FOUND OBJECT ASSEMBLAGE ECO-ART

If you feel as strongly as I do about protecting

our world, please leave a comment about

saving our lands, our waters, our national parks. 

MIS-MANAGED, 2020, 18" tall

Hazard symbols painted in acrylic

Doll body encrusted with bits of rusty metal.

A different doll head adhered, painted, and altered.

Wood, metal, nails
(Free-standing or wall-hung)

 

Thanks for looking, and do come back again!

                                                               Paula

ASSEMBLAGE, FOUND ART OBJECTS, SCULPTURE, STEP-BY-STEP

I've been a fan of myths and legends since I was a child. Medusa, especially, caught my fancy.

She was a Gorgon, but before that she was a beauty. Raped by Poseidon, cursed by Athena, she was said to have wings. One of her sons was the winged Pegasus.

I always have a concept in mind before I begin.

I also prefer to build upon a structure or support.

Below I've pictured a few of the materials I

gathered ahead of time. Didn't use them all!

 

The costume pin reminded me of snakes!

I often change my plans as I go. Materials not shown are an old rubber ball and a metal ball-chain necklace that "fancied up" the edges later. Of course I also used paints (acrylics) & adhesives.

I cut the doll's rubber "hair" off and

affixed the ball to the face, to serve

as forehead and top of head. When

dry & secure, I punched holes in the

"scalp" and glued in the toy snakes.

The baby-doll face was waaaay too

cute, so I created her unsightly nose

and mouth from molding paste.

 

I adhered the lovely face image looking down at Medusa, and placed her in a bubble of glass (slightly domed, from a small picture frame).

 Below is a detail of the topmost part. Note the blue eyes on either side of the "turned-to-stone" figure--because, you know, MEDUSA!

The horse's wings came from a composite angel.



Another close-up, below, of the 2 key-chain "snakes."  

On the two outer sides, I made marks: ancient Greek symbols.
They seemed too obvious until I partially obscured them.

This "junk art" can be either a tabletop piece or wall-hung.     

Most of the materials were either discards or thrift-shop finds.

  

In need of more assemblage art inspiration? There are many more examples on this site.

 





Assemblage, The Legend of Theseus

The myth of the Minotaur always fascinated me, and I had this boy doll, see. Found a single bookend (not a pair, mind you!) with a bull on it, and then a wooden shelf-hanging thing at the thrift shop. I had to take out one of the shelves, then add my very own "grotto" or cave from the labyrinth. Foam insulation from a can did the trick.
Some cutting, glueing, and painting ensued, as well as a few Halloween decorations and yes, those tiny swords that spear olives in a bar! Not that I drink or anything, heh heh.


Lots of texture!

This can be wall-hung or free-standing. Why not try your own interpretation of a myth or legend? Pick one that really inspires you!

NEW ASSEMBLAGE CREATED WITH FOUND OBJECTS

I'm so very pleased that Lynn Edwards is featuring this in-the-round sculpture on her blog right now! See more about the piece there, and don't miss her stunning work, at http://lynnedwardsart.blogspot.com/ (Lynn also has a professional site at http://www.lynnedwardsart.com/home.)



 Time, Where Have You Gone was motivated by thoughts of how quickly
the years pass...too quickly!







One side view.





Back view.

ASSEMBLAGE w/ PLASTER OF PARIS FLOWERS

A SHRINE ENTITLED 
LOOSE IS THE GRASP

 

This found-object sculpture is not really a shadowbox, exactly, but I would call it an altered art assemblage.

 

I dipped fabric flowers in plaster to create the petals.

The top arch (behind the flowers) is a metal soap dish. I applied a 

patina to it.

Yes, plaster flowers are quite fragile, but I painted and sealed them.

 

The housing was a clock at one time. Now it has a crackle finish. The doll hands did not go with the doll head.


The neck "ruffle" was a metal cog of some kind. Below that, 2 brownie or girl scout pins and a

coin, again with patina.

I repeated the arch, sort of, inside the box and behind

the big doll head, with another metal arch (latticed) and a painted porcelain medallion (the small head).

 

Thanks for viewing this post!

 

CIRCUS CLOWN ASSEMBLAGE

Found objects include doll parts, rubber balls, and felt stars.


The "happy" side, a close-up of the assemblage.

   The sad side, below. This was a hoot to make!

The feet of this assemblage are doll shoes!



I blended the joint with acrylic paint so they'd match up better.



Can you think of a good title for this work?
Something about being two-faced

seems a bit too obvious to me.

 

Thanks for viewing this post!   

