Altar Screens

I've always had a fascination with art screens large and small.  Someday I'd like to make a room-sized screen, but for now I've had to content myself with small screens suitable for a table-top altar.  I think what intrigues me is the fact that screens have multiple panels.  It's always a challenge to make each panel its own and yet part of the whole.

I made this screen at the New Year, as I always do a piece of artwork to mark the beginning of another year.  This has been my tradition for a few years now, and it seems to set the intention for me to create throughout the year. 

This screen is called "Ring in the New Year"...

I began with a blank tri-fold screen that was made of brown paper bag type material.  The panels are hinged, making the screen easy to open and close.  Stampadoodle, a wonderful paper craft and more store in Bellingham, WA sells these sorts of things that are just waiting to be embellished with their wonderful papers, paints, inks and such.

Since I love to collage, I poked through my extensive collection of images and words to cover the front and back of each panel.

I added paint and penwork to tie the images together around the theme of light.  I slit the top of the center panel to insert an image of the sun.  Each end panel has a beaded doo-dah on the top to open and close the panels.

I also love mandalas, so I used a mandala that I colored for the back panel.

I was sorry when this screen was finished--it was just so satisfying to work on!  So I did another screen...stay tuned for my next entry to see it!

Ciao for now,

Deborah