Living with Art: Mixed Media on a Jewelry Box

A few years before she died, my maternal grandmother gave me this jewelry box with a reproduction of the well-known painting “Boston Common at Twighlight.”

 

It was a lovely gift, but I have always had mixed feelings about it because I know that my grandmother didn’t pick it out herself.  I have no doubt she paid for it, but since she didn’t choose it, I’ve never truly felt like it was from her, which honestly makes me feel a little strange about it – so strange that I almost got rid of the box the last time we moved.

To rectify this whole situation – to make this box feel more personal and meaningful – I decided to turn the top of this box into a canvas of sorts for a mixed media piece in memory of her.

 

This is an unusual sort of mixed media piece for me, in that it is not telling a visual story.  All of the elements in it do represent different stories about my grandmother, however, and if you’d like to hear a couple of those stories, check out my personal blog.

 

Meanwhile, I hope you might be inspired by this post to look around your house and see what you could use as a non-traditional “canvas” for your next project!

 

Been thinking about your mixed media skills lately?  This class could be perfect for you!