International Strange Music Day-A Peek-a-Boo Project.

This is Jon David Lowe for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts, I enjoy looking up unusual holiday to see if I can include them in my blog posts. Today, August 24, 2022, is as my title says  International Strange Music Day, a day that encourages people to listen to all types of music they don't usually listen to. It is a also a day to discover strange and bizarre kinds of music. "Madam Butterfly" by Malcolm McLaren is one type of music many may not know. It is the inspiration for this artwork. 

1.  Gather Supplies.

2.  Put Together GSLC ATC Shrine Box and Secure with Weldbond.

3.  Roll Out a Thin Sheet of Polymer Clay and Press into Plastic Wooden Texture Plate.

4.  Cut Panels of Clay and Adhere to GSLC ATC  Shrine Box with Liquid Clay.

5.  Brush Empty Areas with Liquid Clay and Sprinkle with brown Embossing Powders.

6.  Cure in Polymer Clay Oven.

7.  Build a Butterfly Body Totem In Middle of Cured Box Using Small beads for Eyes and Small Nails for Antennas.

8.  Paint GSLC Vine Corners with Shades of Green Acrylic Paints.

9.  Paint GSLC Royal Flourishes with Gold Design Cream.

10.                Attach GSLC Vine Corners and GSLC Royal Flourishes with Liquid Clay and Cure Again in Polymer Clay Oven.

11.                Use Glossy Accents to Attach Transparent Butterfly Wings to Butterfly Body.

12.                Add Patina to Art Piece using Dry Brush Technique and Acrylic Paints.

13.                Paint GSLC Gothic Cross Miniatures with Gold Design Cream.

14.                Attach GSLC Gothic Cross Miniatures with Golden Heavy Matte Gel Medium

 

Some Final Thoughts.

I enjoy a variety of music, Putumayo is a great starting place to discover different types of World Music. I have enjoyed their A Native American Odyssey,, Gypsy Caravan,  India Compilation, Louisiana Music Sampler, and Zydeco.

 I Have Favorite Female Vocalists, Tori Amos, Annie Lennox, Miley Cyrus, Tones and I, Natalie Merchant, Sinead O'Conner and Tracy Chapman.

 My Favorite music group is Over The Rhine, whom I have quoted many times here on my blog posts. I Like U2, REM, the Chieftains, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Moby, Gregorian, Rammstein,  and Grant Lee Buffalo.

 There are so many different styles of music for me to still discover. Tell me a few of your favorites.

Supplies:  GSLC ATC Shrine Box, GSLC Royal Flourishes, GSLC Vine Corners, GSLC Gothic Cross Miniatures, Weldbond, Polymer Clay, Plastic Wooden Texture Plate, Liquid Clay, Embossing Powders in Brown, Polymer Clay Oven, Small Golden Beads, Small Golden Nails, Shades of Green Acrylic Paint, Gold Design Cream Paint, Glossy Accents, Transparent Butterfly Wings, Golden Heavy Matte Gel 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!

Mother's Day Crèche-A Peek-a-Boo-Project

I know Mother’s Day was a few days ago and since my momma passed away in 2018, I had no need to send any cards, but I think if her often and honor her in my artwork and disposition. She was an avid gardener and loved being outside hanging clothes on the clothesline to dry in the fresh spring air or looking through her flower gardens spotting any new blooms. She is the inspiration for this instillation. 

1.  Take apart Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Little Niche Scalloped and paint both pieces using dry brush technique with Acrylic Paints of Van Dyke Brown Hue, Indian yellow Hue and Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold. 

2. Measure and glue an Original Collage Artwork piece to center of back portion of the niche.

3.  Secure and hold into place using metal clips.

4.  Add Glossy Accents and One Step Crackle Finish on top of collage.

5.  While this is drying paint the GSLC Vine Corners using the same drybrush technique with Acrylic Paints of Hues of Green. I did not take apart the corners but painted while still attached to background.

 

6.  Allow to dry fully then take apart GSLC Vine Corners they are ready to add to your niche.
7.  Next I used Rub ‘N Buff to distress the GSLC Gothic Cross Miniatures. I did not take apart the corners but painted while still attached to background.

 

 

8.  Allow to dry fully then take apart GSLC Gothic Cross Miniatures. They are ready to add to your niche.
9.  Assemble Front Portion of GSLC Scalloped Niche using Weldbond to secure the corners and cross of your choosing.

10.                Secure front of GSLC Scalloped Niche with Weldbond to the back portion that contains your collage piece.

11.                Add more Rub “n Buff to cross and around edges of niche.

12.                Add details using Liquid pearls (Teal) and Fine Tip Bottle Applicator with Black High Flow Acrylic Paint.

 

13.                Once fully Dry seal everything with a quick coat of Matte Gel Varnish.

14.                Add GSLC clip on piece for easy hanging if so desired.

Some Final Thoughts.

My momma liked to say that from the time she arrived at the hospital to the time I was born was just about a half hour. She would say I came into this world in a hurry and have not slowed down since. In truth I am not a man known for his patience, but I am learning as I progress through this life to slow down and appreciate the daily miracles that come our way. I miss seeing my Momma’s flower gardens, eating her amazing cooking, hearing her voice on the phone, her laughter that lit up a room…None of us know the days granted to us so please take the time to love and appreciate the ones who are near and dear to you.

