Monster TV-The Idiot's Lantern-A Peek-a-Boo Project

 

Having not grown up with a television in our house, it consumed me when I finally got my own 12 inch black and white TV when I moved into my first apartment many, many years ago.  I also never understood or was interested in Sci-Fi, that was introduced to me years later by my life partner who loves all things science fiction. It was he who brought me to the wonderful worlds of Dr. Who. These are the inspiration for this artwork. 

1.  Gather Supplies.

2.  Randomly Paint GSLC Tiny TV Retro and Creepy Critters Larger Bat With Golden Acrylic Paint- Chromium Oxide Green and Raw Umber.

3.  Dust With Green Mica Powder.

4.   Seal with Matte Varnish.

5.  Randomly Paint GSLC Tiny TV Standard, and GSLC Creepy Critters Smaller Bat With Golden Acrylic Paint-Quinacridone Burnt Orange and Raw Umber.

6.  Dust With Silver Mica Powder.

7.   Seal with Matte Varnish

8.  Cut Out a Piece of Gauze Cardstock and Glue to Back Portion of GSLC Tiny TV-Retro and Standard.

9. Choose Prepared Dragon Eye Polymer Clay Cabochons and Trim Wire Cutters to Fit Inside of Painted GSLC Tiny TV Retro/Standard Frames.

10.               Stack and Use Weldbond to Glue GSLC Tiny TV Retro/Standard Frames Together.

11.               Allow to Dry Fully Using Clips to Secure Into Place.

12.               Glue GSLC Creepy Critter Bats to Back of GSLC Tiny TVs, Cutting Smaller Bat for Back of Standard TV.

13.               Glue Prepared Dragon Eye Polymer Clay Cabochons to Inside of Each GSLC TV Frame.

Some Final Thoughts.

We did not grow up with a television because my parents thought it was evil we just could not afford it and lived in the rural countryside of Pennsylvania before cable, and dish TV. Antenna TV channels were few at best, neighbors had TVs and it was a real treat to go watch Saturday Cartoons or Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom, Grizzly Adams, Wonderful World of Disney, The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie. These shows were magical to my imaginative impressionable mind but did not prepare me for the bazillion of TV shows I would later see.

Dr. Who, The Idiot's Lantern, is set in 1953 Great Britain with all huddled around their television sets to witness the great event of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, but beneath the celebrations, there are rumors of monsters on the streets, and the tormented Mr. Magpie is hiding a  strange and alien secret within tiny television shoppe.  

"I hear they rot your brains. Rot them into soup. And your Brains come pouring out of your ears. That's what television does"-Grandmother

Rose-"Look at all the TV aerials. Looks like everyone's got one, my nan said tellys were so rare they all had to pile into one house."

Magpie-"Not 'round here, luv, Magpie's marvelous tellys, only five quid a pop."

Doctor-"Oh this is a brilliant year! Classic Technicolor. Everest climbed. Everything off the ration. A nation throwing off the shadows of war and looking forward to a happier, brighter future."

Also who can forget the iconic imagery from Poltergeist of Carol Ann's Creepy pronouncement, "They're Here!!" as she embraces the static, eerily glowing television set.

Steve-"Looks like something's funny going on here next door. Something."

Diane-"We were wondering if maybe you had experienced any disturbances?"

Tuthill-"What kind of disturbances?"

Diane-"Oh, you know, like dishes or furniture moving around by themselves."

 " Television is the Monster in your home. And it's called a program for a reason. Your television is nothing more than an electronic mind altering device. It has been designed to psychologically change the ways you view reality" Morgan Freeman

I for one am grateful for the amazing worlds that television has taken me to and allowed me to experience life more fully and taught me truths I needed to learn.

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Creepy Critters, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Tiny TV Standard, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Tiny TV Retro, Gauze Cardstock, Golden Acrylic Paint- Chromium Oxide Green, Raw Umber, Quinacridone Burnt Orange, Paintbrush, Green Mica Powder, Silver Mica Powder, Paintbrush, Weldbond, Prepared Dragon Eye Polymer Clay Cabochons, Scissors, Wire Cutters

I cannot wait to see your interpretation of this project. Share it on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Craft Group Page on Facebook. I would love to see what new creations you are working on!