Tuesday 5 March 2013

Grotesque wooden box, Smeared ink Throw down

So how is everybody? I'd like to say thank you as always for stopping by and spending your time here, I love having you all visit.
 Today I am posting my Grotesque box, this has been made for a new challenge hosted on the Smeared Ink forum, the crazy girls over at SI have just launched a Design Team Throw Down, for all the details head over and have a look, basically this is open to any DT's out there, all you need is to submit a banner for your DT and then have a maximum of three of you create a piece that fits the challenge theme, there is then a round of voting by the forum members and the team with the most individual votes gets the bragging rights and a cool banner for your blog.
It really is a great community, they mainly cater for left of centre creations and have a great Digi store, but everyone is made to feel welcome, there is loads going on, they have monthly swaps, tutorials and challenges. Head on over and take a peak and see who is creating what for the very first Throw Down.
 The first theme is paint and Splatter.
 Ok, so there will be a few pics in this post (sorry).
 My grotesque box gets its name for what I have placed inside, more about him in a mo, first the box.
 It started life as a plain wooden cigar box and has had pretty much everything thrown at it, all of which has been picked up on the Andy Skinner workshop club at my local store.
 I have used a mix of modeling paste and texture crackle from Deco Art to create the textures and some Dream Weaver paste through one of Andy Skinners new stencils, the skull. I have added some Wendy Vecci resin embellishments and some beads for a little bit of interest.Above is the top and to the right is the front of the box.Everything was given a base coat of white acrylic paint and then colour was built up with various Acrylic paints from Deco Art blended together randomly. A top coat of a semi translucent high pigment yellow was applied and when dry I added a wash of black and then some dry brushing to bring out the different textures.

Here are the sides and back of the box.I then flicked bark brown and white paint all over so I could get my splatter effect, I also went in with an embossing pen and randomly added some frantage embossing enamel in vintage white


Here is a close up od the top showing some of the texture in the modeling paste and some of the frantage powder and white paint.To finish off I coated the whole box with a satin varnish.


Now this little chap, the Grotesque, was painted in this months class. he started out as a plain Bisque wall hanging and was given the same sort of paint treatment as the box and fits inside nicely. I also learnt that the difference between a grotesque and a gargoyle is that a gargoyle has a spout for water to pour from the mouth.
Here he is hanging on my fence in the garden.




Well thank you again for stopping by and sticking with the waffle, believe it or not I do try and keep it shortish ;)
If you find yourself with some free time why not stop on by the Smeared Ink forum and join the party, have a look around and thenn stop on by and vote for your fave creation. there is a new challenge every two weeks.
 And remember we have just started our new challenge over at Haunted Design House  we want to see all your undead inspired creations, it can be anything  at all, think, vampires, zombies, walking dead etc.

Well I hope you all have a productive and crafty week. x

PS,  I forgot I needed to use a stamped image, either digi or rubber so I did the inside lid of the box, the skulls are from Paper Artsy. The script stamp Is from the Artistic Stamper and the BG stamp behind the skulls has been designed by my friend Neil Walker it's a fantastic cross hatch texture design, he has just released his first load of stamps, also by the Artistic Stamper. worth checking out both his blog and the new range of his products.


I would like to enter this into the challenge over at Smudgy Antics, they are having a crumble it theme. My box is crumbling away and all sorts of distressed ;)

32 comments:

  1. Mark this is awesome! All the different layers and textures really add alot of depth to the box, I know that was a ton of work! The grotesque is a cutie.
    And thanks for the awesome shout out about the forum!

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  2. You never fail to amaze me Mark. This is really special. Love it. May the best person win, good luck xxx

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  3. Mark this is absolutely marvelous - the colouring and texture just amazing. I am a big fan of your work of art! WOW!
    XOXO
    SanDee

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  4. Very cool project and the throw down sounds like a lot of fun!

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  5. Definitely everything has been thrown at this but very well tossed. Great layers. Now I want to see it in real life!