 



 

 

Three Assemblages with Found Objects & Recycled Materials

I used doll hands for his gloves.

I want to preserve the earth's resources as much as you do, and (like you) I try to save money and re-use things. These three sculptures may not be your cup of tea, but they're each different and I hope you find them interesting!

The first is a papier mache superhero. Doesn't he
look like he knows what he's doing? His bandy legs
make me laugh.
When the paste was dry, I painted him with acrylics
and then collaged on a few bright magazine pieces.
I sealed the piece with acrylic medium.

 

The next altered art sculpture is terribly weird!        

An old duck decoy, some plastic dinosaur legs,

a doll head, and part of a toy with wheels.

Hell On Wheels, by Paula Guhin

The last assemblage or altered art sculpture today is simply a plastic
 jug, cut and reassembled with other plastic jug parts added.

An altered art project that's easy to make.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 





ALTERED ART PROJECTS CREATED OF FOUND OBJECTS

 ASSEMBLAGE IS FUN & EASY! 

Your art materials can include such throwaway items as doll parts, wood scraps, broken toys, and so much more.

Here. just half of an old, damaged globe was used as the basis for a social statement in the round, so to speak.

Firecrackers helped emphasize the theme.

Here's another view of the same sculpture. 

Toy money, caution tape, small toys, acrylic media.

Next up, a ceramic teapot (upended) served as the basis for a sculpture. 

So simple to make!

The mouth? Halloween "teeth."

Finally, a rustic assemblage of old pieces of wood.

Primitive, yes, but striking as a wall-hanging.

The "head" is a recycled heat gage.

KIDS DRIVING YOU BUGGY? Try an art project with them: CREATE INSECTS !

BUGS ON A BUDGET

PAPIER MACHE FUN FOR STUDENTS  

We made bargain bugs, and you can, too: inexpensive insect-sculptures using papier-mâché. Did I mention this was done with high-schoolers? I know, I know, often papier- mâché is reserved for the lower grades. But even older students really get into it, creating not only incredible insects but also cool crustaceans, super spiders, and more.  

See the how-to instructions below!

MATERIALS

• Reference books on insects
• Newspapers and string
• Masking tape
• Wire and pliers or wirecutters
• Wallpaper paste and containers
• Brown paper
• Acrylic paint (or tempera)
• Paint brushes
• Buttons, toothpicks, and other extras
• Glue gun and glue

This project is easy but soooo cool!

BEGINNING THE PROJECT

I loaded up on picture-books of creepy-crawlies, although a computer search could have yielded plenty of images as well. For my demo, I began with several bundles of balled-up newspaper tied with string,  insisting that armatures involve more than one body segment. In other words, I would not accept simple snakes and such.

Next, I joined two or three bundles together with masking tape. (Careful here--some kids will use waaay more tape than necessary!) Then I poked coat hanger wire through the body to create several pairs of legs. The kids could add wire pincers and antennae too. I anchored the wire appendages to the body with a little tape, so they'd stay put.

Make your own creepy-crawlies with this art activity.

PROGRESSING TO 

PAPIER-MÂCHÉ

When the kids had built their armatures, they applied torn newspaper strips dipped in wallpaper paste. I suggested three layers and reminded them that I expected good craftsmanship. Evaluation would be partially based on sturdiness and a smooth appearance. A final coat of smallish brown paper pieces was allowed to dry thoroughly before we proceeded.

We painted the creatures with acrylics, although tempera would do. If you use the latter, try mixing it with white glue for a nicer, less-matte finish. When the paint was dry, we added enhancements such as eyes, whiskers, or "feelers."  (A golf tee makes a great stinger!) We used a glue gun to attach such extras as eyes, filmy wings, and more.

Crustaceans are cool, too!

Try creating fantasy or composite creatures if you prefer.  Think about hanging the sculptures from the ceiling with fishing line to display them.

Arts and Crafts are Alive In Mexico!

I'm still smiling from a lovely week in La Paz, Mexico. Be sure to get there soon, while it's still relatively unspoiled. I stayed in a wonderful inn near the beach, and loved the basin in my room.

A work of art and fine craftsmanship!

Along the Malecon I saw this giant sculpture made entirely of discarded plastic bottles. What a great visual to remind us of the importance of reusable water bottles.

Shark Sculpture

I took a day trip to Todos Santos, where I found this marvelous wooden shutter made of twigs, below.

Weathered twig assemblage.          

Fell in love with  a ceramic mask, below,
and could not resist a Day of the
Dead magnet!                               

It's made of bread dough!

Ceramic mask purchased in a Todos Santos gallery.

Inside the Todos Santos Church