Monday 26 October 2015

2015 #20 ...thrice blasted, thrice infected... {by Alison Bomber}

 2015 Topic 20: Triptychs

Hello all, Alison here from Words and Pictures.  I've got a triptych of frosted glass bottles for you today, together with the plants from which their contents have been distilled.  I very often seem to end up working in triplicate, sometimes by accident, but also sometimes by design.  I like panels that have an element or two in common, and then variations on a theme as the eye moves across them.  

This one all started from an idea of trying to recreate those lovely vintage chemists' bottles you find, with embossed writing; so each panel has a bottle, but then the labels and flowers vary.


I wanted to use the Hot Picks Halloween 05 labels (HPHW05EZ) for my bottles...

...and I knew I wanted the flowers in the background, as a reminder of where so many potions and poisons come from.


So I added in Hot Picks 1505 (HP1505EZ)

Hot Picks 1507 (HP1507EZ)


The perfect quote popped in to my head from Hamlet: "thou mixture rank, of midnight weeds collected" -  all about potions made from plants collected at midnight, and then - get this for a triptych - "thrice blasted, thrice infected" !!


I created a brayered background with my Fresco Chalk Acrylic Paints, rather than a crackled one for once - layering up Purple Rain, Lavender, Wisteria, Taupe, StoneChalk and Snowflake - and then used Distress Inks with the Clocks stencil to deepen the midnight blues.


I used leftover acetate packaging for my bottles.  I used the DANGER stamp from HPHW05 release, stamping it in Versamark and then clear embossing it.  I draped the bottles over shallow oval bottle as I heated them (some hair stuff, don't ask me what!) so that I could get the same curvature on all of them.


Once the embossing was done, I gave the bottles two coats of the new Frosting Glaze, allowing them to dry in between.  To make the bottles tall enough to make the most of the Hot Picks Halloween labels, I had to hand cut them, based on the Tim Holtz Apothecary Bottles die - but I made sure I left the necks of the bottles the same width, so that I could use the die for the stoppers at least!  I painted the labels very simply with washes of Stone and Brown Shed, and I shaded the edges of the bottle with some Cobalt Archival to give them even more dimension.


I stamped my flowers and used Purple Rain, Stone and Snowflake to shade them.  The Brown Shed made its way onto the bluesy backgrounds too, giving some colour to the foliage, and I added misty book page clouds drifting across the moonlit sky, as well as some lid-stamping for accents and highlights.  Of course there's another clock telling the time in the gorgeous tulip stamp, making sure it's midnight so that the plants are at full potency when they're collected.


I've created some rusty, leathery hinges to hold the whole thing together at the back (Brown Shed with shadings of Purple Rain straight on to Grungeboard so they’re flexible, and then some Distress Embossing Powders in Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain), but I'm guessing nobody will really be looking at that side, so I didn't do much else...


I'm really pleased with my frosted embossed wording - it's got real dimension... though it's nigh on impossible to get a good photo of!  A slight shame that the central bottle covers the butterflies, but they wouldn't be out and about at midnight anyway.  And if you peer very closely in the right lighting, maybe you can see them inside, their essence captured and distilled as an extra ingredient in the poison!


Oh, and speaking of the right lighting, this is another triptych which responds rather well to candlelight.  Now you might catch a glimpse of the butterflies in the bottle...


And the shadows finally allow that frosted embossed writing to pop a little more.  Loud applause for the Frosted Glaze... I love it!


I hope you like my poison triptych, and that you'll be inspired to come up with some three-parters of your own!  As I say, the formula for me is to have at least one element which is present on each of the three panels (whatever shape or size they may be) and then to ring the changes around that element to create a triptych which "belongs" together.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I'll see you again soon, or drop in to see me at Words and Pictures too!

Alison (butterfly) xx

There's always something visually pleasing to the eye with a Triptych design. I love how the quote expresses your design Alison and the use of the Frosted Glaze on your bottles was an inspired choice, it adds an "eery" dimension to your theme. Fab start to the new theme Alison, thanks for sharing your creativity.  ~Gillian

We would love you to join in with Challenge #20: Triptychs. If you are inspired by any of our guests who blog with us over the fortnight, then please join in and link up your creativity HERE

All links go in the draw to win a voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. The Triptychs link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, Nov 8th winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

36 comments:

Kirsten said...

Wow, wow & thrice WOW!!! That is GORGEOUS. I love the bottles, they look amazing.

Craftyfield said...

Great choice of stamps for this triptych, love the spooky feel I'll remember that acetate shaping tip...

Helen said...

love, love, love them, Alison! The bottles are fantastic. I've not used the frosting glaze yet, it looks just fabulous!

Amanda said...

Wow those bottles look fabulous, a stunning make
Love
Amanda x

Julie Lee said...

