This is a clock I pulled together a couple of years ago. At the time I called it altered art. Maybe the term should have been functional art. What is altered or functional art? I have thrown these terms out interchangeably for several years now without really knowing what I was talking about. So I decided to do a little research. That only left me a bit more confused. So now I'm trying to figure out what 'found art" is. Maybe the terms, like art, are open to interpretation or maybe things can be classified in multiple categories.
In my brief search of the internet for the terms altered and functional art I learned that altered art incorporates several techniques within the same piece. These techniques could be paint, collage, and stamping. This wall hanging has painting, stamping, and decoupage so I guess it would be considered altered. A lot of collage artists specialize in altered art. After creating a collage, an arrangement of papers, pictures, and/or words, they either add these to a painted background or paint on top of their work. Then they may add stamping or other embellishments such as ribbon, metal, or chipboard. The options are limitless.
Many scrap-bookers or card makers have seen their craft evolve into altered art. My scrap-booking style is simple.I am inspired, though, by Liz who takes it to the next level.

Maybe after The Traveling Door sale (shameless plug) and the holidays I will get back to this creative outlet. Looking for pictures in my scrapbook folder makes me realize how much I miss it.
I am also inspired by Linda at Just My Little Bit and Alberta at Amusing Muses. Their work on canvas just makes me happy and I am itching to give it a whirl.... soon. Click on their blogs to exciting examples of true altered art.
So if I'm not really doing altered art like I said in our promos for The Traveling Door, then I would have to say that what I attempt to do is functional or found art. Functional art is taking something ordinary or worn or outdated and giving it a new life. Maybe even reworking it in a new way like using a cupboard door as a canvas or a boot as a planter. Functional or found art is putting creativity in our everyday lives not just on our walls.
In my case it means looking at the mundane with new eyes and thinking how I could make it something unique and worthy of notice
I try to visualize something with a new coat of paint, some stripes (usually black and white) or maybe some polka dots , or often times, both. I also love to add quotes or words to my work whenever possible.
More than once I have found something at the store and when I go to check out I am forced by my need to feel cool to try and explain to the sales associate that I will be painting this lamp, clock, vase or whatever . Forget saying I'm going to alter it. They usually don't know what I am talking about nor do they care. I wish I didn't care but I must admit I don't want them to think that I am so taste deprived that I would take this ugly butt purchase as is and put it in my home if I didn't think I could make it into something noteworthy.
Last week I bought some trays with Betty Boop on them. I apologize to all the Betty Boop fans but really, I'm a grown woman with a mortgage. I couldn't buy that tray without trying to explain myself.
So now when I try and convey to people what I do I guess I will be using the term functional art. To me found art sounds like I went through people's garbage...ewwww. I think I like the word functional better. So functional it is.
In trying to scour up examples of switched up pieces I went back through my photos. I rediscovered the pictures I used in this post. These are pieces I did a couple of years ago for our first Traveling Door sale. (Yes, that was my 2nd shameless plug)
It is fun to look back and watch my style evolve. I wonder where I am headed next?
I am grateful for artsy friends and an inspiring daughter and an also creative and supportive mom. They all encourage me to try new things and to take a leap of faith because in the end the worst that can happen is I have to paint over it.