First you start with an idea. Well, maybe. It’s where most people begin. You know, “Oh, I MUST make a shrine to chocolate!” Or Elvis, or Russell Crowe, or Barbie, the Banana Splits, or the Planet Melmac. But where you should start–and of course, we never do what we should–is with the container. The container…
Category: Collage & Mixed Media Art
Collage and mixed media art – examples and tutorials, including art journaling, torn paper collage, assemblages, art shrines, and more.
Elvis Matchbook Shrine
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 “matches” are three layers deep. I folded a couple of them over,…
‘Create’ Pocket Shrine (winged)
Tags can combine with other elements to support wonderful, pocket-sized shrines. In this shrine, I wanted to use familiar elements such as a matchbox, but make it a little quirky. I’d already worked with many traditional matchbox shrines. This time, I wanted to deconstruct one. This shrine was made with the cut-up-and-reconstructed inside of a…
Creativity Pocket Shrine
This is my pocket shrine to creativity, in a matchbox photo of pocket shrine This pocket shrine started as a small, plain matchbox that I covered with plush black velvet and glittery purple silk ribbon. The background image inside the box is a scan of a goddess figure, plus scans of my tubes of oil…
Layering Paint and Polyurethane for Rich Depth
After draping your art shrine or assemblage with plaster and gauze, you can achieve astonishing results by layering paint and polyurethane. These photos show just a few of my experiments with this technique. It’s best to read this entire page before shopping for paint, polyurethane, and related supplies. You may get some great, unique ideas…
Embellishments for Mystery & Dazzle
Plaster and gauze are ideal materials for embellishing your art shrines and assemblages. To learn the basics of using plaster and gauze, see: Shrines – Add Texture with Plaster and Gauze Applying Plaster Gauze to your Art Shrine When using plaster-embedded gauze, you can create fabulous textural effects with common household and art objects. Among…
Applying Plaster Gauze to Your Art Shrine
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. This is page two of instructions that started at Art Shrines – Add Texture with Plaster Gauze. 5. Dip gauze all the way into the water, and remove…
Art Shrines – Add Texture with Plaster Gauze
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. Cigar stores often sell them at a good, low price.) Art Shrines…
Rubbings in Your Art Journals – Not Just for Halloween!
There are many ways to use rubbings in art journaling, collages, and more. Start with textures You can use rubbings in your journals and scrapbooks. When you travel, rubbings are a great way to preserve visual details from your trips. Try rubbing: Brass plaques and historical markers (make sure that’s permitted, of course) Texturing on…
Elegant Rubbings with Art Foil
You can create elegant rubbings for your art journaling, mixed media art, or decor. Note: Most of these examples were experiments with elegant Halloween decorations, or from an Artfest workshop, “Art Shrines from Dark to Light.” (The theme started at the foot of the shrine, with dark imagery – whatever that meant to the individual…