Friday, April 16, 2010

Fun With Cigar Boxes

I know that I don't have to tell mixed media artists that when they're done smoking their cigars--don't throw out the boxes. (just kidding--I know you don't smoke cigars, or do you?)  These boxes  are probably a staple item in everyone's art supplies.  I don't happen to smoke cigars either, so every once in a while, I'll visit the local tobacco store and pick some up.  I just bought these 3 for $1.00 each!

My only requirement is that they be wood, and not cardboard, because I like to alter them into functional boxes--


Isn't this fun?  I also like to take the lid off (but don't throw it away--it's a great surface to paint on), and make collage boxes out of them, or turn it over and paint on it like a gallery-wrapped canvas.  If  anything, they're great for storing crayons, markers, pencils, or whatever.  This is  why they're great to get.

Plus I also finished my last 4 x 12 canvas--


When I posted these before, Martha was saying that these would look good with a Suzi face on it, and I thought, yeah that's a good idea, but  I decided to make a Suzi sun face instead. I love making these sun faces  (probably because  we don't get to see  much of it  around here).  I think this one is my favorite--but I like them all.


I think that next time I do this, I want to make one on a larger canvas or maybe a piece of wood to see how it turns out, and  I really love these with the painted papers.  You can't tell from the photos, but they all have lots of texture.

I also wanted to thank everyone for their comments on my art room/studio from my last post.  It's so funny because alot of you remarked on how neat and tidy it was.  And your right--it is.  Don't get me  wrong, when I'm in the middle of a project, all hell breaks loose, but when I'm finished, I always clean up and put everything back.  I never used to do this, but when I cleaned this room out last month, I vowed to keep it this way, because I would get so fustrated trying to wade through the mess all the time.  Now when I go in there--I just love it!!  And it's inspired me to clean the rest of my house--seriously.   You don't want to see the rest of my house--trust me.

And one more thing--this is to Dapoppins--I hope you're reading this. I wanted to tell you that I love the scrapbook that you made--I think it was for your son--right?  The reason why I can't tell her on her blog, is because she turned her comment option off.  She feels that she is addicted to comments and is trying to break her addiction : )  Lets face it--we all like comments. It's kind of like when  someone's talking to you --you want to reply to what they're saying or showing.  It's how we get to know each other.  I've made friends in the last couple of months with bloggers just through us commenting to each other.  She does, however, have a poll on her blog for you to vote if she should turn the comments back on, and last time I checked, 92% said yes!  So come on Dapoppins--turn on your comments again so we can "talk" : )   Just click on her name to visit her blog.  OKAY HERE'S AN UPDATE ON THIS BLOG--I just went to Dapoppins blog, and she's put the comments back on--YAY for you Dapoppins!


 

59 comments:

Maggie Ruley said...

The cigar box is lovely, but I'm really drooling over the the vertical pieces. Very, very jewel like and precious.

Peggy said...

Diane, the canvases are fantastic !! Once again your colors are gorgeous.
Magnifique.

Sharon Tomlinson said...

Loved everything here today and now I'm going to pop over and see what Dapappoins is all about and vote Yes. Comments are very imporant.

Buffy said...

Great idea with the sun face,its perfect,I love the whole set. They are going to look so gorgeous on somebody's wall. I think its the colors and the jewels. Oh and I love your cigar box,I think it would be a great jewelery box.

Jonny said...

I love coming to your site you are always doing such beautiful creative art. The colors of your boxes are so gorgeous a great idea. I love your art room very inspiring. I completely love how you painted your Elizabeth with the roses!!! very soft, the colors are great. have a great day, Jonny

Janine said...

Diane these are so wonderful! I just love the colors, I love everything about them!

Janet Ghio said...

Diane--Love the cigar box--what did you do to the inside of it?
Your three panels are fabulous--they just keep getting better and better!!
and on another note--what is it with Russel--why don't those women get together and vote him off? He's got them bamboozled!! And the heroes team--what a bunch of idiots!!

Terri Kahrs said...