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  6. Well, i adore your grotesque. I have to translate, because i only know gargoyles (:o)Your splatter technique looks awesome. I can imagine, the darker colours look a bit more glazy in real. The texture of the box is cool, too. Love all the details.
    xoxo

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  7. Wow what a fabulous, grungy, splattered box. Looks like something which has had a history in an artists studio. And the Grotesque it contains is adorable lol. Px

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  8. Yea, Mark! FAbulous project for the TEAM! Love all of the texture and the grotesque is anything but. I lurve him! xxD

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  9. Wow. Looks like Donna and I had better get busy huh? Bleepin' awesome, Mark! I am so glad I'm not competing against you!! I thought I saw you in the back of the room at the Craft Barn this weekend! I mean, I saw a picture taken of the group of you and a sneak peek of the grotesques. I'm with Donna, LURVE him!
    Thanks for the much needed inspiration.

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  10. WOW Mark what texture... that skull mask is amazing... never seen anything like it before. Good luck in the throw down....HDH MINIONS RULE! (Talk about divided loyalties.... jeeeezzz!)

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  11. Words fail me for this one, Mark. It's jaw dropping ... needed some time to collect it back :-) It's just perfect in every way and detail. Wish I could do something like that ...
    Suzanne xx

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  12. WOW, an amazing box! And the grotesque is also perfect!
    You are a real artist!

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  13. Mark,
    I am in love w/ your box, dang, you have done some hard and awesome work on this box, love the Grotesque! Tks for sharing the difference between a Grotesque and a Gargoyle! I didn't know that! I love all the colors, and layers, and textures you put on this! Your Grotesque box so ROCKS! I love your write up on this post too! Yes us Girls at Smeared and Smudged are crazy but we are also very welcoming of people with all types of talents and interests! You should visit us more on the Vent and you know you can post your art work on the "Hoard" I know all the members would LOVE to see YOUR art work cuz you are so FABULOUS! Stay crafty my friend!
    Peace,
    Kristy

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  14. Wow Mark, the box is amazing, you have made it look truly old, love the colours and the texture you have created - fabulous. The Grotesque is lovely too. Anne x

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  15. wonderful Mark love the layers and all the labor in this sweet. Your box is fabulous!
    hugs
    susan s

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  16. wow Mark it's stunning, I really love all the textures and those colours x

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  17. I don't think my first comment went thru so I'm doing a redo...sorry if it ends up being a duplicate! I just think this is so amazing and you are a wonderful artist! So inspiring. Thanks for the info on the grotesque vs. gargoyle....it is something I should know! I just love the layers and layers of color and texture. Well done, sir!

    :)tOri

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  18. Holy Hell! How many hours of work went into your box? I'm gobsmacked! I love all the layers and the fabulous textures. You have definitely nailed the Crumble It challenge and good luck with the throw down. You are one wickedly talented guy! Your Grotesque rocks too :)

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  19. WOW! this is fantastic! I love the grotesque and all those layers and texture you put onto the box FAB!

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  20. oops! and Thanks for playing along with us at Smudgy Antics :)

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  21. Mark I so need to say it again awesome awesome job. I love your piece and thank you for playing with us at Smudgy Antics .
    susan salyer

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  22. This is amazing! The texture on the box is incredible. And the grotesque is so cool! Everything looks so deliciously aged.:)

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  23. sorry forgot to say before, Thank you for playing along with us at Smudgy Antics :D xx

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  24. Oh you are so lucky having Andy Skinner do a work shop locally. Fab make and love the depth of texture

    Kyla

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  25. Fantastic project for the design team throwdown!!
    Cheers!!!
    Donna

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  26. Love the skull on the box that's real awesome

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  27. .... just saying thanks for playing at SMUDGY ANTICS Mark..... why didnt i say that when i first visited? Daft dragon!
    Love BDx

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  28. Wow. This is fabulous. I love all the layers and textures and the Skullduggery skull.

    I also now know the difference between a gargoyle and a grotesque. Love that! He's pretty darned sweet too!

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  29. The detail is incredible and LOVE the texture x

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  30. Mark, This is absolutely awesome. I love both the outside of the box as well as the inside. I especially love your little Grotesque chap, what a wonderful character. Just like the box, Grotesque looks like he has been around for a long time and it was great reading how you did this.
    :) Chris / CS Designs

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