Sunday 23 June 2013

Welcome Back Darcy Wilkinson #1 Make Good Art ....

"Hello again and welcome to my June projects. Thank you all so much for the lovely comments last month and for taking part in the challenges. I hope you are inspired by the projects this month too".

A while ago, an apron mysteriously went missing from Ally Pally, and somehow ended up with Gillian.... there was some discussion on Twitter about people wanting their very own PaperArtsy aprons. So I thought I would make one.

{Gillian says *coughs, dunno what you mean, I know nothing lol*}!!

I took the leftover fabric from last month's bag and cut out my apron panel, plus a central pocket. I hemmed all around the apron, and attached the pocket to the centre front.


Of course you could use a shop bought apron. A quick internet search for 'white aprons' brings up plenty of cheap options.


I decided on my stamps and quickly stamped them onto scrap paper, cutting them out and laying them on the apron to get an idea of placement.



I used ...

The bottle from HP1204



The flowers and Grass from HP1009


The letters from Backgrounds 4


The bird from HP1008


Once I was happy with the distribution of shapes I took my photo so that I could refer back to it.

Then I placed the apron onto my desk. I started with a stencil of ink/paint splodges, this is a simple shape and you could easily do this freehand. I then used an alphabet stencil, marking everything lightly in pencil.



I began stamping, using black archival ink. I used my stamp-a-ma-jig and post it notes for masking off areas of stamps, this meant that I could get my placement correct.


Next I stamped the image containing the bird (HP1008), cut it out and used it as a stencil.


I did try masking off this stamp so that just the bird would stamp but it was too fiddly and the
surrounding bits of text kept showing up, so making a stencil was far easier. I used a Mitsubishi Uni-Ball Eye pen.


Then using the same pen I went over my pencil lines for the paint splats and lettering.


I started to paint in the shapes, using a block colour, for the lettering I used London Bus. For the paint splats I used various Fresco paints. To each paint colour I added a little fabric medium.


Once the first layer was partly dry I added in some shading.


Here we have the lettering and paint splats all done and shaded. I decided upon the phrase 'MakeGood Art' after watching a Neil Gaiman video. It's a great speech, if you haven't heard it then search for it on YouTube.

Here is an excerpt..


“ And remember that whatever discipline you are in, whether you are a musician or a photographer, a fine artist or a cartoonist, a writer, a
dancer,a singer, a designer, whatever you do you have one thing that's unique. You have the ability to make art.
And for me, and for so many of the people I have known, that's been a lifesaver. The ultimate lifesaver. It gets you through good times and
it gets you through the other ones.
Sometimes life is hard. Things go wrong, in life and in love and in business and in friendship and in health and in all the other ways that life
can go wrong. And when things get tough, this is what you should do.
Make good art.
I'm serious. Husband runs off with a politician? Make good art. Leg crushed and then eaten by mutated boa constrictor? Make good art.
IRS on your trail? Make good art. Cat exploded? Make good art. Someone on the Internet thinks what you are doing is stupid or evil or it's
all been done before? Make good art. Probably things will work out somehow, and eventually time will take the sting away, but that doesn't
even matter. Do what only you can do best. Make good art.
Make it on the bad days, make it on the good ones too ''



Next I worked on the flowers, blending and layering colours.


Don't be afraid to overlap images, it adds dimension.


A close up of the painting and stamping .. I like the contrast between the painted areas and the black/white stamped areas. Don't feel like you actually have to paint everything.


Finally I added some straps, I had left this till last as I didn't know what colour straps to use, and figured I would wait and see what colours of paint I had used.

I recently bought new tea towels for the kitchen, they came with long lengths of red webbing
wrapped around them tied in a bow.... Perfect!



Now for a mannequin.... went to the museum to see if they had any available 'models' even rambled around the park looking for a statue...seriously the things I do!

All in vain. I eventually searched online while sat in the car and discovered this amazing sculpture not far away. Better still the return journey would take me past my favourite ice cream parlour. Win!


The sculpture, a piece of 'good art' is all metal and was created by Hilary Cartmel. I think he looks rather fetching with an apron on.



Over to you. Why don't you create your very own PaperArtsy apron. Darcy x

Leandra Says: So the apron mystery revealed huh!! Although Gillian's profile piccie was somewhat revealing after Ally pally!!  Loving your mannequin! Most fitting. Yes, there are some lovely online apron patterns, I quite fancy one of those frilly little 1950's options!!

