project, I knew that I wanted to make a pendant/shrine using a matchbox, a Premo-covered book, and hemp and glass beads strung together. The results were fabulous! Here’s how it looks from the outside. … Continue reading "“Art and Alchemy” Pendant Shrine"

This is a pocket shrine that I created for an art shrine exchange – an art swap – hosted by Patty Harrison in the UK, September 2000. Artist’s statement: This box represents the “other” world. It’s the fantasy land of the faeries. In legends, it’s a world similar to ours but also different. The black … Continue reading "Otherworld Shrine and How It Was Made"

You can make a small shrine using a Pringle’s potato chip lid. Here are some general instructions to create the base for the shrine. It was created using very small artwork—some of it original—and a Pringle’s potato chip lid. You know, one of those clear plastic snap-on lids that allows you to reseal the container. … Continue reading "The Pringles Lid Superman Shrine – Step by Step"

Let’s say you want to make an art shrine. Perhaps you want a pocket shrine to display on your desk or dashboard, or carry with you in your backpack or computer bag. You could give it to a friend as a gift or make several pocket shrines for an art swap. First, you’ll probably start … Continue reading "Art and Science of Pocket Shrines"

You can never have too many Elvises! I made this shrine from images I scanned from a deck of Elvis playing cards, plus some glittery wrapping paper, a plain matchbook, and a few phrases related to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. (The image above is from around 2001, so the quality isn’t as good … Continue reading "Elvis Matchbook Shrine"

You can create wonderful, pocket-sized art shrines by combining tags with other art elements. I’d already worked with many traditional matchbox shrines.  This time, I wanted to deconstruct a matchbox – and add it to a tag – to see what I could do with it. I had in mind a theme that was magical … Continue reading "‘Create’ Pocket Shrine (winged)"

This is page two of the instructions that started at Art Shrines – Add Texture with Plaster Gauze. Plaster and gauze – the same materials used in medical settings for traditional plaster casts – can add excitement and dimension to your art shrines and assemblages. 5. Dip gauze all the way into the water, and … Continue reading "Art Shrines – Add Texture with Plaster Gauze – Part 2 of 2"

Plaster gauze can add exciting dimensions to your art shrines, mixed media art, or even your art journaling book covers. The effects are completely unlike a “plaster cast.” Here’s what a finished product can look like. (It started as a cardboard cigar box. You can buy them at Amazon, and some cigar stores sell them … Continue reading "Art Shrines – Add Texture with Plaster Gauze – Part 1 of 2"