Owl Plaque on Design*Sponge

Thanks to Design*Sponge for posting about my Before and After owl parts!

… their readers’ verdict on my redo: CREEPY! And I kinda have to agree… Frames are some of the most uninteresting and bland things out there these days so I’m always looking for new ways to show off artwork and prints. Plus, the owl parts have such a big kitsch-factor that I don’t think there’s anything I could to make them not look creepy.

Plus, what’s better than a pair of glossy owl eyes following your every move? I’d say not much!

Before

After – With Framed 1895 Isolde Print by Aubrey Beardsley

After – Head Close Up

After – Tail Close Up

After – Wing Close Up

THE BACKSTORY: As some may know, I always have an eye out for crazy owl related objects. So when I saw this lot of owl parts come up I was thrilled. They were totally out there and I had to have them! As soon as I received them though, I couldn’t figure out what I would do with them. All I knew was that he definitely needed a torso that suited him!

THE PROCESS: After a few years sitting in the box he came in, I decided to lift him out after my fiance and I moved to a new apartment. With new wall space to spare I had to find a good place for him this time around. Then I remembered! My grandma had given me a 70s printing of Aubrey Beardsley’s 1895 Illustration of Isolde. I found my owl’s new torso!Since the frame was pretty plain, it was a perfect match. I went to the paint store and found some acrylic to match the color of the frame and started painting. The owls eyes and claws were already a nice shiny black I decided to paint around them to give them a little more depth. Then I let them dry, measured and hung them up flush with the sides of the print. I think he likes his new torso… it certainly suits him!