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| "All Terrain Armored Transport" Watercolor on paper |
Made to order versions of this painting will eventually be available on Oryx Ink on Etsy. Each painting will be unique as each is hand painted, no stencils are used.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
AT-AT Painting, Watercolor on Paper
I recently finished the newest painting in my Star Wars Series. This watercolor is the latest version of the painting "All Terrain Armored Transport". I have always found the AT-AT to be one of the most visually fascinating designs from Star Wars. The Star Wars franchise, especially the original trilogy, provides a lot of design inspiration for my work. While this piece is small, 8"X10", I hope to someday paint a large version in acrylics.
Made to order versions of this painting will eventually be available on Oryx Ink on Etsy. Each painting will be unique as each is hand painted, no stencils are used.
Made to order versions of this painting will eventually be available on Oryx Ink on Etsy. Each painting will be unique as each is hand painted, no stencils are used.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Kids' Found Object Mobile Tutorial
Kinetic art isn't just for adults, kids enjoy making and watching mobiles too. The Kids' Found Object Mobile Tutorial shows kids and parents how to make a cool piece of moving art from lightweight objects. This project can easily be adapted to suit young children or teens.
The Kids' Found Object Mobile is made from the bottom up. Construction begins with the bottom most arm. The bottom arm is then attached to the upper arm. This process of adding arms can be continued to make large mobiles. This tutorials shows the construction of a small 2 arm mobile. This size is good for a beginner learning the concepts of kinetic art.
If you intend for your mobile to hang outdoors , be sure to use weatherproof materials. Plastic and metal objects will be weather resistant. Some objects, such as cardboard shapes, can be painted for waterproofing. Some natural materials from your backyard are naturally weather resistant. Pine cones, leaves & seeds are all good options.
Materials:
-sticks or pipe cleaners for arms
-ribbon, thread and/or fishing line
-lightweight found objects, such as beads, buttons, fabric flowers, small toys, etc
-paper or thin cardboard
-glue
-scissors
-needle if using thread
Optional materials: hole punch, markers or paint
Begin by cutting out shapes from paper or cardboard. These shapes follow an ocean theme, but you can make any theme you can think of. You can decorate shapes with markers or paint. As an alternative, older kids could make paper airplanes.
Layout your pieces to decide how to hang objects. Cut shapes and found objects hang from a stick or pipe cleaner.
Tie or glue thread, ribbon or fishing line to your hanging pieces. More than one object can be hung from a single thread. Clear thread is used here to make objects appear to float. Young children should use ribbon or thicker string for ease of tying.
Tie ribbon or thread to stick or pipe cleaner to hang objects. Glue can be used as reinforcement. You now have a completed arm.
Attaching the lower arm to the upper arm begins with finding the lower arm's balance point. The balance point is the axis the arm with rotate around. Find the balance point by tying ribbon or string around the arm. Slide the ribbon up & down the arm until the arm is level. At the point where the arm hangs level, double knot the ribbon and add a dot of glue to reinforce.
Tie the lower arm to the upper arm & reinforce with glue. The lower arm can be attached anywhere on the upper arm.
Tie objects to the upper arm the same way as for the lower arm. Find the balance point and tie on a ribbon. This ribbon can be used to attach the mobile to the ceiling or a hook.
The Kids' Found Object Mobile is made from the bottom up. Construction begins with the bottom most arm. The bottom arm is then attached to the upper arm. This process of adding arms can be continued to make large mobiles. This tutorials shows the construction of a small 2 arm mobile. This size is good for a beginner learning the concepts of kinetic art.
If you intend for your mobile to hang outdoors , be sure to use weatherproof materials. Plastic and metal objects will be weather resistant. Some objects, such as cardboard shapes, can be painted for waterproofing. Some natural materials from your backyard are naturally weather resistant. Pine cones, leaves & seeds are all good options.
