Linda Cain's Halloween Printer's Tray

Featured Artist: Linda Cain
Blog Post: Friends in Art
Location: United States

Linda Cain is an amazing artist. She is on the Tim Holtz design team, among others, and her mixed-media creations are well worth a look! Linda started with a 7gypsies Artists Printers Tray which has 12 artist's trading card sized openings and one (or two) 8 x 8 inch pads of Graphic 45 Hallowe'en in Wonderland. When she saw the printers tray, she said it would be like decorating a doll's house! And she has decorated each "room" in the most amazing way. Look - and you really MUST click to enlarge!

Click to enlarge



Where do I begin to describe what I love about this amazing creation?  First, I guess her concept of "doll house rooms" really applies, because each block could stand alone as a mini piece of art, or indeed a collection of incredible ATCs. Lots of pop-dots and layers were used to give each scene dimension and amazing depth!  I love the way many scenes add to the sense of depth by breaking the boundaries of thier box. Notice how the tea service in the left column breaks the boundaries, so it almost seems as though the tea table is extending towards us; in our imagination maybe we too have a place at the table! The Mad Hatter's top hat extends above the top of the next box to the right, so he is in front of that block but not really in it. Does he tiptoe from block to block when we're not looking?  The pumpkin and one of the living flowers in the lower right corner start from outside their block, in fact they begin as part of the border as though they are growing into the tray. And Alice in the upper right corner is looking over all, the real queen of all she surveys.

Because there is so much going on, the bold checkerboard boundary really helps to contain all the energy and give cohesiveness to all. There is a lot of careful balance between light and dark areas as well as large and small scale scenes. The tall Alice in the upper right corner is balanced by the White Rabbit extending above the top in the upper left corner.  The elements that float above the background,coming to the front of the frames, are carefully staggered - the lower right corner garden, the middle left tea set, and the purple title of the piece in the upper middle right.  So all the frantic energy, the plethora of tiny scenes, and the rich vivid colors are actually balanced and harmonious instead of chaotic.

Linda is a published artist whose work has been featured in Altered Arts, Cloth Paper Scissors, Bead Trends, Scrapbook News and Review, Stamper's Sampler, and Artella.  She has designed pieces for Tim Holtz Idea-ology, Ranger,Teresa Collins, Vintaj, Petaloo, Creative Imaginations, and Small Studio Productions.  If you are really lucky, you can take a class from Linda, as she teaches in scrapbooking stores in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.

In addition, Linda is a paper hoarder! I can really identify with that, can't you?  She recommends buying TWO pads so you can leave one intact to just look at, and admits it is a sickness! Must be catching because a lot of us are infected!!!

Please visit Linda' blog, Friends in Art to see more of her amazing work! You will find more details about Linda's amazing printer's tray on this post, and leave her some love while you are there!

This tray is very different from Donna's tray, which was clearly designed as a whole single piece in a very different style.  Remember Donna has DONATED her GORGEOUS tray for us to offer as blog candy in our drive for more followers. Please remember to check THIS POST on how to enter the drawing!  You have until Oct. 30 to enter, but we want you to help us get the word out about The Altered Alice, so the sooner the better!

Please leave a comment here for me before you go!