Monday, August 30, 2010

Running With Bees Wax and Scissors

I got the latest issue of Somerset Studio a couple days ago and groaned when I saw the the big doe-eyed, Goth looking, Wednesday Adams girls on the cover. It was the Halloween issue where everything wears black and a pointy hat. Truly, how many different ways are there to make a Victorian lady look like a witch? All the instructions could easily be reduced to one simple sentence, "add pointy black hat" (material is irrelevant, as long as it is BLACK).
[sigh]
Sorry if I have offended your fondness for the holiday and its creative inspiration, but really. My eyes had glazed over by the time I had reached the back of the magazine where all of the ads were and thankfully the call for entries had some interesting challenges! One is entitled, "Fearless". Now that's something I can sink my fangs into! I immediately thought of the first bees wax tag I did. The technique was fearless, but the design was a little static to me (I was not very fearless in my layout- it looks calculated and "safe"- I had no control over the wax at that time so did a very conservative design). So I went back to my pile of fly screening tags and pulled out the next contestant. This time I was going to run with scissors! The bad influence is "Mr Ellis" from an antique copy of the New York Times. You can just make out, "Mr. Ellis says" in my composition.

The word "RuN" was also created by clippings from the same newspaper. I used the same technique as before- glopping on wax from a dripping candle stub and then melting it off with a heat gun, tipping the tag to control the direction of the drips.
The "Fearless" art entry deadline is not until December 15, so I may just ponder creating another piece or two before mailing. What would you do if you created fearlessly? Somerset Studio wants to know!


Oh, and please be sure to enter my blog-iversary giveaway! I will be picking two winners on Wednesday morning!

15 comments:

~*~Patty S said...

really brilliant and you too funny ... guess we won't see YOU anytime in a black pointy hat!

Love what you've done with the screen and beeswax ... I knew I was saving old screen for something!!!
oxo

Jeanie said...

The Halloween issue is always the best! Love this particular image -- I've always been a bit edgy about working with beeswax, but this is splendid!

Linda Jo said...

I don't know what I would create fearlessly. That's hard. Maybe paint a portrait? Love the scissors and beeswax!

Robin said...

Great piece! Love the "runs with scissors" idea!!

sharon said...

Awesome idea! I am always wanting to try wax. Great piece!

Mary Helen-Art Saves Lives said...

I have some bees wax and now I am ready to really play with your inspiration. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Tammie Lee said...

I love your passion for being fearless, may it spread far and wide!

Joanna said...

I'm lovin' 'Run with Scissors'! And I whole-heartedly agree with you about the Halloween thing, it really has to be the most predictable Somerset issue. Which is a shame cos the rest are great usually. x

ooglebloops said...

That is a VERY clever take on the "running with scissors" phrase!!! I would say it is a winner!!!

Caterina Giglio said...

just a bit bored with it all eh? well you could get Sew Somerset instead! LOL!!

BadPenny said...

Yours is sooooo more scarey !

Cindy Leaders said...

You crack me up, Nathalie. I could see this in the Halloween issue. Sort of the "Lizzie Borden" angle.

Electra said...

This is brilliant! Be careful you don't poke your eye out though.

Mixed Media Martyr said...

I love both your fearless tags! They show different types of fearfulness. The key makes it seem more about releasing secrets, and the scissors seem more about reckless abandon! Both beautiful!!!

xinme said...

This is VERY cool! I've never done anything with beeswax before, though I love the smell of it, and I'd love to try. Using a dripping candle sounds fun (and dangerous;) enough:)I also love the idea of using screening as a background. Gonna have to go raid my husband's stash! (Just used some in the kitchen for covering jars of growing sprouts;)

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