These three pieces are made at least partly using my GF. There are things in here that I simply could never do without it. Each one is about 16" square, and made entirely from pressboard or found materials. I use a technique I have worked out over the years to imitate the textures of rusty steel, copper patina, old paint, and other distressed materials. Part of the fun is trying to create a complete illusion. Some of the pieces I have created in the past were quite large, and I plan to continue that tradition, which is why I have a Pro – to use the pass-through slot.
There are often hidden messages in these pieces as well. For example, the large bolt heads also have letters and numbers on them that, when put together, create a message for the viewer to add to the overall impression of the work.
Some of these also incorporate LED lighting to enhance the image.
This first one is called “Fragile” and the bolt heads, the word “fragile” in the center, and the other components like washers and corner squares are also made on the GF. The bolt heads spell out, “don’t be fooled.”
The next piece in the series uses the GF a lot more. Not only did I once again create the bolt-heads, etc. on GF, but I also created a texture map from some actual rusted metal with peeling paint and cut it into sections of the work. I then applied acrylic paint to it using the same dry-brush technique I had used previously. I also created the lock on the right side and the “control room” and “free!” words. The bolt heads spell out, “not secure.”
The third and final piece here is part of a different series, paying tribute to the periodic table of the elements. It’s called “see you” and attempts to get a copper-with-patina look. This was my first try at actually using a texture map to imitate the decayed metal, and I used a photo of some actual corroded copper to create a texture map for the center area and lower part where it looks corroded.
These pieces are all fairly early forays into creation of fine art pieces utilizing the GF. To be honest, I really have let myself get distracted with making things like boxes and iPhone stands for friends, which is fun and very rewarding, but not why I bought this wonderful machine in the first place. But, I have learned a lot and realized that the possibilities have expanded immensely as to what I can do!
