Seal it up

In the back of my head there is a reoccurring argument about how I am going to attempt sealing some of the collage pieces I've made (all two of them). Part of me really wants to just varnish those suckers so the surfaces is heavy, smooth and yes, glossy.

But of course, I couldn't just head into this without some advice. (Well, I could and frequently do but there could be issues I haven't even thought of -- besides the cost of postage -- that need to be considered before choosing my poison.)

First was E-How's "How to make a collage". A very simple and straight forward use of the glue and water to seal off your masterpiece. Of course you have to read all the directions and find this tidbit down in the TIPS section. This will apparently seal but is it glossy enough for me? (Can you tell I get distracted by shiny things?)

What I found more useful was a collage discussion page on Flickr and this time it was centered on "How do I seal a paper collage?". 

Low and behold there are more issues then turning your collage into a glossy picture of perfection. I felt almost shamed for using a glue stick instead of rubber cement and not even considering the issue of warping and paper crinkles (of course I don't consider warping so much a problem as a reason to keep all my really cool but totally heavy oversized art books).

I haven't had a chance to go shopping to round off my supplies as I play with the glossy and sealed debate. On my list however are simple Elmer's glue, a small paint brush, some shellac or varnish (especially if it comes in an aerosol) and clear nail polish (my mom suggested it and I really want to try it out now....).

I am certain of one thing, I'm going to have a lot of fun trying...

Ugly but Compelling, right?

Okay so here is the first piece I'm able to post:

Sleepless Night, Bedroom Ceiling

I used two kinds of plaid ribbon and made some very rough squares with a black sharpie marker. It was a messy but simplistic project. Using Aleene's Turbo Tacky Glue, I wove and glued the ribbon strips right on to my index card. It ended up drying within a few days but I attribute that to the fact I went a little glue crazy (is there anyone who doesn't enjoy peeling strips of tacky glue off their fingers?). Being Turbo Tacky Glue it was suppose to be faster...

It also warped so the index card with ribbon strips spent days underneath the following tomes:

1. Van Gogh A Retrospective edited by Susan Alyson Stein
2. American Arts at the Art Institute of Chicago: From Colonial Times to World War I distributed by Hudson Hills Press, New York
3. Monet A Retrospective edited by Charles F. Stuckey
4. America's Art Smithsonian American Art Museum by Theresa J. Slowik

That's when I added what was suppose to be black squares. My lack of patience produced less than perfect results. After which it became very apparent that while I found it endearing, it was pretty much ugly. Also, I don't think it has many redeeming qualities as an art piece.

On the other hand as representative work of what the bedroom ceiling of my childhood room (it's still my room really, who else would have it...) use to look like, it is spot on.

I mailed it out today to my best friend from high school, who spent the odd holiday vacation with my family up north, who lives in Denmark now.

Can't wait to see if it arrives without falling to pieces. Go, Go Turbo Tacky Glue!