Item #2008-0041

Just what is assemblage art?

I was not sure what to call my art when I first started out. I began calling my work collages or mixed media, but upon doing research my art did not really fit those categories. I was lucky enough to stumble upon the Wikipedia page that describes assemblage art.

Assemblage is an artistic process in which a three-dimensional artistic composition is made from putting together found objects. William C Seitz, an art curator, described assemblages as being made up of "preformed natural or manufactured materials, objects, or fragments not intended as art materials."

This is exactly what I do - I use natural and found objects, along with some manufactured materials not intended as art materials to create unique pieces that are compositions. I am so glad to really have a word now to describe it exactly. For more info. from Wikipedia on assemblage art go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assemblage_art

Item #2008-0040

This is a clock that I made for myself with an original acrylic painting by me.

Item #2008-0039

Another 20 year plaque for Karin's 20th year sober. The three colors of Tiger Eye represent strength. This one is for home, the other one (2008-0001) went to work with her.

Item #2008-0034

This is a plaque I made with a Buddha hand carved in Lamphoon Thailand. It was a gift to my friends Gina and Sue who went to Thailand forseveral months this past year. It is great to share my art with loved ones.

Item #2008-0038

Assemblage art nativity created as a gift for a friend. Made of ceramic and river rock.

Item #2008-0037

Buddha that I made and love so much I don't want to sell it! It is made with handpainted wood beads from Asia, a cutting board and soapstone "dish" (I don't know what else to call it!)

Item #2008-0036

Plaque I made with a resin Buddha, river rocks, beads and a woven basket "plate." This is for sale on my etsy storefront, but has not sold yet http://studio38.etsy.com/

Item #2008-0033

Assemblage art/mixed media that I created with one of my photographs and items of significance to myself so that I could showcase them.

Item #2008-0032

This was the first time that anyone commissioned me to make a piece for them. It was an awesome experience because I got to know the person, see their house to determine their style and what they liked and then created away. My very first income from my art! It is made with a pewter-like soap dish with a hummingbird and flowers, beads and glass.

Item #2008-0031

This is so beautiful I wanted to keep it for myself! It is a Kuan Yin devotional, in which the owner can place a flower or flowers, or a devotional such as water, rice or sunflower seeds in the ceramic vase in honor of Kuan Yin, the Buddhist Goddess of Compassion and Mercy. There is also a red onyx candle stick holder. This item is for sale on commission at Heaven and Nature in Harrisburg http://www.heavenandnaturestore.com/

Item #2008-0030

Plaque made of ceramic, river rock and woven wood background, along with a multi-colored Buddha. This items is also for sale on commission at Heaven and Nature in Harrisburg http://www.heavenandnaturestore.com/

Item #2008-0029

This assemblage art item is made from a basket, stone and a glass butterfly. It is for sale on my etsy storefront http://studio38.etsy.com/ but has not sold yet.

Item #2008-0028

Maroon resin Buddha plaque made with grapevine wreath, river rocks and wood frame. For sale on commission at Heaven and Nature store in Harrisburg, PA http://www.heavenandnaturestore.com/

Item #2008-0027

Now, this piece is VERY special to me. I made it for my friend Diana, whom I call Lady Di. I have given her some of my jewelry in the past and she told me she didn't have a jewelry box. I always intended to get her one - but instead I made one with jewels on it befitting a princess! Love you Lady Di!

It is also special because I used some of my grandmother's costume jewelry and some of my own on it. Can you believe that I made that box out of this? It was a kid's box that held a microscope - my wife nabbed it at Goodwill for me.

Challenge! My first commissioned piece!

So, someone who worked with my wife a long time ago (her name is Linda) saw a post of mine where I showed my artwork. I met her last night and had dinner with her and her partner (they are both really cool). She is commissioning a piece of art made by yours truly just for her! So I know what kinds of things she likes, she told me what things I have already made that she likes, and I got to wander around her house for inspiration. Next step - get creating!

I showed her this metal hummingbird soap dish that I got for free as a white elephant present and said I was thinking of using it. She loves it - so I am off and running with ideas. I actually have two different pieces in mind.


I have no idea how to negotiate prices and such, but she promised to be gentle with me ;) Her partner Sara tipped me off that I should apply for funding through the PA Council for the Arts - so overall it was a great evening! Great food, company and inspiration. I like those kind of Friday nights!