When I saw your cigar box, my jaw dropped. And THEN the drool started when I saw your vertical pieces! Awesome work, Diane! Hugs, Terri xoxo

Emelie said...

Yikes, I wanat to make a box, really with all my heart I do, it gave me a big thrill to see. I know there is one in the garage in a desk and it holds old momentos of my husbands, but he won"t notice they are in a zip lock bag will he? So Pretty, it just jumps right out.

So now I want to go and work on my projects, I have blogged around enough to feel ready and I think I know what to do, but I have to find this newspaper page I saved.
Also this hunting on the net looking at girls in hats, girls with flowers in their hair, just looking at hair styples and then I never do a style anyway.

YOur designs are wonderful and creative, and you made your own papers also, very original. I did buy some papers yesterday, they were nice and 50 cents for a pack of 6 large papers. Liquidations stores a great and they had wonderful stencils also, no bood brushes tho and not watercolor paper.

Heavens2Betsy said...

Fabulous work Diane. I love the cigar box and your sunshine canvas is my favourite too! Beautiful.

Janet said...

You got a great deal on the cigar boxes. I was at an antique shop recently and they had an old, really beat up cigar box for sale for only $50!!!! Yours are beautiful with your paintings.

PS - love the story about your studio!

Micki Wilde said...

Love your cigar boxes but those long pieces are fabulous too, you are very busy indeed :)

Micki x

Carin said...

What wonderful projects. I love the cigar boxes and the verticals!

Anonymous said...

you are such an inspiration...your palette is so yummy.

Debby said...

You are so amazing, everything is fabulous.
debby

pammyjo said...

Absolutely fabulous pieces. I so love the vertical pieces. Have a great weekend.:) I always use the fab word when I see your work. LOL I need to improve my vocab.

Lisa said...

beautiful pieces Diane...love the repurposed cigar boxes and your illustrating is gorgeous!
thanks for visiting my blog and for your wonderful words too!

Lola ^^ said...

Hey Diane! Lovely pieces as always! my dad has a cigar box i've been eyeing carefully hehe i'm waiting to grab it hehe!
I like the last post, I didn't comment on it because i forgot but your work studio is so nice and tidy :)

Dianne said...

Love the box... I got a few from a friend for free... but most of the tobacco stores around here sell them for $5 a piece! One of these days I'll get to altering one!

Kristin said...

Oh these are so beautiful!! I LOVE the idea of the cigar boxes - I have not considered going to my local cigar store, but I will now! You are doing such beautiful work, as always. So fun to see your art space - this is such a cool look into your life. Thank you, Kristin xo

Dapoppins said...

OH!

I love that you like my boys scrapbook. Naked chickens are always controversial!

As always, I love everything you do. I have a ton of boxes to alter that my bro'inlaw gets for me. If he can buy them cheep he gets them, and some are so nice...well I am afraid to do anything to them. I practice on the cardboard ones, but shiver at the idea of hurting the nicer ones. Maybe I should send one to you cause your so sweet?

Thank you for encouraging me to turn on comments. I went through quite the inner battle this morning but I couldn't stand it one more second!

Janie Husband said...

beautiful,Diane.....i have used the cigar boxes before...i took the top off and used both pieces to paint on...

your work is gorgeous..

Theresa MacNaughton said...

BEAUTIFUL!!! That box is truly a stunning one-of-a-kind piece. How fabulous! Your canvas items are also quite lovely. Everything made me smile. :) Theresa

Rina said...

LOVE what you did with your cigar box...now I'm tempted to go visit my local cigar shop!

thekathrynwheel said...

OOOh your work is stunning. Love it all :-)

Paula Phillips said...

Absolutely WONDERFUL work in this post! Thanks so much for the inspiration.
I love the smell of cigars, but don't smoke them. ;)
Much Love

Sue J said...

What a great idea for cigar boxes. I love the one you've pictured. Your paintings are so bright and cheerful.Thanks for sharing.....now where can I get a cigar box from :(

glitterBugStudios said...

