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Monday, February 27, 2012

Dream Board





dream...

the full warped board.  When you work with cardboard, even if you start out with perfect edges, you'll end up with a curves in the board.  I actually love this, as the whole process is just so messy and organic.  But it doesn't do me good when trying to crop and nice foto!  


I just started this board  in such a random moment.  I love carving words from cardboard, so I just went at it. I didn't journal my dreams so much, but rather how important it is to have dreams, and to dream in color.  There are many layers of writing within these paint layers, and I just love how this turned out.  It is pretty large, perfect to remind us to keep our dreams alive.

and I took a bunch of instagram work in progress pics.

 I made this with a mix of cheap craft paint, good for writing on... nice paints, PITT pen, and white out pen, a little paper and nice gel medium. It is, obviously, make on a big piece of cardboard!
I love this converse pic with the pink and black board.  I actually wore these today, it wasn't a pic set up!  I looked very 50's today on my outing...I wish I would have taken a selfie!











Now I have one funny story.  So, I noticed a couple weeks ago that my gesso, I buy a huge gesso, had some weird coloring, and maybe was changing in thickness, and maybe was smelling.  yes, I kept using it.  No wasting gesso!!!  So Friday night, when I suddenly had to do this project, although I am way behind in LifeBook!!! I opened the gesso and almost died.  I was like how did a dead animal get in my gesso? (There was no dead animal, but it smelled as if there could have been.)  Nasty!!!  Yuck Nasty Yuck!  So, I trashed that and headed to buy some new fresh gesso.  Now before I did I stopped off at Barnes and Noble, because my mom came and took the Paiger on an outing...what, no Paiger!!!  So, off I went to get coffee, although I had Chai, and sit and read art books.  I was in my little corner, on the ground, looking really cute and 50's-like, and I pulled a new book off I hadn't yet heard of.  I opened it to a page on gesso, and you know the first thing it said?  Never put a wet paintbrush into your gesso!  It cannot handle the foreign bacteria and will grow mold and get really sticky!  Whaaaa?  That is what is happening in my trash can right this moment. I am a huge gesso dipper, double and maybe triple dipper! Learn the sticky way! ...and I went off to buy my gesso, with a sqeeze top so I cannot dip!

I will add now that this board is for sale, and if interested, please contact me!  I am in so hurry to sell, and it doesn't that is ok too.  Just putting it out there if interested!  Woot!

So, I am adding in here on Friday now.  A chunk of days later.  I am linking this post to PPF!  Woot!


43 comments:

  1. This is SO beautiful! Brilliant! And the carved out letters? WOW! SO happy you are releasing it for sale too! I love all the layers, the colors (naturally ;) and the statement itself. Bravo, xoxoxo

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  2. i've never thought of carving cardboard before! i've got all these flattened boxes tucked in a corner & this makes me want to art them up and do some carving of my own. i wish i was more of a painter. but most of my creativity comes out through fabric creations. i made a super cute pillow case a couple days ago for a mini memory foam pillow for brooke out of scraps. it made me happy.

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    1. oh do it!!! It is so much fun. Do you remember like a year ago I had LOVE letters up. Those were also carved out of cardboard! If you don't know where to go with it, just start painting circles everywhere, and then your design will just start happening. I love your sewing. I love to sew too, but don't as much as I'd like!

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  3. great piece...love the colours...oh...my....so THAT'S my gesso stinks...lol...so weird ...xxx

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  4. OMG!!! That is just fantastic. I'm so in love with this piece it's unreal...it's just wonderful. But, huh? Gesso can't handle wet brushes. Didn't know that. I do that all the time lol. Must have stunk to high heavens.

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  5. Wow- what a neat idea- carving into the corrugated cardboard! I love the way it turned out! I used to use cardboard as a substrate a lot in college- wish I had thought to do that then!

    And I hear you about being ready to be done with the baby stuff by number three. I'm that way with a lot of it, but for some reason, getting rid of that crib really hit me hard! I'm just too sentimental!!

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  6. This is absolutely gorgeous!!! I love all the texture, patterns, colors and of course the word, Dream. So beautiful! I laughed about your story of gesso. I've thrown gesso out from smelling. Now I know WHY. Haha, thanks for the tip!

    And thanks for your kind words about my Little Red Dress experiment. It's going to be an interesting journey. I'll share more about my first week tomorrow.
    Catherine Denton

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  7. Your dream board is beautiful Daniele... love the richness of the colors... and I never knew that about gesso either... so wonderful isn't it... when the answers just arrive like that...

    Hugs
    Jenny x

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  8. The color and texture on your dream board are downright dreamy. I think I've always used squeeze gesso, and now I'm glad ;)

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  9. SO inspired to carve cardboard!! I love the way it looks. This is so full of yummy layers too. Beautiful. I didn't know about icky gesso - good to know!! I do not want a smelly surprise! :)

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  10. This is fantastic! Urban Inspirational! I love the layers, colors....and positive message! What a cool idea :)

    Maps, huh? I'd have to go to the thrift store...I don't collect atlas books or maps....but I like the idea ;P

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  11. I love your dream board and your wonderful ideas for working with recycle materials. You always use such luscious colors too. Thanks for telling us about the gesso thing, now I know why mine smells bad.

