Stropple Cane Inspired Bangle Bracelet

Two forces inspired this piece...one my desire to use up pretty bits and pieces and two, the wonderful technique of Alice Stroppel, Stroppel cane. I don't work with canes, except once in awhile, in the most basic way, but thought it might be possible to cut tiny pieces of lots of colorful scraps, layer them between thin sheets of black polymer clay, squish them all together and then slice.

By their nature, the slices were less complex in design than they would have been had they been canes, but with some careful running through the pasta machine, interesting blends formed. I then sliced the results into thin strips and affixed them to a previously cured black bangle base.

Thank you Alice!

May 17 3 Views of Rembrandt Treasure Box

May 17 3 Views of Rembrandt Treasure Box,
originally uploaded by pati b.

I am so happy to have finally finished this piece. It seems that every bit of it except for the brocade fabric on the body has been done or redone at least twice.

Click photograph to see a larger image.

2010 0510 Treasure Box W.I.P. #2

2010 0510 Treasure Box W.I.P. #2,
originally uploaded by pati b.

End of day. The inside of the box is sponge-painted after black gesso applied in metallic deep red, titanium gold and bright gold. The bottom will possibly be tiled in polyclay or covered in fabric...
Images are on transfer paper, reversed and ready to transfer to clay. I printed an extra for safety, a tiny pair possibly for earrings and medium size for mini boxes and/or a two sided pendant, if I don't tire of these images too soon.
The squares are made from the fabric motifs, which I scanned.

2010-0510-Treasure Box W.I.P.

2010-0510-Treasure Box W.I.P.,
originally uploaded by pati b.

Got very fortunate yesterday and found a wonderful bunch of cigar boxes, cedar and paper for $2 and .25 each respectively. Then, at a flea market, found a book on the Uffizi Gallery, which I visited a long time ago ($4). Started today on a box. Gessoed black, fingerpainted gold, determined sizes etc for polyclay transfers, cut fabric for exterior of box from a piece I bought about 4 years ago "just because" .....
I'm either going to love this or.....not so much.
best viewed large, if you like this sort of thing.

April 27 2010 Pear "Kiss" Box

April 27 2010 Pear "Kiss" Box,
originally uploaded by pati b.

Various views:
3" square paper mache box box; polyclay, burnt umber/red oxide acrylic glazes; polish.
Box interior; metallic acrylic

The pear image is a transfer made from one of my paintings; the tiles are all textured with stamps I've made.

April 18 Thai Mural Fragment Transfer

April 18 Mural Fragment ,
originally uploaded by pati b.

Happy Me! Spent several hours working with clay today...had wanted to experiment with a torn edged transfer. The middle bit didn't quite pick up, but given the subject matter and that fact that many of these murals are in fact weather and time damaged and worn, the 'flaw' works quite happily for me.
The image is a small detail from a Thai wat (temple) mural.
I haven't yet decided whether to use this on a box or a mixed media collage/assemblage on canvas.