Diane, I just love what you did with the cigar box! I may have to try one. My daughter always needs extra jewelry storage. The canvasses are also stunning! You are on a roll my darling! xoxo Tracey

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

You have been very busy as this post shows. I love that you can get cigar boxes for $1.00 each. When the local cigar shop found out a few years ago that they were a cheap art source, they raised their prices. Boxes now start at $5.00 a box and that is for the cardboard ones. I've seen elaborate ones go for as much as $12.00. I can buy wood for less than that. That makes your cigar box even more precious to me.

Your canvas is perfect. The Suzy sun is adorable and you do her so well.

As for comments, I agree. If we don't get feedback, we don't know what works and what doesn't. We also don't know what our followers and devoted readers want to see. I can always tell when a post isn't working, because of the comments. That's when I know I need to change my thinking. If I make art and no one comments, I know I need to go back and redo the artwork. It's like people are commenting through their silence. Great thought on that subject.

wandamarie.blogspot.com said...

okay...sheesh, what's left to say thats original? i love the sizes you used, your work shows up so beautifully. i love how magical and happy all of it looks!!!
you are so great about sharing things, someone might not ever think of, like the cigar boxes. i sure appreciate your comments on my blog, diane. happy happy weekend!

Cindy said...

Love your canvases Diane! Glad you liked the song on my blog:)

Funny, I came to your blog and I had planned on cleaning my studio today, but the sun was out, so I did not. I was telling my friend that I am thinking of taking a picture of it now and posting it on my blog and then announcing that I would post a second pic when it was clean. Thought that would embarrass me enough to give me the motivation I need. Your studio pictures have helped me see the light and the need for it to be cleaned! Thanks:)

Unknown said...

I am blessed with a friend who cleans houses for a cigar smoker; she keeps me supplied with cigar boxes! I mostly use them for storage. They're great for sorting all of those mixed media supplies. I just mark on the side what's inside and stack them up.

Unknown said...

Gorgeous, Gorgeous Works of art, as always. I just love visiting your blog which is always full of eye candy.

Saschi and Squee said...

DIaNe,

You are so very very cool. And (maybe I've said this before) your artwork, even tho I've not met you seems to truly reflect YOU! Your boxes are great!
QUESTION: you'll see on my blog that I'm putting some "feet" on one of mine, do you glue yours on?

Marlynn said...

I love your cigar box - it is show-stopping! The 4 x 12 are wonderful. Never thought to go to the cigar store to buy boxes. You knew! LOL (Can you believe the dumb ones passed the idol on to Russell!)

Odd Chick said...

GULLP!! you took the interesting old cigar boxes and blew me away!! I couldn't believe WHAT YOU DID! and then your mixed media pieces with all the interesting papers, colors and textures- anyway- can you tell yet that I totally love your art???? so glad I'll see more of it in Suzi's class.

Deb Harvey said...

I've missed a lot! I love all of your new work and your studio!

Your Elizabeth is beautiful, I really love the colors that you used. I signed up for Suzi's class, too. I went crazy buying supplies, and now I'm waiting for them to arrive. I can't wait to try her technique!

Unknown said...

Your canvases and boxes are to die for!
I feel really moved when I visit your blog - Like I have made a connection with a kindred spirit - does that sound mad? hope not, cos I ain't really!
When you say painted papers do you hand paint them yourselves, do you start with blank papers or do you paint over designs? whatever you do they are extremely effective.

Oh and I wanted to ask, how do you do that thing where you say "if you like this, then you might like this" that is so neat!

Tiny Houses Hankerings said...

I love the cigar box! What a beautiful work of art from something as common as a cigar box. I have a wooden one that I am wanting to redo so your cigar box has given me some great inspiration. thanks!

Alia parker said...

I love cigar. In fact, when I go on a trip with my friends I love to carry my joint case with me. This makes me more attractive and cool. I purchase it at an affordable price. You can also try this.

Unknown said...

I have found all my cigar boxes at thrift stores and garage sales.

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