In My Heart There Rings a Melody-A Peek-A-Boo Project

 My childhood was spent going to church at a small Baptist Church that stood on a hill just  about a mile from my county home. There were many restrictions and expectations about what a Christian should look like and behave. I felt trapped sometimes by its dogma. As a gay man I knew that I was condemned to "hell"  and I was an abomination. These words kept me from expressing my true self, but I did grow up with a value system that seems to be missing from much of our world today. I have made my peace with my faith and am thankful for all the darkness it has carried me through. I used to pray that my hope would be taken away because I have known some very deep disappointments. BUT  I am thankful that prayer has never been answered and I have somehow managed to keep a positive disposition through most of this past year. This is the inspiration for this artwork.    

    1. Attach Song Sheet to Wooden Cigar Box Substrate with Weldbond. This is from a church hymnal that came from Moreland Baptist Church. My dad loved singing in their small choir.

2. Add additional depth and interest using  ArtFomies Writer's Block and  Golden Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold paint and script stamp and pink ink.

3  3.First Paint Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Sandra Evertson Filigree Heart - Mixed Media Chips (Pack of 2) with neon pink paint.

    4.  Paint Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Leafy Hearts with Transparent Red Iron Oxide and Pyrrole Red Paint.

    5. Paint  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Heart of Gears with Lumiere Metallic Rust and Copper Paint.

6  6.  Layer Hearts to see if there is enough contrast between the three layers.

7  7.I felt it needed more contrast and added some acrylic pain first then embossing powders  and  a Script and  a Wooden Grain Stamp. I used these Embossing Powders-Red, Metallic Bronze, Vintage Photo. Etched Platinum, Pewter, German Silver. Cure with a Heating Tool.

     8.  At same time Use Versa mark Gel to add Etched Platinum, Pewter, German Silver embossing powders to the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Barbed Wire Shape Set, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Wrought Iron Set. Set with a heating tool.

   9. I layered again and felt like there still was not enough contrast between my layers and added metallic blue nail polish to the base heat.

    10. I added some streaks of neon pink to base layer to further unify the pieces.

    11. Add all the components creating your assemblage and adhering with Weldbond.

     12. Cover with waxed Paper and add heavy books to make sure all components dry securely and flat.

Some Final Thoughts.

My faith is now best described by Over The Rhine's song "All My Favorite People Are Broken"

All my favorite people are broken*

Believe me, my heart should know

Some prayers are better left unspoken

I just want to hold you and let the rest go

All my friends are part saint and part sinner

We lean on each other, try to rise above

We are not afraid to admit we are all still beginners

We are all late bloomers when it comes to love

All my favorite people are broken

Believe me, my heart should know

Orphaned believers, skeptical dreamers, step forward

You can stay right here, you don't have to go

Is each wound you've received just a burdensome gift

It gets so hard to lift yourself up off the ground

But the poet says we must praise a mutilated world

We're all working the graveyard shift

You might as well sing along

Cause all my favorite people are broken

Believe me, my heart should know

As for your tender heart, this world's going to rip it wide open,

It ain't gonna be pretty, but you?re not alone

All my favorite people are broken

Believe me, my heart should know

Orphaned believers, skeptical dreamers, you're welcome

Yeah, you're safe right here, you don't have to go

Cause all my favorite people are broken

Believe me, I should know

Some prayers are better left unspoken

I just want to hold you and let the rest go

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Waterworks Shape Set, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Heart of Gears,  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Sandra Evertson | Filigree Heart - Mixed Media Chips (Pack of 2), Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Leafy Hearts, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Barbed Wire Shape Set, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Wrought Iron Set, Wooden Cigar Box Lid Substrate, Music Song Sheet, Weldbond, ArtFomies Writer's Block, Golden Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold, Transparent Red Iron Oxide, Pyrrole Red, Diaylide Yellow Paint, Lumiere Metallic Rust and Copper Paint, Neon Pink Paint, Script  and Wooden Grain Stamp, Embossing Powders-Red, Metallic Bronze, Vintage Photo. Etched Platinum, Pewter, German Silver, Versa Mark Gel,  Heating Tool, Metallic Blue Nail Polish, Paintbrush, Heavy Books

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!

 

How Deep is Our Love?

To know someone fully is to dive into the depths of the deepest oceans. When we first fall in love we do not dive in toodeep, it’s a drop in a cup of water or the shallow waters of a springtime shower. It’s only as we stay together and weather the storms that we discover the magnitude of our lifetime companions. This is the inspiration for this project.

1.  Cut apart GSLC Coral Wreath and Filigree Heart.

2.  Choose a Vintage Wooden Frame for your completed project.

3.  Measure a piece of Faux Black Velvet Paper to fit snugly inside of frame.

4.  Use a Drybrush Technique to paint GSLC Filigree Heart with Prussian Blue Hue, Antique Gold, Quinacridone Nickle Azo Gold.

5.  Add further details dry brushing with Cobalt Blue and Cerulean Blue Deep acrylic paints. Allow to dry fully.

6.  Use a dabbing technique to paint GSLC Coral Wreath with Pymole Red and Pyrrole Red acrylic paints.

7.  Sprinkle with paprika and dab on highlights of Pymole Red and Pyrrole Red acrylic paint-Allow to dry fully.

8.  Photocopy a digital image of your choosing.

9.  Cut a small piece of wood to create a frame for your digital image.

10.                Stain wood with Distress Stains in Blue, Brown and Yellow tones.

11.                Glue image to made wooden frame using Weldbond.

12.                Add Glossy Accent Medium to image.

13.                While Glossy accent Medium is still wet sprinkle with iridescent glitter.

14.                Assemble project using double sided tape to layer into vintage wooden frame.

Final Thoughts:

I like how the filigree heart is guarded by the red coral wreath protecting it begging someone to take a closer look. My partner and I are vastly different as the ocean from the desert. A love that can endure the differences and embrace the substances that matter last a lifetime. We are a mighty team, better together that apart, fuller because of our emptiness and sweeter because of shed tears. I love seeing what of our dreams will still come true, we have some huge ones left to dream.

 

 

 

 

 

  

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Sandra Evertson | Coral Wreath, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Sandra Evertson | Filigree Heart, Vintage Wooden Frame, Faux Black Velvet Paper, Ruler, Acrylic Paint-Prussian Blue Hue, Antique Gold, Quinacridone Nickle Azo Gold, Cobalt Blue, Cerulean Blue Deep, Pymole Red, Pyrrole Red, Paintbrush, Paprika, Digital Image, Wooden Piece, Jigsaw, Distress Stains in Shades of Blue, Brown, and Yellow, Weldbond, Glossy Accents Medium, Iridescent Glitter, Double-sided tape.

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!