I went garbage picking tonight. Dug through the kitchen trash (eeww eeww double eeww). Earlier in the day I reacted like a normal person when confronted by Sophie’s latest treasure–an outgrown lizard skin tucked between the sofa cushions…I mean, really… I picked it up with a paper towel because I was not going to touch it with my precious hands and then I tossed it without a second thought.
Before we go any farther, I need to inform you of the correct prononciation of ‘lizard’. It’s ‘yee-zard’. Okay? From one of my kids, a long time ago. It’s a mom thing.
Now, back to the story.
Sometime after dinner I had an artistic AHA! moment. Or, in Homer Simpson speak, “D’oh!” Lizard skin! Mixed media! WAX!!! Mental whack upside the head. Hense the trash picking. By this time it was all the way on the bottom. With lots of disgusting things on top. But I got ’em…with my bare precious hands.
Now I’ve got to figure out the best way to wax him. I’ll experiment and let you know. If you care.
Meanwhile, here’s what I did in the studio today. I went down there fully intending to clean but…oh well, another day. These were begun earlier, each one has multiple, multiple layers. Are they done yet? No, there’s always some tweaking. The photos aren’t the best but you get the general idea.
This one is about 12 X 16 I’m thinking it wants one more coat of natural beeswax to tone down the blue. But maybe not. Have to live with it first. It’s on a plaster base over a cradled board. Lots of texture in the base.
This one is 6X6. Has multiple layers of crumpled paper, tissue paper, gold leaf, wax. Oh, and oil paint.
I love lizards, and texture and treasure♥
This one will be an experiment. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
I’ll send you an armadillo if one gets flattened near me. You do need to wear gloves with them though, supposedly they carry leprosy. Of course that could be something they tell the transplants here to Texas…I’ll confirm before I ship…
Armadillo? Cool. I suspect there’s something against this in the inter state commerce regs. Better mark the package as ‘cookies’.
I love it! Armadillo’s with leprosy and lizard dog kilss. My kind of Art. 😉
Some day I’ll tell you about the magic mojo hair, Ali. Don’t know if you’re old enough for that right now.
So how did you wax him?
Oh my goodness, this was years ago, just like this blog, lol. I don’t remember if I waxed him at all. If I did, it was nothing memorable…
Arty Life has been neglected for way too long. I’m planning on starting a new one on my for-reals website. Check it out in a few weeks, I promise there will be something. Pinky swear. http://www.slporter.com