Item #2008-0026

I actually made this for myself. The three roses are from my mother's funeral in 2003. I coated them in clear ceramic glass with multiple layers to preserve them when they were dried out. I then used a box I got as a gift from a friend, and of course rocks! My mom collected rocks and loved butterflies - so it all fits together so perfectly.

This is a great idea for preserving flowers from special events - especially weddings, and they can be highly customized to match individual tastes.

Item #2008-0025

This is actually an urn that I made for a friend who had some of the ashes of a loved one who was cremated. She wanted the urn to really reflect the earthy natural beauty of her loved one, so I made this custom urn for her.

I used a box and a piece of handmade stoneware pottery (the best kind!) from a flea market and decorated it with beautiful asian fabric and a strand of gemstone flakes that I already had. This piece is very special and unique and my friend loved it.

Item #2008-0024

This is another item that I made for myself with one of the Buddhas from my collection. I also collect amethyst crystals because that is my favorite gemstone. I glued together a stoneware plate, an awesome wood bowl with bark on it (it is upside down of course) and then a lotus shaped plate, along with the glass votive holder that I filled with small amethyst chips. As I get more amethysts, they will just add to this collection and it will be covered in purple beauty.

Item #2008-0023

I made this to decorate my kitchen after it was renovated - it matches the colors I used (brown/green) and it reflects the asian part of the kitchen decorations. Another wall has more earthy/countryish items.

The frame I already had and I saved after the glass broke and ruined the picture that was originally in the frame. I spray painted it walnut brown and added texture by putting sand between layers of paint. I got the plate from Freecycle (26 of them actually! and they are handpainted in Japan - yay Freecycle!), the wood African items were purchased at a yard sale and the smaller frame I had - it was just spray painted to match and I framed a note card I had. The green fabric backing is just a fabric remnant that I got for another buck, and the match stick wood I cut off of a huge match stick blind that I bought at a yard sale to use "someday" for "something." Luckily, I have a bunch of it left and can use it for ALL KINDS of art.

Item #2008-0022

I made this as a gift for a dear friend of mine. Made of ceramic, stone and woven "plate."

Item #2008-0021

This was made for my kitchen remodel. I didn't like the kitty cat paper towel holder, so I remade it to fit into the new color scheme and earthy theme.

Item #2008-0020

Item #2008-0019

This was made with a real butterfly wing that was glued to a coaster and then coated in clear spray many, many times so that it looks like a bug in amber almost! I had to do that to preserve the delicate structure. This was one of two butterfly wings I found in my mother's belongings after she died. I tried my hand at woodcarving for the first time on the coaster, but not the carving on the frame. The frame was made in Thailand and I got it at Goodwill. It had a couple dings in it, so I just spray painted it and highlighted the carving. The backing is made of laminated stationary, and the two golden leaves were earrings of my grandmother's.

I made this for my friend Tina because she was having a birthday party and I wanted to make her something special. I immediately thought of butterflies, because she loves to photograph them - and is very good at photographing them (check out her blog at: http://blackcatsmom.blogspot.com/ - she is a very skilled photographer, having mastered macro shots like I only could dream of). She loved it, and I am glad I could share something special like this with a very good friend.

Item #2008-0018

Item #2008-0017

Item #2008-0016

Item #2008-0015

Item #2008-0014

Item #2008-0013

Item #2008-0012

Item #2008-0011

Item #2008-0010

This hangs in my entryway, and I have to say how much I love it - I LOVE IT! I customized it for K and I, so I put a buddha of mine on it and a wolf of hers. This item cost me ZERO dollars to make, because I had all of the materials. The bark is from firewood we had, and the pine cone pieces came from mother nature too.

The drawers are actually from a desk my dad used when he was a kid in the 50's to use his ham radio. I found the drawers up in the attic at my grandparent's house and made one of these for my dad. I had made one for us, but it had fake flowers in it, and didn't really represent us like this one does.

Item #2008-0008

Buddha and Kuan Yin Devotional
Made with a wood slice from Goodwill (50 cents), 3 birch pillars from a yard sale ($1) and a piece of pottery from Salvation Army (99 cents). The Buddhas and Kuan Yins I purchased at Heaven and Nature (http://www.heavenandnaturestore.com/).I call it a devotional because I put water in the cup as an offering of devotion.

The funny thing is that now my cats show their devotion by drinking from the cup! Kuan Yin is often depicted with an upturned vase with water flowing from it. I guess my kitties are meditating about Kuan Yin when they drink from the cup. "I must have more compassion, I must not shred the recliner!