Thursday, June 4, 2020

"Journey of an Old Soul" process

Some of the papers I used in my most recent eco-dye batch didn't stand up to the simmering as well as others. They had some frayed edges, tears, and small holes. I chose one of them to do a seven-circuit labyrinth.

This is the paper as it emerged from the dyeing, with a few initial pencil lines.

I chose Bosch for a border with a Sprouts/Mooka/Hollis mash-up in the corners. I outlined the labyrinth with a thin border between the paths, adding some details throughout.

Next I added a bit of color, three gems and some spring green Icantoos, as well as a metal leaf sun - or  is it a moon? Then more tangling in areas of the lines dividing the pathways, some shading to the corner sections, and some shading in the labyrinth itself.

That part done, I affixed the paper to a cradled birch panel, deciding to leave the wood grain showing. I added a small brass nail just inside the corners of the paper and drew a dark brown line around the edge of the wood. I finished the sides with a strip of cork.
I didn't like it. I thought it made it look like particle board - not an effect I wanted! I removed the cork and painted the sides bronze. To finish, I added matte varnish with a sprinkling of gold flecks.

Here is "Journey of an Old Soul":

9 comments:

  1. I like your labyrinth. I'm going to try making one too.

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  2. This is so beautiful! I love how organic it is from the paper to the tangles to the shape of the labyrinth.

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    1. Thank you! Making the labyrinth fit into the marks on the paper was one of the challenges and one of the most fun parts.

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  3. I absolutely love this. Is this one for sale Margaret?

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    1. Yes Lisa, it is. Could you e-mail me and we can discuss details?
      margaret.bremner.artist (at) gmail (dot) com

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  4. I have a bunch of eco dyed papers that I really didn't like they way they turned out. But this seems to be a good way of covering some but not all of it.... I think I'll give it a try! Thanks for the journey.

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  5. Soulful and gorgeous! I get lost in it. Thank you for sharing...You're brilliant.

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