Commissioned Art: Diversify

“Diversify” Mixed media ceiling sculpture © Lynne Medsker

Wow…didn’t realize this never got posted! It’s been hanging around in the “drafts” folder since September! Ooops!

The second of two commissioned art pieces I created this summer, Diversify hangs above a children’s exam table in a medical facility. Bold colored paint over lightweight balsa wood, wires and glass balls (repurposed and supplied by the client) were all brought together to make this fun ceiling sculpture. Here are some of work-in-progress images:

And a few different views of the installed piece:

I really enjoyed designing and creating this piece…as you’ll see in future post I continued to work with balsa for several more months!

Commissioned Art: Transit

This summer I was commissioned to create two art pieces for a new medical building. The first piece, shown here after installation, is titled “Transit”.

“Transit” Mixed Media installation © Lynne Medsker

Created with a series of six bicycle wheels, paint and wire each piece leads to the next, both with color and motion. Here is some of the process that I used during it’s creation:

Unpainted wheels, lined up and waiting

Tiny wood pieces, used to attach the wires to the wheels

Wire attaching devices, tucked into the wheels

Painting the wheels

Paint on the saw horses…they’re beautiful now!

Freshly painting wheels

Attachments for hanging

Twisting wire to attach to the wheels

After painting and fully assembling each of the six pieces, they were ready for the installation date! As they ended up being installed in a stairwell getting them up on the walls and arranged was quite a challenge. One that I left to someone with more experience and expertise on ladders and scaffolding! The arrangement was changed a few times, the top image is the final result. Five pieces run up the stairwell with a sixth piece hanging at the top on the landing. Here are some more pictures of the finished artwork:

Original configuration

Close up details

Another detail image

Single piece on the landing at the top of the stairwell

Next blog post I’ll share the other commissioned artwork for this facility. Plus some other new artwork created with the same material…once I got into it, I just kept going!

Lynne

Backbeat #4

A few years ago I created a three-piece artwork entitled “Backbeat”. This spring it was purchased by one of my collectors, with the request that I also create a forth piece to add to the set. I was more than happy to oblige, and the work began.

background for new piece © Lynne Medsker

Next came a layer of sewing patterns to add some detail and guidelines for painting.

A layer of sewing patterns added to the background © Lynne Medsker

 

That was followed by some drippy layers of acrylic ink.

 

After those layers dried it was time to start adding some geometric patterns with charcoal.

Charcoal fingers! © Lynne Medsker

Work in progress, three original pieces nearby for reference © Lynne Medsker

The piece was sealed and then the detail painting began.

Following the painting was adding the dimensional details – including old records & CD’s plus a few acrylic shapes too. Voila! Finished.

“Backbeat #4″ mixed media on 24×36” wood panel © Lynne Medsker

I really enjoy creating art in this style. Since finishing this piece I’ve covered some new wood panels with background, just waiting for me to get to them. Soon? I hope!

Lynne

Taking a Journey (or three!)

“Journey #1-#3” mixed media on wood panels © Lynne Medsker

Continuing from my post on Monday, I’m sharing today images of the steps that went into creating “Journey #1-#3” (shown above). They began as textured concrete & mortar on wood panels. Then the fun began! Rather than bore you with a lot of words I will just tell you the most important one: LAYERS. Lots & lots of layers!

I wasn’t kidding, was I? It’s kind of like a dance, paint on, paint over, add more, cover it up, letting the layers and colors build and peek through. The final layers on all three pieces consisted of a copper paint. This gives you a close up view of each individual piece:

While I creating these three pieces I had another one in the works. Different size, shape and texture but the same colors. You’ll be seeing it shortly!

Lynne

Teaser!

“Journey #1-#3″ mixed media on 18×18” wood panels © Lynne Medsker

I’ve got so many “in progress” images of this new triptych that I was commissioned to create that I decided to at least split it into two posts. Today I’ll features the humble beginnings, some close-up details of the texture & color during the process, and (above) the finished product. Hopefully that will leave you wanting more while you wait for the second post. 🙂

These pieces were based on another set that I created a few years ago during a residency. Although the clients loved them they just weren’t large enough to fill the space that they were to be hung in so I got to re-create them in a larger version! I very much appreciate their willingness to let me be creative with the replication and not try to get it precisely the same pattern, colors and textures. They are created on wood panels and the texture is a mixture of concrete and grout, layered on thin & wet so I can play with the design before it gets too dry.

It looks a whole lot different after it’s dry, sealed and I’ve put multiple layers of acrylic on it:

Next post I’ll show how it goes from one stage to the next. Until then!

Lynne