So last Christmas Eve our family decided to draw names and make a special gift for that person using their requested color...I got mom and she wanted something "espresso". I got the idea to use actual espresso beans to make her gift and came up with what I've been calling "bean art". After completing that project I LOVED it and thought it would be cool to continue this bean art for the booth! (Her gift is the one above.)
So after being cross-eyed for several hours a day from gluing bean after bean, I came up with these two completed pieces! Each one is about a 2' square shadowbox, custom built (thanks dad) and painted. The white one has an antique finish on the frame and the yellow one is crackled with a bluish green underneath. I still have another frame I hope to start and finish within the next week or two...I might need to take a break from these beans for a little while and start on some other projects that are a little less monotonous! Hope these are a hit though, I don't know that I've seen anything like them around town so maybe there won't be much competition in the bean market. ;)
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Thanks momma! I might cut you a break since you were the original inspiration for these things ;)
Love your work!!! Beautiful pieces!!! I am also into bean art and enjoy doing it. Everyone is amazed at my patience!! lol The only problem I ran into is that green peas change to yellowish after a while. Have to put green paint on them. :(
I ran into that too! I'm glad those are the only ones, do you glue yours into wood as well or do something different? It does take a LOT of patience, and my neck always hurts!
I use mod podge and glue the beans onto canvases. Then I put glossy varnish on top. Could it be that your desk is too low (re. neck pain)? I just found green mung beans, so will see if they change color. They are smaller than the green peas, though. It's too bad I have to put the green paint on the green peas because the whole point of the project is to use the beans' natural color!! I just completed a project for my husband and will post it soon. Meanwhile, if you are interested, you can see what I did with the beans... :) I put the pics on my blog "Ellana and the gang".
I'd love to see your blog but I can't find it, how do I get there?? I've been using mung beans and so far they haven't changed color on me. And my table is definitely too low!!
Here is the link: http://ellanats.blogspot.com/
I hope that will help! Just posted my husband's birches. :)
Are you planning to get a higher table or a lower chair????
Wow!! Your stuff is great, does it take you forever too? I can't seem to get the best look unless I glue them on individually, do you so the same? It looks like you do. It's so nice to talk to someone who's actually done this before! I hadn't seen anything like it before and I don't think there's many of us out there that do it.
Still haven't gotten a better workstation...I live in tight quarters so there's not too many options but I might start with the lower chair idea, why didn't I think of that!? :)
Thank you!!! :) I also glue them individually. I bought craft twizzers, and that helped to speed the process up. I do get tired when it gets monotonous, but I enjoy doing this nonetheless. Many people CAN'T do this because they are not as patient as we are!!! lol My sister said she would give up after a minute!! Loved your owls too!! You are very talented! I too, would love to have my own business, but I'm afraid I am too chicken for that. No energy to be assertive enough... Lower chair or put something under the table legs if possible, like those bed lifts.
Well, I just noticed another change: the lentils changed the color from greenish-beigeish to brownish. I wonder if that's a reaction to sunlight or to the glue's chemicals...
HI, I just posted another piece I completed (if you are interested). Hope your back is better!!
Wow, we have been doing some bean mozaic with my first grader and i finally decided to search for bean art ideas. Nothing as ellaborate as your work, of course. Just thought i would let you know, it's Very impressive!
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