SHRINE TO PEACE

NOW TRADED
I really enjoy making shrines so the Creative Wednesday challenge was right up my street! This isn't an ATC but a panel 6.5" x 4.5" - a much larger size than I usually work in, I seem more often to be drawn to little things ...

I love old photographs of Native Americans - their faces can sometimes be cruel and arrogant, but here I see wisdom and nobility, and also a deep sadness.

So I started making up stories again ... he is a chief or prince, a leader of his people so he deserved a crown. Unlike his brothers who led other tribes, he tried to make peace - so I added the Latin "pax" which means peace. He tried to understand the white man's ways but met only the closed minds of those who could only see their own way of living, and find no value in his - hence the lock and key. I gave him gold wings because he seemed to deserve them, and to symbolise the fact that peacemakers of any nation will always be blessed.

The piece hasn't photographed too well, and is much more 3 dimensional than the picture suggests because it is built up with layers of card. The crown is actually painted a metallic bronze, and the black decoration is raised because I used relief outliner. The black frame is also quite heavy card, finished with crackle glaze, and the background paper is 7 Gypsies I think.