my first beeswax collage
Published on February 13, 2006
By
Locamama
In
Being inspired by Claudine Hellmuth's collage discovery workshop, I decided to try beeswax collage for the first time. Well since it's all just a learning process, it was a success. Will I be placing it on the market, uh no. I think this will be my look how far I've come project. I will have to save it to remind myself of my humble beginnings.
Lesson one - when she says to use a cheap brush that you won't mind ruining she doesn't mean your five year olds crayola brush. They definately are cheap and I definately don't mind if I ruin it but I did mind all the little brush hairs coming out on my project. So note to self - no more crayola brushes!
Lesson two - I guess really a continuation of lesson one. Buy the proper equipment before you start. If she says to use a quilting iron. Buy a quilting iron. Don't decide that you can just use your heat gun and a knife. What was I thinking?
Lesson three - when she said you can scrape off excess colored wax she said use your iron or a paper towel not SCISSORS which proceeded to tear your tissue paper background. Why don't you ever listen to directions!?!
Lesson four -look for beeswax pellets. Shaving chunks off that big hunk of beeswax was hard. Also get some more votive holders so you don't have to use a babyfood jar as your double boiler. Especially a baby food jar which held broccoli and cauliflower, definately the stinkiest baby food ever.
All that being said like everything I make I love it just because I made it. Warts and imperfections and all. I used an image of a soldier returning from World War II standing with his daughter. Some WWII posters in the background. Black typewriter letters at the bottom spelling out - hero. And an epoxy star and uncle sam.
All and all a good experience. I will learn from my mistakes and I love the smell of beeswax. I think I could get hooked on this.