Tony Fitzpatrick's Birds in Cages-A Peek-a-Boo Project

I discovered Tony Fitzpatrick on Pinterest after a foot surgery many years ago. In his ongoing series “The Secret Birds”, Tony Fitzpatrick intricately draws and layers images, poetry and found materials onto the page. He combines inspiration from his working class roots in Chicago, and influences from folk art, comic book characters, and tattoo imagery in his trademark style on view. Each drawn collage depicts a specific species, ranging from the Peregrine Falcon, to the common “immigrant” Starling. Tony Fitzpatrick’s earliest drawings as a child were of birds. He credits his Grandmother for instilling in him a sense of wonder and reverence for a creature she believed inspired hope, telling him, “for the price of a crust of bread you can hear God sing”. “Each bird becomes a “visitation to her”, says Fitzpatrick.

As a mixed media artist I was intrigued by his collage like images with layers unifying diverse and eclectic items. He is the inspiration for this artwork.

1. Gather Supplies.
   
2. Print Tony Fitzpatrick Images Sized to Fit into GSLC Cages with Solid Backs.
3. Paint Top Layer of GSLC Cages with Metallic Paints.
   
4. Add Patina by Making a Wash of VanDyke Brown Hue Paint and Water.
   
5. Find Magazine Images To Use as Backgrounds of Your GSLC Cages.
   
6. Trace and Cut to Size.
7. Use a UHU GlueStick to Glue Magazine Images to back of GSKC Cages.
   
8. Cut Out Birds from Printed Images.
9. Use a Green Highlighter to Soften the Edges of Bird Cutouts.
   
10. Glue Birds to Backgrounds with an UHU GlueStick. 
    
11. Use a UHU GlueStick to Glue With Pieces of GSLC Cages with Solid Backs Together.
    
12. Dry Completely Pressed Down with a Heavy Object.
13. Use Acrylic Paints in Autumnal Colors to Paint Wooden Leaves.
    
14. Secure Painted Wooden Leaves With Heavy Matte Gel Medium.
    
    
    

    

    
    

    

Final Thoughts

“Fitzpatrick’s is a narrative journey and the birds become a catalyst for self examination. They play symbolic roles some delivering otherworldly messages and cautionary tales, while others serve to commemorate and eulogize late writers like Gabriel García Márquez and he gives a soulful tribute to the Chicago songwriter and rhythm and blues legendary musician Otis Clay. His interests are numerous, and his narratives are reflections on his travels, social and political concerns or they become commentaries on the inequities and injustices found in Chicago and beyond.”

I like that Tony Fitzpatrick is a self taught artists as I am. As self taught artist does not follow the rules. They follow their hearts and create what they want. Because I never have had a class on Color Theory I do not know that some colors are not suppose to go together and I use colors that appeal to me. I take inspiration from nature with its wildness, unbridled regard for our wants or desires. Nature speaks its own language and surprises us with it beauty and recklessness. 

There are many name given to my style of art: Art Brut, Outsider Art, Neuve Invention,Marginal Art, Art Singular, Folk Art, Visionary Art, Intuitive, and Naive Art. 

 Our art is raw, “uncooked”, created uninhibitedly.  We are eccentric if only in our own minds. We may see ourself on the fringes or run the margins. My backwoods upbringing caused me to be resourceful and creative. Folk Art was in my blood as my mom’s family were crocheters, tatters, knitter, yard art not quite whirligigs but more of junk art sculptures.

A famous Bob Ross Quote: “We don’t make mistakes, just little happy accidents.”

I always like this quote by Jacob Nordby-

“Blesses are the weird people: Poets, misfits, writers, mystics, painters, troubadours, for they teach us to see the world through different eyes”

Supplies:  GSLC 2 Inch Cage with Solid Back , 3-GSLC 3 Inch Cage with Solid Back , Printed Images of Tony Fitzpatrick Birds, Magazine Images, Scissors, UHU GlueStick, Metallic Paint, Van Dyke Brown Hue Paint, Paintbrush, Green Highlighter, Wooden Leaves, Acrylic Paints In Autumn Tones, Heavy Gell Matte Medium,

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!

Curiosities ATC Faux Book Box

Hello crafty friends!  It's Susan today with a wee box of curiosities.

This is the ATC Faux Book Box, which is 3" x 4 1/2".   This is the first time I've used linen hinge tape  and I think it turned out pretty well (if I do say so myself).

Here are the pieces -- the faux book box is on the right and the spine and cover are on the left.  The little pieces are extras that I always keep around.  You never know how useful they can be!

Glue the sides on, leaving the left side for last.

I measured the inside wall papers by standing it up and making a pencil mark.  I cut the paper for  inside back wall by tracing the outside of the box and trimming it down to fit.  It's a fiddly process but it works.

Next I primed all the surfaces with black gesso.

Once dry I chose the paper for the inside cover.  I adhered the paper to the inside with mod podge before adding the hinge tape because I really didn't know how much bulk it would add, and I wanted the cover to close properly.

I cut two pieces of hinge tape and adhered to the outside of the spine. (The tape is sticky on one side - this photo shows the sticky side.)  I set the book on it's end and positioned the spine and cover pieces where I needed them and pressed the hinge tape down.  The right side is shorter to fit the box wall - you'll see why in later photos.

For the inside on the cover, I cut another piece of hinge tape the same length as the left one above.  I used a paper trimmer to cut it in half length-wise, then trimmed one to the same shorter length as the right side.  I carefully aligned the first piece and used a bone folder to stick the inside hinge tape to the outside hinge tape, moving the cover piece back and forth to ensure flexibility.

Here you can see I peeled the paper backing off the hinge tape and positioned it to match the outside.

I used the bone folder to stick the hinge tape together before letting it stick to the box.

I very carefully painted the hinge tape black.

The outside hinge tape, too, but not so carefully.

Instead of inking the paper edges, I used paint since I had extra.

I added the papers to the inside of the box with Mod Podge.

Even though I painted the edges, I decided to sand them for a more finished look.  Then I painted them again.  *sigh*

For the flying pig cage, I traced the solid cage on my paper and cut it out freehand.  I used a gold metallic paint for the cage front.  Once dry I glued them together with a glue pen and set a heavy object on it until dry.

I traced the banner bit with pencil and cut it out.  After priming, I glued them together and painted the edges black.

I had a leftover flourish from my last project and added it to the spine.

Thanks for your visit today!

Cheers,
Susan

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Used
ATC Size Faux Book Box #BD12T
2" Cage w/Solid Back #BB43A
Banner Border Strips - Assorted #D34D
Fantasy Frame & Flourishes #D52D

Other supplies used
G45 Old Curiosity Shoppe
Mod Podge
Liquitex gesso
Stickles
Piece from old braces (closure)
Glossy Accents