Sunday, February 7, 2010

A Collection of Bowls - and a few other things.


Catching up with showing some of the things that I have been working on over the past month as promised. So here are the Paper Mache bowls that I have been working on.

I like working in a series because everytime you do something new, you learn. I learned alot from making all these bowls - each one is an experiment in materials, and size and feel and finish. Each time they got better...or worse as I branched out into new experimentation.

I learn to do something by doing it as badly as I can - does that make any sense? I have to break things down before I can build them up again. It works for me - who knows why.

Anyway....

My idea was to collect all the PM bowls that I have worked on over the past month and do a photo shoot of them, so I collected them all, and put them on the workbench...and then decided that it was too difficult to photograph them all together. They just weren't acting like live models and moving themselves around to show their best side, and in general were uncooperative.

But here is the test shot that I did, so that you can get the full effect of my obsession.


Most of these I have posted before, so won't bore you again but here are some newer ones The red one sort of have a valentine theme, but not really. I've been completely into gold insides, so these are gold painted inside.

These green ones are sort of strange, I'm not in love with the way the green color turned out. Gold inside again.....

Now this one turned out to be my favorite, because of a few things. I like the shape, I like the bowl I used as a mold, it has a satisfying feel. I also love the color and the gold thingies on the side are from watercolor pens - you have to remove these little white rings before you use the watercolor so I had saved them. Painted them gold and here they are.

with of course, gold inside. (wonder when I'll get over this obsession?)
A purple bowl that is OK, I like the color inside and out but the shape just didn't do it for me.


This one is one paper inside and out and it's a gorgeous paper on it's own. Layered like this it looses its transparency and becomes a bit pasty I think. But I had fun with the shape and the letters and I have a fondness for this bowl. Those little squares are newspaper squares.



So that's the bowl saga. Yesterday I went to a local art store and found a few beautiful pieces of decorative paper, brought some home and might just make some more of these. It's fun, messy, goopy, and different.

I played yesterday with making hearts from canvas and other bits and pieces - maybe for valentines cards. If so, I guess I'd better get busy eh? (gosh - gold again, what's with me? Do I really want to have gold plated items in my house? Should I give into this gold obsession and go for the gold plated toilet?)

While I was downstairs taking pictures I found this box that I had made for Tony a few years ago and thought I'd post it. I started into this whole art challenge by playing with decoupage, and I loved it. But one runs out of places to keep large boxes so I turned to drawing and here I am today. I still love boxes and as you can tell...love containers of all kinds.
So that's the update. I could show you other stuff that I've been working on but you don't want to see pictures of all of the clothes out of my closet being sorted and organized. I don't even want to see it - let alone take pictures and share.

So have a lovely day all...

12 comments:

Lisa at Greenbow said...

My you have been busy Mim. I love the gold innard of the bowls. I have never attempted paper mache. I did make pencil boxes for my children when they were in grade school. I made the box then painted them with pac man and other things that were relevant to them at the time. They didn't want to take them to school as they didn't look like everyone elses but when they came home they were pleased that some of the other children wanted one just like theirs. They used them for a couple of years. Your box obviously brought back a happy memory for me. Have a good Sunday and don't get lost in that pile of clothes.

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

You have been busy. what a lot of work there. I love the colors and the gold and the box. I did years ago something with paper mache but cant remember it much now.. Must have been a mess.. LOL
Happy sorting. I need to do that to in my closets.

Mary Richmond said...

these are awesome and playful and fun and lovely and wonderful in oh so many ways!

Lynn Cohen said...

Gosh we like the same ones so I guess I won't be getting the tourquoise one with gold inside for Chanukah this year, or the white pasty one with letters either! Drats! They are beauty-full. Such fun you are having. I can see you up to your elbows in goop and paint. What sort of paint do you use to make that wonderful gold?
The hearts are terrific too. Lots of fun do-dads on them, and they sparkle gold as well.
Don't forget to post the gold toilet when you get it done! This throne I have to see!!!!
Happy Creative Sunday to you!

Teri said...

Wow Mim, you sure have been busy creating beauty! I love them all, each one is so unique!

kj said...

mim, HAHAHA, all i could think of when i saw the green bowls is that they are some interesting breasts!!

okay, now that i've lowered the standard of your wonderful blog, may i also say that it is so much fun to see what you're up to. i just love how you experiment. these bowls are really really nice. the gold embellishment makes them pop.

and the hearts....

marianne said...

Had to scroll back to see what KJ meant....
Well they would make quite an impressive bra though....

You have a bad influence on me KJ ;)

I love your bowls and that box!!!
Wow just super perfect! Love it!

studio lolo said...

maybe you can show me how to make these when we have an art day!

I love love love them! The one with newspaper bits might be my favorite. I do love the blue and gold one and I like the shape of the lavender bowl. It would be nice just filled with fresh lavender ;)

really fun work Mim. And I'd like to know what brand of gold paint that is too. Wow!

Mim said...

strangely enought....regular gold paint from the hardware store ladies - thanks for all the comments!! love ya

Michele said...

You have been so creative and productive. I really love the hearts. Maybe I'll do a similar ... but not as sophisticated ... project with my daughter and her friend tomorrow.

sukipoet said...

I love gold myself. The bowls are wonderful. And it appears you have been very very busy with art, these and the nudes and so many things. Admirable.

Katiejane said...

I missed this post, I guess. These are very interesting bowls. Now, what will you keep in those, I wonder? I imagine they are strong enough for fruit bowls, or nuts and things. Very cute.