Escape Reality

As seen on my previous post, this was one of my submissions to the Flying Unicorn Creative Team Call. About a year ago, I stumbled across a quote that I just knew I had to do something with. "When I've had too much reality, I open a book." My first attempt at this project was not a pretty sight. Thankfully, I've grown and gotten better with my technique and decided to take another try at it! (I'm very happy I did!)

So I just wanted to share with you how I created this piece - and I fully intend on displaying it in my own personal craft area for quite a while!!

First I started off with an old book I picked up at a flea market. I calculated the middle of the book and used my ATG gun to adhere the very outside of the pages together to keep it permanently opened up in the middle. Because I had to adhere every single page together and carefully make sure the pages lined up I didn't choose an exceptionally thick book to do this with.

After all the pages were adhered together and to the cover, I started slapping on stencils and modeling paste.

Next I covered the entire thing in a few good coats of gesso.

 I decided to mount the book to an 11" x 14" canvas board to help keep the book securely open. I used a stencil and modeling paste on the top and bottom edge of the canvas where the book didn't cover. Then I went a little glue crazy adhering the book to the canvas.

Here are just a few pics of my layering and clustering process.

Once I had all the yummy layers and embellishments on there I wanted, I covered everything with several layers of gesso.. So much gesso.

Finally, the (sometimes) terrifying task of picking out color schemes and spritzing like a mad woman!

Here are a few close ups and my finished piece!

I decided to use "Escape Reality" instead of the whole quote and I feel that it gets the message across just as well!

I seriously had so much fun doing this and can't wait to do more!

That's all for now :)

~Amber

aka TMCL