Before and After

From now until the end of 2014, 100% of my sales proceeds at artEast Gallery in Issaquah will go to nonprofits.  50% will go to artEast which is a nonprofit to support artists.  50% will go to the Issaquah Food Bank.  Although not a direct link back to my can suppliers, this will help those in need during this difficult time of year.  So get out to artEast and buy!

One of the pieces I have at artEast is "The Stadiums".  This images is constructed of five cans.  The background is plywood coated with sand then painted the Seattle Seahawks colors.  The frame is a simple silver.

Original image

"The Stadiums"

The original image was taken right at dusk in late December for the Smith Tower looking south.  Mt. Rainier is barely visible on the left side.  I played with various layers in Photoshop to get the image to look like a drawing.  The final version is what I printed on the cans.  The C'Link is slightly different from the rest of the image so it stands out a bit.

"The Locks" and "2nd Avenue" are also at artEast.

Aluminum Can Creations

Printing on the inside of aluminum cans creates unique opportunities.   I search for 24 ounce cans so I am able to print a 5 inch by 7 inch image on a single can.  To get a larger image I piece together several cans.  Because it is a can, I can cut a fine edge and carefully align the image parts so the seams are barely invisible.

"Slippery when Wet"

"Slippery when Wet" is made up of three cans.  The photographic image is 7 inches by 10 inches and frame opening in 11 inches by 14 inches.  Two horizontal cans make up of the photographic portion. Then I have attached one vertical can in the center of the image so your eye does not get stuck on the can edges. Instead your eye follows the pier poles down the center as I intended.

If you look at this image closely you will see the tacks that hold the cans in place.  Cans have to be tacked down or they will return to their can state.  I have covered a piece of plywood with window screen and hand-painted it to compliment the photograph.  That way I have a material behind the painting that the tacks will stay in.  The cans are sprayed with a protective coating so they do not need to be behind glass.

"The Locks"

"The Locks" is done the same way as "Slippery when Wet".  The vertical can is in contrast to the background cans so the blue of the water and heat of the summer sun comes through.

Please look at the Recycled Cans gallery on my website for other creations.