Magic of A Shoes Box. Illustrating Childhood

       Let’s say we have bought very fashionable or  simply nice shoes and a  box is going to be thrown. My advice is negative. The shoes box can became something else - an interior design detail or a toy for you child!   

       Having the empty shoes box, there had been made a special visual surprise with added illustrations.

      The box was painted with acrylic colours with adding bit a trace of white gouache. Afterwards, I added a window (cut out with sharp blade on the mat) and a full moon, looking at a viewer through the window. The moon is bit sad as he thinks that his childhood went, nor he is not alone with paste-cut stars.

 

Acrylic, gouache painting,  watercolours pencils, felt line, collage ‘The Shoes Box.

My Childhood’; I.G.

 

       Whereas the box cover is part of the box itself, when it is opened, gives a space to make something inside.

       I made a 3D paper cut character – a girl. She is in her room, happy and bright making drawings. Warm feeling of happiness is highlighted by the smiling sun, that was drawn a same size as the moon and glued over. Furniture pieces were made from a paper as well and glued on the board. Two pillows are made from felt textile. A strange picture hanging on the wall is cut from a items catalogue and decorated with a textile lace. White, translucent flowers symbolize purity of  childhood, innocence of a soul and it was made from a textile guipure material.

 

 

3D paper cut, acrylic, gouache painting, felt line, watercolours pencils, collage ‘The Shoes Box. Inside’; I.G.

 

      In the foreground I have put an illustration using watercolours pencils and blank ink lines. Then the image was cut and glued on the background joining the table.

      The whole picture exhibits blended reality and imagination. The girl is happy, still living in her childhood, making drawings. Birds are poetic symbols of the harmonious family in the illustrated composition.    

 

 

Watercolours pencils, ink; The Illustration ‘Happy Childhood’; I.G.

 

       Use a ‘magic shoes box’ idea to decorate your surroundings, involve a child in this magic to make it together or surprise somebody with the handmade artefact. As the box is with  the adjustable cover, you can close it and then only the moon will be looking at you…