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  12. Oh my gosh, you are so funny and I always love to read your posts, they brighten my day. Love your dream board, it is really awesome with all the circles, whimsy, and cardboard. You are so good with your colors too. Very spunky!
    I love your gesso story, that sounds like something I would do. I never waste art supplies, so I use my paint, even when it comes out in glumps. bleh! :D

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  13. Hi Daniele!
    I too come back to your blog!!!
    What you did is really beautiful and I love the tutorial really well explained
    Flo

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  14. Wonderful! The carved out letters are awesome! I didn't know that about gesso either!

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  15. I like working with cardboard. You did a great job. Great tutorial. Lots of layers and great color. Thanks for sharing. Happy PPF!

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  16. Fabulous look! So creative.

    xox

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  17. Oh, this is such a great piece - I love all that wonderful texture. And thanks for the gesso story. Hopefully it will save me from having the safe fate.
    Blessings,
    Tricia

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  18. cardboard has a great texture! And interesting about the gesso, at least now you know!

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  19. Such freedom in this! The layers, the colors, the textures, it is all so wonderful!

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  20. Wonderful energy throughout this whole piece..blissful and a feeling harmony vibing ..just gorgeous..i love the color explosion!A fabulous piece..and great post!
    Beautiful!!!
    Victoria

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  21. I love your process photos here and I especially love the look of painted corrugated cardboard, I've never seen it done and it looks AWESOME. I only find small pieces of it but I'd love to play with a larger piece like you've done, it looks like a lot of fun. :) Hmmmm...stinky gesso....thanks for the tip...now I'm afraid to open mine, haha!

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  22. How the heck did I miss your PPF, am so sorry Daniele. Better late than never.........
    Loving your painting on cardboard......I tried this and it looked pants.....yours looks fab. Thank you for the tip on gesso. Enjoy the weekend, Annette x

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  23. I used to teach art and came back from the long summer break to find that one of our gesso tins had actually exploded totally unmentionable disgustingness all over the store room... ahhh the memories... after that it was squeeze bottles all the way!!! Nice dream board...xx

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  24. I am laughing...... reading you post and the comment above me. Guess what I did today, I mean really?! I unscrewed the squeeze top lid and painted out of the guesso on the lid of the container. I am hoping it will be okay. This creation of yours is very fun!!! I love the use of the cardboard. And the photo with the shoes is perfect.

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  25. I love the textures and Pop of color, it's fantastic!(Also thought the tip about.gesso. was helpful, I'd be. a dipper too if I used it!)Happy#PPF:)

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  26. ove your dreamboard!!
    Good advice about gesso. Gotta go and chack my can......

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  27. I love your dream board! Looks fantastic with the words cut out. Never seen that. :) And thanks for the gesso tip. I usually wet my paintbrush before I dip in because that's what they say it's better for the brush. Oh well! Mine is not fostering any dead animals, yet. :))

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  28. Hello Daniele, great to visit you again here and see your wonderful piece on dreams...really a great one, with so many layers and colours, makes for a rich and colourful fun piece, love it!

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  29. This board did turn out wonderfully - I love the mix of colours, the layers and textures created. Really beautiful.

    Thanks for the heads up on the gesso - I better go and check my latest pot cause I have a feeling that was dipped into with a wet paintbrush so as to make a thin layer. Really useful info - thanks!

    Kat :-)

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  30. Gorgeous board!!
    And I LOVE the instagram photos of the process!
    Delightful post!
    (And thanks for sharing what you learned about gesso...didn't know that either, as I'm a re-dipper, too.)
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  31. Beautiful colors in your dream in color piece. Love the ridged cardboard. Well, I have been not only double dipping, I've added tap water to the big jar of gesso that had gotten quite thick in the maybe 20 years I have had it. I really have not had any problem with odors. I had also bought a small jar when I thought the thick stuff was a lost cause. I found that both are still good. But I will be more careful and not double dip any more. Thanks for the tip.

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  32. Wow the process this piece took is amazing. The end result is just beautiful. I love the colors. I bet it will sell right away! better make a copy for yourself!

    Happy PPF! ~ Jaime

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  33. What a cool and crazy design! I have heard of the gesso getting stinky, but has never happened to me, and I have a 3 year old bottle, I keep adding water when it gets too think, and nothing has happened to it. I wonder if it is certain brand or consistency? Or the base of it... who knows. Happy PPF!

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  34. I learned something new about Gesso - Thanks!

    What a lovely and fun dreamboard!

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  35. Loving your Dream board and thanks for the tip on the gesso, now I now what happened to my gesso...bought a new one few weeks back but haven't opened it yet, probably would have spoilt it again. Always wondered why it didn't last. Thanks.

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  36. wonderful! love your dream board! happy PPF!

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  37. Lovely Dream board, and great photos! Each one is gorgeous :)

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  38. Stunnigly beautiful, love love love it! <3 <3 <3
    Awesome coincidence, about finding out about the gesso smell!

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  39. This piece is intense! I really love all you have going on, especially carving the words.

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  40. Your Dream board is terrific. . . Keep going, this is interesting to follow. Thanks for the tip on the gesso. . wow, who knew!!! Blessings, Janet PPF

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Hey you!!!