Dark Valentine Matchbox Shrine

This is a matchbox shrine created for"Art Erratica: The Dark" 3D Valentines. The shrines were made in a limited edition of six.

The concept behind this shrine is that it is a Valentine gift of a heart--albeit a broken and battered heart (see chain and antique rusted nail--the rust just "happened" and I love it!). The art of matches at the top suggest an invitation to set the heart aflame...

The boxes themselves received a primary coat of texture tinted violet and many layers of paint, including some metallics. Every time a color dried, I distressed the surface with sandpaper. After I arrived at the finish I liked, I sealed each box with about five coats of wax.

These are the the glass antique buttons I used as "drawer" pulls.