Tuesday, August 30, 2011

The Curl

In one of my last posts, I talked a bit about some aluminum flashing that I've been painting and collaging onto. 


Another trip to Lowes last week turned up large, flat, pre-cut sheets of aluminum of a heavier grade than the flashing, and I'm happy to report that after a good sanding, this stuff makes an amazing substrate for mixed-media work!


 (Untitled, 24" x 24" Aluminum, Monoprinted Stacked Journaling, Collage, Acrylics)


This piece consists of layers and layers and layers of monoprinted Stacked Journaling in black, white, purple, orange and yellow acrylic paint. More layers of transparent paint glazes were then applied, wiped off and reapplied until I was happy with the background. I collaged deli papers painted with more SJ to the surface and then brought the whole thing together with one final glaze of paint.


It will be hung by drilling wood screws directly through the front of the piece into wooden blocks which will be positioned on the back. A hanging wire will then be strung from the wooden blocks. Yes, I know I will have to go directly through the painting and collage to achieve this- no worries, that was always my intent when working with the aluminum: I love the industrial look of it.

You'll have to excuse the poor photo quality, however- I usually roll up my garage door to photograph work on my design wall with indirect sunlight, but it's hummingbird season and yesterday when I rolled up the door, three of the little guys flew in for a visit and a snoop around, and got stuck in my studio for almost four hours! 


I will have to leave the door down until they stop flocking, which could take another couple of months. So my photos are catch-as-catch-can for the moment!

Also in my last post I discussed Curl, a 3-D art object I was creating with the roll of aluminum flashing. I finished it over the weekend and I love it!


It is nearly six feet in length, and measures 10" from top to bottom. 


 It is two sided- orange-y/avocado on one side... 


... and yellow/green on the other...


These pieces were done almost exactly like the piece at the top of this post, but I eliminated the heavy glazing in favor of letting the metal shine through in the background.

It turns out that Curl requires certain conditions to be displayed properly, though... specifically, it needs to be lit either from directly above or directly beneath the piece, otherwise the curve of the flashing causes heavy shadows inside the piece and the two-sided effect is lost.

However, this was so much fun to make, and turned out so well, that I'll be creating more of them. In the meantime, my husband and I want to display it and since we don't have a good pedestal for it, we will hang it as you see above, as one long piece stretched across the wall. We will mount it to the wall using mirror clips so we won't damage either side in the hanging process.

Happy creating!

14 comments:

Vicki W said...

Judi, Curl is fabulous!

Diana Angus said...

Now, you are a sculptor. This is successful and beautiful.

Terri Stegmiller said...

All of these are great and I love that top photo. I wouldn't know it was done on aluminum without you telling me.

Cate Rose said...

Your new work on aluminum is just amazing, Judi. They're both beautiful, but the piece at top, the purpley one, is jaw-droppingly beautiful!

Nina Lise@Mrs Moen said...

That is one cool curl; I love it! It sounds like you are enjoying your work so much and it comes through in your art. I bought some paper collaged aluminium jewelry in Birmingham and the bracelet curls just like your Curl.

Bev Redmond said...

I love both pieces. I just hate that when it's mounted, one side of "Curl" will be lost. No....not lost, but not visible. I would like to see it atop a pedestal of thick Plexiglass, lit from beneath.

Jan said...

Wonderful work, Judi, so original! I like to be able to stitch into my mixed media so don't think I'd like the aluminum for myself but I really like what you are doing with it.
Hummingbirds are just plain dumb in this way, aren't they? They amaze me in so many ways.

Valerie Kamikubo said...

I love the flat and curled pieces, Judi. There's a real vibrancy to these recent pieces of yours!

Robbie said...

Just the coolest art work - ALWAYS!

Carin Winkelman said...

Curl is amazing! I love it! Working on aluminum sounds very interesting too.

Kathy said...

Judi, these pieces are marvelous! Aluminum is so industrial, but these have transcended that thought. I am totally in awe...your vision, as well as your technique, is wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing.

Gisela Towner said...

Those are sooo cool!!

Serri Miller said...

Fantastic, both pieces! I love the cloak-and-dagger creativity of combing the hardware store for fine art supplies.

bois-fleurie said...

I am glad I found your blog,its full of interesting thing. I love the purple piece.