Thursday, March 06, 2008

Sharing Ancestoral Art





On a recent trip to Chicago, I discovered that my Great-Grandmother Trudeau enjoyed altered/collage art! This thrilled me, as it's also my favorite genre of art.


I found not only a gorgeous planter and magazine rack she had altered, but, a bowl she had altered with cigar bands. When I realized it was an altered piece, I grabbed my camera and snapped a few pictures.


Later, when I'd arrived home, one of the members of my rubber stamp pass it forward group, Snagging Stampers (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/snaggingstampers/) offered a large collection of cigar bands. I had a primitive wooden bowl I'd recently purchased at an antiques auction, so, I figured I'd use that and copy my Great-Grandmother's project.


In the center of her bowl, my Great-Grandmother placed an image of a woman, presumably, from an advertisement or label. In order to give mine more of a personal touch, I used a photograph of my daughter. I had color copies made of the photo, then cut the image in a circle. I used a Kryon Gold Leafing pen to create a background.


I love my finished product, though, I've realized that when my labels dried on the bowl, they buckled a bit between the bowl and the labels. I'd soaked them, then Mod-Podged them onto the wooden bowl. I wonder if the bowl had been cleaned with an oil-based cleanser before I purchased it? Perhaps, I should have sanded it?


At any rate, I coated the entire bowl with Golden Gel Medium, which gave it a nice shine and protection from the elements.


Let me know what you think! Whose bowl do you prefer (as if you'd really tell me the truth!)? My bowl is on the bottom right, and features Annie in the center. Great-Grandmother's bowl is the top left. Her clay covered planter (which contains the coolest and neatest items imbedded on it) is also shown.


2 comments:

Barb S. (FL) said...

Amy,
How lucky of you to have found such a lovely piece of altered art by your grandmother.. Your bowl is a great and wonderful project... I absolutely love that it matches your grandmothers. Both bowls are just beautiful.
TFS,
Barb S. Florida

Anonymous said...

the "buckling" problem: wood is very porous and will absorb any liquid placed in it. next time, you might seal the bowl first with a couple of coats of clear matte acrylic.

what a treasure! in a junk store, i would comment: "how gaudy", but when grandma makes it, "kitsh" is more like it! for you to make one like it? priceless!

rush in north carolina: snagging stampers