Tin Stories & Memory Boxes
Thank you for signing up for our new mixed-media assemblage class with Julie Liger-Belair! We hope you enjoy the lessons!
The Forums are still open! Participation is completely optional but can be the best way to stay connected with the lessons and each other. We’ve gotten feedback over the years that ours are some of the nicest forums around, so please join in if you can!
Our main group is at Facebook, but there is a small group for those not on Facebook who can interact via Padlet. (Please just choose one forum to post in to avoid double postings.) Here are the links… for FB, ask to join and we will get you in asap!
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/406985298832972
Padlet:
https://padlet.com/Carla_Sonheim/tin-stories-memory-boxes-cogqenwekxl44rmn
Have fun gathering your supplies and please enjoy the class!
Carla
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Tin Stories & Memory Boxes
Mixed-Media Collage with Julie Liger-Belair
In this class we will be exploring assemblage and mixed-media work through two different projects. In the first project we will explore storytelling through a three-dimensional collage piece in a sardine (or any found) tin. Make this piece about a loved one (person or pet) or simply about a whimsical made-up character. We will be painting and collaging elements to make a lovely little piece complete with hand tooled tin ornamental details.
The second project will be a bigger papier mâché piece to house some little found or treasured objects. I’m a collector of many things; from seeds, shells, stones and bits of pottery to small objects from my past like family photographs or a small figurine brought back from a trip. I have always loved finding ways to display these things and tell a story with them and I think this piece will make a perfect display for your own memories. We will also be making some beautiful polymer clay details to add and embellish our piece.
I’m really excited about making these two projects with you. I hope you can join me!
Julie
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Supply List
General supplies:
What is so great about these projects is that a lot of the materials used can come from the recycling bin or from basic things in your kitchen/house/studio. You can make your projects with only things on hand (that would be a good challenge!) or go all out and buy some of the supplies listed below. You can make simple, minimalist boxes or ornate, baroque pieces, it really is up to you. Most of all, please do not feel pressured to go out and buy a whole bunch of supplies. The list below is simply a list of all the materials I used in the making of my demo pieces. The point is to have fun and explore what and how the things you have around you can be assembled to make art.
• Found tins (or fish tin, well washed), make sure they aren’t deeper than 1”-1.5”
• Found boxes; cell phone boxes, jewelry boxes or small gift boxes work well. They can be as big or small as you like. For context, the ones I used in this project are: 6.5” x 3.5” and 5.5” x 3” with a depth of 2”.
• Small objects; natural elements like driftwood, seeds, pods, stones, shells etc., treasured/keepsake objects that have some special meaning for you. Or you can also just assemble random objects into a story of your own making☺
• Various colours of acrylic paint. I used raw umber, aqua, pale olive, deep green as well as some metallic gold and brass. But any colour that you like and suits your images and objects is good.
• smaller bits of patterned paper (Japanese, wrapping paper, stamped paper) or any collage paper/ image you’d like to use as a background in your boxes/tins.
• Acrylic matte medium. This is the one I use.
• Various sizes of brushes including some stiffer bristled ones for pushing the paint into the grooves in the tin and polymer elements.
• Polymer clay (or any oven baked clay). I prefer Sculpey but any of the other brands work too. I prefer a white or off-white colour of clay, but you can choose to use any colour you like. One 2 oz package will be more than enough for this project.
• Glass oven proof dish and aluminum foil for baking polymer clay.
• Metal tooling foil (aluminum or copper). You don’t need a whole roll of this (unless you want to make lots more!), so if you can find just sheets it would be cheaper. Here is what I use. For a recycled option, you can cut up and use the inside of some pop cans. I’ve done this in the past quite successfully.
• Tin snip or scissors for cutting the metal.
• Awl or any sharp pointed tool for scoring the tin.
• Printed image or photograph for the first project (or second project too)
• Metal wire for making a hanger on the back of the sardine tin project and for securing any other objects to your boxes. Something like this. Also, for your bigger project, a bar hanger for the back of the papier mâché piece.
• Newspaper and/or paper towel, torn into small strips for papier mâché. Cardboard and masking tape for making ‘architectural’ elements.
• Some tiny pieces of foam core or cardboard.
• Hot glue gun, not essential but useful.
• Glue for papier mâché. I use wallpaper paste that is in the form of a powder I mix with water to get a paste (sorry, I don’t have the original box and so have not been able to find it online for you. I believe it is essentially methyl cellulose). You can also use slightly watered down mod podge or white glue. Or the traditional papier mâché glue made using 1 part flour to 2 parts water.