You may recall when reviewing our Scotland trip I gushed about some gesso artwork that we saw in a house designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s wife. Since that post, I’ve been really trying to decide if I want to give it a whirl and start getting into crafting with an eye on making some money doing it.
As to crafting, I sucked at scrapbooking. I have no desire to knit. Or crochet. I can’t paint. I can’t draw. I can play the piano, but I can’t make money doing that. So I’m really taking a chance if I opt to try this.
Also, I don’t know the EXACT process for mimicking Margaret Macdonald’s process – and since I can’t draw, my paintings would be in a more abstract form than her highly detailed artwork (reproduction example pictured). So there’s no telling if what I do will end up being any good – or worth buying.
However, I can always throw stuff up on eBay and etsy and see what happens. Other people make decent money at those places. I’ve certainly paid a pretty penny for some beautiful artwork on eBay (trees! and twee churches!). One of Denis’ friends regularly sells artwork on eBay and even on his own website.
I’m just having those niggling doubts and reservations about whether I’d be able to stick with it and really *do* it. And whether it would be worth enough to anyone to consider buying it.
I guess I can only find out if I actually buy the materials and give it a shot. I know we’re taking CootieGirl to a birthday party this weekend. Maybe while we’re out I’ll pop over to Michael’s and pick up a few supplies and see if I can come up with anything even mildly representing the artwork that we loved in Scotland.
I’m anxious to see what you come up with. I did a copy (an “homage” to) of Georges Braque back in the ‘seventies from a color slide that I’m still rather pround of. It’s in the storage room somewhere.
I wouldn’t mind helping you on this art project. I can do the drawing/design and you can do the production/gesso. What do you think? Husband and wife artwork.
Bill, I’d love to see the art you created. I assume it’s a painting.
Denis – it’s like a painting, but not really. And yes, I’d love your assistance. Because it would be great to trace a picture onto the panel that I can then use to paint/gesso. Like if you create something in Illustrator, then print out and I use carbon paper (which we have) to trace it and then use that to create the panel. It would be a nice modern artowork with a mix of computer and materials to make it. Could be fun! I could also trace CootieGirl’s drawings and make those into panels (why not?)
I’m so inspired, maybe I’ll go to Michael’s or an art supply store tonight on the way home…
Some info on modern gesso here:
http://www.aisling.net/journaling/gesso.htm
Seems that gesso is mostly a primer material for painting. There is gesso powder and other powders that will mix into acrylic (and other) gessos to make them heavier, thicker, textured, and so on.
I would think that is the stuff we would need to replicate the Mackintosh artwork. But I’m not sure.
Denis – surely you know that I’ve been looking up all things Gesso since I saw those panels in Scotland. *lol*
I figured as much. I posted another reply about using the material I used to paint the gold on that red light bulb. Remember that? But I don’t see my post. I blame my computer.
Your thoughts on the money making aspect mirror mine when I started thinking about selling jewelry. I’m still considering an online selling thing since Joanie’s shop is closing. It was nice of her to sell my stuff and nice to get confirmation on stuff I made by the people who bought those pieces.
Check out the Sunday paper – there’s usually 40% off coupons from Michaels in there.
Good luck! And, finishing is usually harder than starting, so give yourself deadlines!