  

 

 

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Little Niche Scalloped, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Vine Corners, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Gothic Cross Miniature, Original Collage Artwork, Acrylic Paint-Vann Dyke brown Hue, Indian yellow Hue, Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold,  Hues of Green, Weldbond, Paintbrush, Metal Clips, Rub ’n Buff-Gold Leaf, Autumn Gold and Spanish Copper, Deco Art One-Step Crackle Finish, Glossy Accents medium, Matte Varnish, Liquid Pearls-Teal, High Flow Black Acrylic Paint, Fine Tip Paint Bottle Applicator

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!

As the Deer Pants

I am not an overly religious man but was raised up attending a small, little white church on the hill several miles from our small country home. I always loved the Psalms the best as they expressed just deep emotions and longings. I was a bit of an outsider growing up in this rural setting as I was an artistic emotional child. I comforted myself reading the Psalms and always believing in better days. This is the inspiration for this piece. Many people try to keep deer out of their gardens I am inviting them to be part of our gardens as I try to include all outsiders into my art.

1.   Separate Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Flourished Deer, Vine Corners, and Creepy Tree 5 inches.

2.  Make copies of woodland images you'd like to use. I made copies of two I had taken from my many walks in the woods.

3.  Use Ranger Vintaj Patina set to distress the Seed Packet Plant Holders using a small natural sponge.

4.  Cut out photocopied pictures and use a Pistachio Coptic marker on the edges.

5.  Glue pictures into Seed Packet Plant Holders using Weldbond.

6.  To make the outdoor friendly coat with two coats of Clear Matte Varnish.

7.  Emboss Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Flourished Deer with Wendy Vecchi Tree Branch Embossing Powders.

8.  Emboss Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Vine Corners with Wendy Vecchi Fern Green Embossing Powders.

9.   Emboss Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Creepy Tree with Rangers Brick Embossing Powders.

10.                Cure all using a heating tool.

11.                To antique the shiny pieces I used a dry brush to apply Raw Umber Antiquing Cream.

12.                Coat all embossed pieces with Clear Matte Varnish as the Antiquing Cream is water based and will run unless coated.

13.                Use Weldbond to layer the embossed pieces onto the Seed Packet Plant Holders.

14.                Allow to dry fully using a weighted bag of BB's or Kitty Litter to hold pieces into place.

15.                Once dry add several more coats of Clear Matte Varnish to assure they will be able to withstand the outside weather.

***Some artist might stop here but I always like to take it a few steps further and pushing the envelope a little closer to the edge. I've heard it said "If you're not living on the edge, you're wasting too much space***

16.                Using Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Layered Bella Oval Frame to make a "Salad Bar" sign.

17.                Print the words "Salad Bar" using your word processing program.

18.                Distress the paper sign using a stamp and permanent ink of your choosing.

19.                Use Rangers Brick Embossing Powder on the back portion of the frame curing with heating tool.

20.                Use Ranger Vintaj Patina set to distress the front portion of the frame.

21.                Use a Coptic marker to determine proper placement of printed inked words.

22.                Glue into place using Weldbond.

23.                Dry flat and weight down with your trusty bag of BBs or kitty litter.

24.                Distress sign using antiquing cream of raw umber, copper paint, and Coptic markers.

25.                Add a layer of Gloss Accents to center of sign.

26.                Sprinkle with Finnabair microbeads and mica chips.

27.                Add an aged look using Finnabair Red and Brown Rust Paste.

28.                To add weight to the salad bar sign, so it would hang correctly, I cut out an oval shape from a piece of balsa wood.

29.                Distress with Ferro Textured Paint of Silver and Irongold.

30.                Secure smaller more delicate sign to larger balsa wood using screwdriver and micro-screws.

31.                Use Finnabair Red and Brown Rust Paste to tie it all together.

32.                Drill two holes into balsa sign, add 12 to 13 aluminum jump rings to both sides so sign can dangle between two deer signs.

33.                Once everything is dry, add several more coats of Clear Matte Varnish to assure it is outdoor ready

I find great comfort walking in the woods. Every gift I receive while there comforts me. Seeing a deer drinking from a stream restores my soul and lets me know all is well in the world. I find Nature can be a great cathedral and wisdom often comes in unexpected places. And, a sense of humor makes the darkest days brighter.

Supplies: Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Flourished Deer, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Creepy Tree 5 Inches, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Vine Corners, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Layered Frame Bella Oval, Upcycled Seed Packet Plant Holders(can find them by doing an internet search sold by Amazon, garden centers, some Big Lot stores), photocopies of woodland scenes, Ranger Vintaj Patina Set, Small Natural Sponge, Coptic Marker-Pistachio, Weldbond, Clear Matte Varnish, Paintbrush, Versa Mark, Wendy Vecchi Embossing Powders-Tree Branch and Fern Green, Ranger Embossing Powder-Brick (Use to be named Rust). Heating Tool, Antiquing Cream Raw Umber, Weighted Bags of BB's or Kitty Litter, balsa wood, micro-screws, screwdriver, Ferro Textured Paint Irongold and Silver,  24 jump rings-12 gauge x 3/8 i.d.(inside diameter) anodized aluminum in black ice, and  two pairs of flat nosed pliers

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!