Grouting Buttons to a Frame

I have had a go at grouting buttons onto a frame.

I have a large red frame, took the backing off the frame to protect it. I then sanded down the red paint to hope that the grout will stick better.

Using my palette knife I put a thick layer of grout onto the frame...

I then pushed all different sized and coloured buttons into the grout and left to dry. 

I am waiting for the grout to fully dry at the moment but I hope the grout sticks to the frames surface okay, if it does not I will have to think of a glue or lacquer which could cover this.

My Proposal

My Button Collection

I intend to create visually interesting buttons using collage, including tissue paper fabrics, photographs etc. Easily put together using my scanner and lots of materials. I haven’t decided on how to display these pieces of work yet but I may use my collection of buttons to mosaic frames for them, but not using glass as I would want people to be able to touch my work as it will have texture to it.  The buttons will be enlarged to about A4 and I intend to create a fair few of them as they will all be individual and different but also work together to look good.

I have decided to do this as I love collage and want to experiment more with this. I have chosen buttons as they are a simple collection but I have found so much you can do with them from work on mass to create images from them to making work about them and how you can make interesting textured layers and easily cut it into the shape of the button, it has been perfect for the experiments I have been wanting to do. I started off the project with my collection of pictures frames so I think it would be nice to bring that back in the end and be a perfect way of displaying my work.

I hope to achieve work which will make people want to stop and look and touch it. I want it to be pleasing to the eye but also to make people stop and think about the way it has been created. I love this style of work and children’s illustrations so my work is usually aimed at children, this one is too but I would like a wide range of ages to enjoy my work.

I will need to collect more buttons for a start, to play with and if I wish to use them to mosaic frames. I will also have to experiment with the materials I have for this project which I am doing now. I will create many mixed media versions of the buttons as experimentation work and then create more based on the ones I like or choose the ones I like for my final pieces. I will then use the frames to display my work and see if they work together. If they don’t I will have to find another way. 

Using Grout

I have had a go at grouting button onto the back of tiles.
I was inspired to do this by our trip to Barcelona and seeing Gaudi's work in Park Guell...

And also my artistic research - http://www.flickr.com/photos/52485363@N08/

Rough Grout:

 Smooth Grout:

I really like the way these experiments have turned out and I would like to somehow use this for my final piece.

I think grouting my original idea of picture frames, this will also display my collection along side what I will be framing. 

More Buttons

I have collected more buttons! I love how they are all different and really colourful. I find the fascinating and beautiful. Here are some photographs of my button collection now..

 Ordered into different sizes, how do they look differently? how do the different sizes go together and look together?

and colours, I think ordering the buttons into colours make them easier to tell stories with.. for example who they have come from, the pink from a little girl, the purple from an older lady etc..

 

I have also separated the childlike buttons as I usually focus on children's illustration..

I think they look like shaped blocks and the way they fit together make them look like a child's game.

 

Buttons Matching People

I have looked a little into buttons which suit different people..

Creating Buttons

I have been looking at different ways and mediums to create buttons. I like the difference of how they look on mass and solo.

 

I have used different papers and inks

 

I would like to develop the idea of using tissue paper further as I think these have turned out really nicely.

I also want to look deeper into using buttons to enhance a piece of work, for example my felt making, I have added buttons and I think it looks more complete.