Now I just have to invest in some frosting glaze!It looks incredible on these bottles. This is a fantastic triptych, so full of atmosphere - and Shakespeare too: who could ask for more? This is the perfect creation for this time of year and such an original take on a triptych. You have the very best ideas, Alison. I'm keeping this and I know I'll look back at it again and again. Wonderful! xxx

Artmadnana said...

Wow Alison! How creative are these panels!!! I love it. Beautiful blue tones and the frosted acetate is wonderful. Brilliant.

Unknown said...

Those bottles are just totes fabulous!! :) Love how you've done them and using left acetate is such a cool idea - they truly look amazing. The background detail is incredible, I can see how work you have put into this and boy has it paid off. A gorgeous piece of work xx

Shilpa Nagaonkar said...

OMG..fantastic idea of those 3D bottles on Triptych and love that brilliant stamping in the background. Wonderful piece of art,thanks for sharing Alison

Mac Mable said...

Great inspiration and so much detail. Very clever and very creative and loving those bottles x

Redanne said...

Your triptych of bottles is fantastic Alison, I love how you created the bottles and the panels behind are stunning! x

Deborah Wainwright said...

Wow Alison what fabulous inspiration, those bottles look amazing. Love love love it xx

Fliss said...

Absolutely gorgeous Alison. So much beautiful detail and texture and love the blue and brown together too. Love it!
Fliss xx

Unknown said...

Wow again from me Alison! Fabulous triptych with those amazing bottles and love the captured butterflies....poor things, lol! The quote is perfect!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Lauren Hatwell said...

What a fabulous triptych. It really is a feast for the eyes. So cleverly thought out, as always. I fear "I have not the skill". Lx

Etsuko said...

What a fantastic project Alison!! and the amazing your frosted bottles!! Beautiful the background and the colours. It's a lovely breathtakingly. xxx

Deborah said...

Such creativity and attention to detail. I love how you 'altered' the bottle die. And a bit of Shakespeare thrown in too!

Astrid Maclean said...

Fantastic piece from Alison! Love those bottles against that wonderful background!

Marci said...

A fabulous tryptych with those stunning bottles! The background is so pretty with all the stamping and paint.

Sarah B said...

wow - love the idea of the 3D bottles with frosting glaze - how did you attach them to the panels ? - the detail and colours in the background are stunning x

Candy C said...

Great triptych, Alison! Love the stamped images you've used. The col

Candy C said...

The colors are beautiful. Those frosted glass bottles are amazing and the way you gave distressed those label stamps really highlights them on your piece.

Lys said...

Triple wow for me, Alison! The bottles ar just fantastic, and I love the association with the flowers.

Terry said...

Three times fabulous, Alison! The background is just perfect for those amazing frosted bottles! Love all the details! Hugs!

Dorthe said...

Amazing, and much more,than that dear Alison,-so gorgeous with your bottles ,the embossing ,giving a fantastic effect with the glace ,and the hidden butterflyes.
The background in the lovely bluish tones and the flowers among the bottles, makes the feeling here so much more scary in a beautiful way , so dreamy !!
Dorthe, xxx

Hazel Agnew said...

The detail on this is awe inspiring Alison! The background is amazing in itself, and then all the love and work that you have added is tremendous! What a genius idea to mould the bottles! Another great project! X

Monika Gulyas said...

OMG, this project is awesome! I love the bottles and the background too! I love the whole work!

Juliz Design Post said...

Spooky and magical tryptich, fantastic work.
Julie x

Rupa Swaminathan said...

Fantastic...I am just wonder struck! Those bottles are just mind blowing Alison...fabulously created and I just love the background. All things put together...its just BEAUTIFUL!

Cocofolies said...

Another totally amazing tryptich creation by Alison, the frosted bottles are just the icing on the cake, WOOOOOW!!!!! Coco xx

Paper Profusion said...

Best post title ever!!! You have always worked wonders with faux bottles Alison and these are the cream of the crop. Brilliantly done and all your fantastic stamping makes this one exceptional make (or should that be three?) Nicola x

catherine said...

Such a fabulous project Alison and love all your attention to detail in your work
x catherine

ionabunny said...

The bottles are very cool. Hugz

pearshapedcrafting said...

This really is incredible Alison! I so admire your patience in putting this together and the way you have designed this tryptich! Thanks for the tip on how to make a tryptich work! Fantastic! Chrisx

Lucy Edmondson said...

This is a stunner, Alison! I love the frosted and embossed bottles and the candlelit butterfly and I love the idea of botanicals and poisons linking together. Sorry for the late comment,

Lucy x

craftytrog said...

Beautiful project, I love those bottles Alison! xx

Jackie PN said...

Absolutely Brilliant!!
From the color palette to the curving of the apothecary bottles and then the hinges! You rock Alison,you inspire me so!!xo