Materials:
-sticks or pipe cleaners for arms
-ribbon, thread and/or fishing line
-lightweight found objects, such as beads, buttons, fabric flowers, small toys, etc
-paper or thin cardboard
-glue
-scissors
-needle if using thread
Optional materials: hole punch, markers or paint
Vinyl Record Mobile Tutorial
Kinetic art mobiles make a great design element in any room or outdoor space. The movement of a mobile catches the eye and fascinates the viewer. The Vinyl Record Mobile Tutorial shows the construction method for a wave style mobile with fixed planes. While this mobile is made from vinyl records, this project could be adapted to use cardboard, metal sheets or other materials. One of the benefits of using recycled vinyl records is that the mobile may be hung outside. This design uses 45rpm records. LP records could be used for a larger mobile.
Warnings: This project involves fire, sharp objects and fumes. This mobile should be made outdoors or in a very well ventilated area.
Materials: 16 gauge galvanized wire, vinyl records, ruler, awl, needle nose pliers, candle
Prepping the Vinyl Records
Before the records can be attached to the arms of the mobile, they must be cleaned & have 2 holes punched for the wire attachment. Records that are no longer playable can be cleaned with window cleaner or water & dish detergent. Hot water should not be used as it can warp the vinyl.
To begin the punching process, start by determining the spacing of the two holes. Mark the spacing on a ruler. Place the record on a box with a hole cut in the side with the area to be punched over the hole. The hole will allow the awl to pass through.
Heat awl over a flame. Failing to adequately heat the awl will cause the record to crack or shatter.
Using the ruler as a guide, press the tip of the awl into the vinyl. If the awl is hot enough, it should melt through the vinyl forming a hole. Applying too much pressure will cause cracking. Repeat for the second hole.
Arm Construction
The arms of the mobile are constructed one at a time from the bottom up. Each arm is attached as it is made. For the wave style mobile, all arms are identical except the bottom most arm. The bottom arm ends in a spiral while the upper arms are attached to the next lowest arm. This mobile has a total of five arms. The number of arms can be changed to make a larger or smaller mobile.
Decide how many arms the mobile will have. Cut a length of wire for each arm. Five pieces of 18" long 16 gauge wire are used in this mobile.
Lessen the curve of each arc of wire by pulling wire firmly between fingers. Try not to make bends or bumps while straightening the wire.
Each piece of wire should be a smooth gentle curve. Repeat this for all of the arms, trying to make the pieces similar.
Using the same measurements as the holes in the records, make a hook in one end of the wire arm. The short end of the hook should be slightly shorter than the distance between the holes. The hook should be formed under the arc of wire.
Thread the hook through the 2 holes in the record. Be careful not to bend the record as this will cause cracking. Hold the arm coming off the record firmly while using the pliers to bend the hook into place.
Attaching the record in this way keeps it in a fixed plane relative to the arm. Mobiles using fixed planes catch wind easier than mobiles with free moving planes.
For the bottom most arm, use the the pliers to make a spiral in the end of the arm opposite the record. The spiral can curve above or below the arm arc.
For the upper arms, use the pliers to make a hook in the end of the arm opposite the record. The hook should curve under the arm arc.
The final step in arm construction is creating a hanging loop at the arm's balance point. The balance point forms the axis around which the arm will rotate. A centered balance point will yield a horizontal arm. This mobile's arms are at an angle, so the balance point is 3" from the edge with the spiral or hook. The hanging loop should always be above the arm.
Begin making the hanging loop by gripping the wire with pliers at the balance point. The wire should be curving downwards from the pliers. Bend one side of the wire upward as close to the pliers as possible.
Loop the wire around the tip of the pliers.
Use the pliers to squeeze the loop into a circular shape.
Using the pliers, bend a 1-2" piece of wire into an open ring, like a jewelry jump ring.
Thread the small ring through the hanging loop on the arm. Pinch the ring closed. This ring gives the arm freedom of movement.
