Today I have been working on this, my nailed heart.This has been made for the challenge over at Simon Says Stamp And Show where they are challenging us to show what you are known for, well I am not sure I have been around long enough to be known for much but this is the sort of thing I like to make when left to my own devices, something a little bit dark with lots of distressing ( and not a card ) ;)
After making my Poe inspired wooden box on Monday I was still thinking along the lines of some of his stories, In particular The Tell Tale Heart. I did not go to literal but could not get the title out of my head.
I started with the heart, I have seen projects with nails in whilst blog hopping and have wanted to create something for a while, so I started with a plain wooden heart and gave it a coat of red acrylic paint and then a deeper translucent red, I also dribbled some Distress re-inker in red over the heart as well. I then hammered in some old nails and finally went to the melt pot and with a loaded brush dribbled the wax over the the heart letting the wax run. I wanted the gross out factor with the congealed fat look ;) The nails also got painted with some alcohol inks to age them up a little.
The wooden plaque thing was plain wood and was given a base of white and then some colour was added and a wash was added to age it up, it was then given the 2 step crackle finish from Deco arts. This process and finish I picked up in an Andy Skinner workshop held at my local craft store.
I added some upholstery nails to the top edge and added a couple of strips of ribbon to the side panels, these are also held in place by upholstery nails.I also really love to add the Ideology number plates to my projects, there is no significance to them I just really love how they look, I stained this one with some alcohol inks and glues it with some silicone glue.
I also added one of the Ideology word tags to the bottom, this is held with some heavy fuse wire that wraps all the way around.to the back.
Finally I added one of Tim Holtz's key plates to the front of one of the doors, this was given a rust treatment I also learnt on an Andy Skinner workshop.
Thanks for sticking with the post.
I would like to enter this into the challenge over at Simon Says Stamp And Show where they are having a show what you are known for challenge.
I would also like to enter this into the challenge over at Quoth The Raven,Nevermore where they are having an Anything Poe's challenge.
Over at The Corrosive Challenge Blog their challenge is put a pin in it.Im sure nails count as pins? ;)
I would like to make this my 2nd entry into the challenge over at Crafty-Emblies where they are having a Male/Anything Goes challenge.
If you ask me, we don't see nearly enough pieces with congealed fat on them, so more power to you! :) Joking aside, I do love this piece, a lot. Thanks for joining us for this week's Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge!
ReplyDeleteA piece that's certainly shows many clever techniques!!! Trace x
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely YOU Mark. Love the waxy heart, the crackled background and that beautiful lock. Hugs, Jenny x
ReplyDeleteWow this is a corking project. Love where you're finding your inspiration. The nails in the heart is wonderfully wicked with a nod towards the surreal which is my favoured style in art. Great techniques you've used. I love the addition of melted wax to the heart. And I know exactly what you mean about posting lots and then nothing (that's my usual style of blogging lol). Pxx
ReplyDeleteVery much you :) and the wax on the heart inspired !
ReplyDeleteVon ☺
Oooh! Love it.....love it! ;)
ReplyDeletexoxo Sioux
I sometimes wonder how your mind works. That heart hurts pardon the pun. Looks fabulous. Love Francesca
ReplyDeleteStunning Mark!
ReplyDeleteMark, your piece is amazing. I really enjoyed reading how you created it and seeing how that creative brain of yours was working. It's a stunning piece, Mark. I love how you got the "gross factor" by dripping the wax onto the heart full of nails. I love the crackled background wooden screen. That looks amazing! The upholstery nails and the strips of ribbon are great embellishments! Love your piece. Love your inspiration. You put your heart in it and you "nailed it"...pardon the pun! :) Thanks also for the nice comment you left on my blog. Much appreciated! And...thanks for sharing your work and it's creative steps with us at Simon Says Stamp and Show. <3 Candy
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning,,,and so unnusual,,,,,veryt well done..Thanks for your comments to The Doll House Collector at Alison Bomber' blog with my adorable doll sheet,,,so feel free to choose your favorite product from all my stuff for free e-mail me to nicecrane@yahoo.com,
ReplyDeleteBrilliant project Mark!!! x
ReplyDeleteHi Mark, I am still giggling at the 'gross out factor', you do really say it as it is and I so like that about you. This really is a YOU piece and I have to say, gory or not, it is one of my favourites of all your work so far. Your attention to detail is amazing, the crackling is fabulous and the upholstery nails was a genius moment. Love it (even with the nails!). Anne x
ReplyDeleteWOWzer...and now you need a shop, too (:o)Absolutly you!!
ReplyDeleteTotally stunning work!!!
ReplyDeleteAmazing visual imagery from this piece Mark! The frame is just wonderful with all that gorgeous crackle. The heart both intrigues me and repulses me all at the same time - if you know what I mean! I love the drips down it and the nails look fab. Great piece.
ReplyDeleteJuliaxx
I just love the techniques you have used in making this striking piece of art. Just love it Mark. Also thank you for letting me know about your challenge over at Haunted House Designs. I have now entered my piece. Thank you for sharing your work with us over at Crafty-Emblies.
ReplyDeleteHugz Elaine CEDT
Very cool project... Love the heart and nail techniques. Very interesting probably my favorite piece of the whole projects.
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful . You are very talented .
ReplyDeleteGrossly cool!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Marvelous piece Mark. I love the wet slimy look of the heart. A truly inspired creation :-) Thank you for joining us over at Quoth The Raven :-) Ike xxx
ReplyDeleteMark , this is amazing and so totally you! Fabulous, fabulous! Love the congealed fat. Must have eaten too many choccies. LOL xxD
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting piece Mark. Your use of texture is pretty remarkable! Your piece could be titled - Be Still My Beating Heart
ReplyDeleteohhhh I can't believe I didn't see this till now! Amazingly fabulous in everyway. Thanks too for joining us at Corrosive Challenge!
ReplyDeletevery creative and original - a really wonderful altered piece indeed. Thank you for playing with us this week at Simon Says Stamp & Show! Sarah.
ReplyDeleteOf course you are known for....exactly the kind of things like this on, mark! :))
ReplyDeleteLove your quotation of Poe's Tell Tale Heart! It's full of mysterious magical texture!! Absolutely brilliant! And very "mark-like".
Claudia x
This is fantastic. We love Poe and in particular The Tell Tale Heart, we even wrote a proposal for a screen adaptation of it a few years back. Your interpretation of TTTH is just perfect, we really like anything with a slightly edgy or darker side.
ReplyDeleteoh I am loving this,such a wonderful interpritation,with so many techniques,bless you for playing at crafty emblies this month hugs Cherylxxxxx
ReplyDeleteBrilliant, I love it!
ReplyDeletetotal genius! I love this piece Mark, thanks for sharing with us at Quoth the Raven xx
ReplyDeleteAnother amazing piece of art! fab
ReplyDeleteThanks again for sharing with us at Ctafty-Emblies.
Angela
This is so cool! I had a momentary flashback to my anatomy and physiology class in college when I saw the nails in the heart. It reminds me of how we had to use pins to mark the different parts of the organs during dissection. So I guess your plan for the 'gross out' factor probably worked for most! The wax was a great touch and I love the distressing on the mounting board.
ReplyDeleteIMMENSE x
ReplyDelete