Gillian Says: Art personified ... love it Darcy. Paint splats perfect. I'd be frightened to wear it though as it would be "clarty" in no time. Will stick to my PA apron rofl! x

To play along with Darcy's challenges this week, upload your creativity HERE to be in with a chance of winning some PaperArtsy goodies.

29 comments:

Unknown said...

i somehow don't think that statue is meant to look like that!!!!

Fab make Darcy

Steven said...

Done it again Darcy. Ab Fab ! Might just make one for splashing about ma inks and paints. Careful Gillian doesn't get her hands on this one

Helen said...

What a beautiful apron. I love the statue too. Have visions of you touring all over the northeast to find locations for your projects!!

Eileen said...

Oh wow Darcy another amazing art. You are unreal.

Julie Lee said...

Love this sooo much! I need one now! I have acrylic paint over everything I own and have been thinking that an apron is a must! That Neil Gaiman quote is brilliant. I must paste it up somewhere! Julie Annxxx

Anonymous said...

I LOVE you for using Neil Gaiman's quote!!! And I love your apron, it's completely gorgeous!!! The little birds look so cute & the paint splats are fab.

Lin said...

Now do I make one or buy one and paint it up...have to think about that one!! fab make Darcy you've done it again :D

Carol Q said...

another innovative make and such fun Darcy. perfect way to present it too on your mannequin! wouldn't it be funny to see these turning up all over the country - gorilla art aprons lol very thought provoking quote from Neil Gaiman and so true.

Craftyfield said...

Not sure I am brave enough to attempt such a big expanse of material, even without the cutting and sewing ! But it's a wonderful and useful piece of (good) Art. Did you use Fresco paints to colour the apron ?

Darcy Marshall said...

Craftyfield...yes I used Fresco paints mixed with a little fabric medium throughout. There are lots of white aprons available to buy online, no need to make one. x

Jay said...

yeah thats pretty crap huh def not high end art..no artist statement, no long bio on how you felt about the world while struggling thru the creative process lol..awesome job again Darcy love how you find things and combine them to make cool things..tru womble style

Gina said...

Ha....have you seen my apron??? I'm thinking making a new one would give me chance to try and clean some of the paint off it :D Great project yet again :D XXX

Kathi said...

Wow. Totally fabulous!

Thanks for all the details and photos of your process!

Minxy said...

Gorgeous apron, just the right amount of stamping too xo

Words and Pictures said...

What a great make... good tip on planning placement with paper stamping to start with!
Alison x

APG Jamie said...

love LOVE how you posed the apron
and yes clever to make planning placements

xoxo

Anonymous said...

Fabulous apron Darcy ! What a great model too ! Sue C x

Gina said...

Love the apron Darcy!!!! And the statue is perfect for modeling it :) Amazing work as ever!

Kezzy said...

Oh wow wow wow gorgeous amazing apron, and the saying is fantastic, it really makes you think. I love all the painting and the stamping. I received the other day some fabric medium so I think I shall be inspired to work with fabric this week, your work Darcy is awesome, truly inspiring :-) Kezzy xxx

happyDiane said...

Your apron is an inspiration! I am also happy to hear that you had some ice cream!

Sandie said...

Thank you for this wonderful idea. I hadn't thought to use the stamps and paints on large fabric items so I'll be thinking outside the box from now on :)

Michelle Webb said...

I was trying to remember which statue to hung the apron on and now I know. He looks like he's ready to cook up a storm! I love it Darcy xx

Cocofolies said...

Thank you Darcy for this really beautiful and inspirational project ! I have a Prima blank apron never decorated yet, I think I could try your method... Lovely result !! Must just buy previously some fabric medium. Coco x

Unknown said...

I love this!! And while he looks dreamy in the apron I think it would look MUCH better on me ;) thanks for the tutorial - I think I'll have to buy me a premade one and "art" it up!

Dana said...

Perfect Darcy!!! Love everything, especially the little bird mask! Thank you also for sharing the excerpt from the speech. You have no idea how much I needed to hear that right now. Thank you Leandra for bringing Darcy back this month!!!

Sid said...

Fab project !

sally said...

What a terrific idea to use that "ART" on the statue! I'm thinking that I need to get making :-)

Sally

The Hardy Stamper said...

What a great example of good art! I bought some fabric medium after your Paper Artsy projects last month inspired me, so I'm ready to go now (as soon as I find where I put that apron that's hidden in my craft room somewhere)!

Lucy Edmondson said...

This is amazing! Love the way you styled the photo!

Lucy x