Arm Attachment
To attach arms, thread the open hook on the end of the upper arm through the small ring on the hanging loop of the lower arm.
Using pliers, bend the hook on the upper arm into a closed loop.
Repeat this process until all of the arms are attached. The top arm's hanging loop ring is used to hang the mobile.
Warnings: This project involves fire, sharp objects and fumes. This mobile should be made outdoors or in a very well ventilated area.
Materials: 16 gauge galvanized wire, vinyl records, ruler, awl, needle nose pliers, candle
Prepping the Vinyl Records
Before the records can be attached to the arms of the mobile, they must be cleaned & have 2 holes punched for the wire attachment. Records that are no longer playable can be cleaned with window cleaner or water & dish detergent. Hot water should not be used as it can warp the vinyl.
To begin the punching process, start by determining the spacing of the two holes. Mark the spacing on a ruler. Place the record on a box with a hole cut in the side with the area to be punched over the hole. The hole will allow the awl to pass through.
Heat awl over a flame. Failing to adequately heat the awl will cause the record to crack or shatter.
Using the ruler as a guide, press the tip of the awl into the vinyl. If the awl is hot enough, it should melt through the vinyl forming a hole. Applying too much pressure will cause cracking. Repeat for the second hole.
Arm Construction
The arms of the mobile are constructed one at a time from the bottom up. Each arm is attached as it is made. For the wave style mobile, all arms are identical except the bottom most arm. The bottom arm ends in a spiral while the upper arms are attached to the next lowest arm. This mobile has a total of five arms. The number of arms can be changed to make a larger or smaller mobile.
Decide how many arms the mobile will have. Cut a length of wire for each arm. Five pieces of 18" long 16 gauge wire are used in this mobile.
Lessen the curve of each arc of wire by pulling wire firmly between fingers. Try not to make bends or bumps while straightening the wire.
Each piece of wire should be a smooth gentle curve. Repeat this for all of the arms, trying to make the pieces similar.
Using the same measurements as the holes in the records, make a hook in one end of the wire arm. The short end of the hook should be slightly shorter than the distance between the holes. The hook should be formed under the arc of wire.
Thread the hook through the 2 holes in the record. Be careful not to bend the record as this will cause cracking. Hold the arm coming off the record firmly while using the pliers to bend the hook into place.
Attaching the record in this way keeps it in a fixed plane relative to the arm. Mobiles using fixed planes catch wind easier than mobiles with free moving planes.
For the bottom most arm, use the the pliers to make a spiral in the end of the arm opposite the record. The spiral can curve above or below the arm arc.
For the upper arms, use the pliers to make a hook in the end of the arm opposite the record. The hook should curve under the arm arc.
The final step in arm construction is creating a hanging loop at the arm's balance point. The balance point forms the axis around which the arm will rotate. A centered balance point will yield a horizontal arm. This mobile's arms are at an angle, so the balance point is 3" from the edge with the spiral or hook. The hanging loop should always be above the arm.
Begin making the hanging loop by gripping the wire with pliers at the balance point. The wire should be curving downwards from the pliers. Bend one side of the wire upward as close to the pliers as possible.
Loop the wire around the tip of the pliers.
Use the pliers to squeeze the loop into a circular shape.
Using the pliers, bend a 1-2" piece of wire into an open ring, like a jewelry jump ring.
Thread the small ring through the hanging loop on the arm. Pinch the ring closed. This ring gives the arm freedom of movement.
Arm Attachment
To attach arms, thread the open hook on the end of the upper arm through the small ring on the hanging loop of the lower arm.
Using pliers, bend the hook on the upper arm into a closed loop.
Repeat this process until all of the arms are attached. The top arm's hanging loop ring is used to hang the mobile.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Ribbon Barrettes
Custom color barrettes coming soon to Oryx Ink on Etsy. Each barrette is handmade using ribbon and alligator clips or french clips.
Yellow snail barrette
Orange & brown butterfly barrette
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