Saturday, March 26, 2011

As Time Goes By. ..

Last night was our 25th College Reunion. There were several friends there that were art majors along with us back then. We took a photo last night, and I'm posting it along with a photo I took 25 years ago, just weeks before we graduated.

Not everyone in this first photo was there last night, but three of the guys in the first photo are in the second one too. Tim is in the back middle...the one with curly hair and glasses.












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Thursday, March 24, 2011

Spring Jubilee

I was recently accepted into the 34th Annual Historic Pendleton Spring Jubillee.

Until I started doing these festivals, I was clueless about how artists were chosen to participate. Basically, you must apply months ahead of time by filling out an application, submitting a specified number of photos of your work and display, and usually a small application fee ($15-$30).

Your work is then juried by a panel of people (usually artists), and at some point they notify you if you were accepted or not. If you got in, there is a booth rental fee. I've paid anywhere from $50 to $400. This fee is usually for a 10x10 space. Sometimes there are additional costs involved if you need tables, electricity, etc.

I have found that it is better to do these juried shows than anything else. It kind of helps level the playing field by including art of similar quality. The jury process is also in place to make sure that the art included is created by the artist and not mass produced.







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Friday, March 18, 2011

You'd Be Home by Now If...

Here is the video of Tim and Marie on Your Carolina with Jack and Kimberly.

You'd Be Home by Now If...Behind the Scenes

Here are some behind the scenes photos from the show today.


Tim and Marie waiting to go on the show.


The producer gives them an idea of what to expect.



The set from above.


Large glass Michelin Bib. The show originates from the Michelin on Main Store.


Last minute details.


The interview in progress.






Thursday, March 17, 2011

Crazed with the Love of Light...Completed

Bring me the sunflower crazed with the love of light. - Eugenio Montale

Over the last several days I painted the boards and attached the glass sunflowers. Here are a few photos of the finished pieces.

The larger of the two is 16x20 and the smaller one is 8x8.
















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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Crazed with the Love of Light

Bring me the sunflower crazed with the love of light. - Eugenio Montale

Saturday, I worked on creating a couple sunflower pieces.

I have some Spring shows coming up and hope to have new work available by then.

My first piece survived the firing process, but cracked shortly after I removed it from the kiln. I'm not really sure of the exact cause, but suspect thermal shock, even though I allowed the piece to cool for 8+ hours.

I heard a tiny, almost imperceptible click that turned into a hairline crack, and then the piece broke apart in my hands. Oh well, these things happen sometimes, despite my best efforts.

I started again, creating both the large and small pieces pictured here. I let the large one cool all night and all the next day before I opened the kiln. Thankfully, it was very stable by then. I will begin work on the background boards soon. I will post the finished pieces later.















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Monday, March 14, 2011

Not consumed...but finished

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. Exodus 3:2

It took a good bit of thought and lots of trial and error (heavy on the error), before I finally got a handle on a background for this piece.

I knew I wanted it to be light and luminous, but I didn't want it to flat and plain. I ended up going with a combination of gold and bronze paints, and then gave it all a brown wash to pick up the texture of the brush strokes.
















The finished piece. In the background of this photo are 2 other pieces I worked on this weekend. More on those later...

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Friday, March 11, 2011

Not consumed...

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. Exodus 3:2

Fresh from the kiln - my fused glass interpretation of the burning bush. The next step will be to mount it on canvas board. My mind is whirling with thoughts of just what to do with the board.

I'll post finished photos once it is complete.




















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Thursday, March 10, 2011

Another Fine Mess

That's another fine mess you've gotten me into.
Oliver Hardy

This is a photo of my dining room table in a mid-creative-frenzy. I create art like I cook, every single pot must be used and piled around the kitchen before I'm finished. Tim says I cook until somebody dies...

I have always wished I was neater in my creative moments. I often imagine that if I had my own little studio space complete with organizational bins and neat cubbyholes, I would by extension be neat and organized.

The older I get, the less I believe this.

There's is something about making a huge mess that works for me. The project bogs down when I stop to put away a tube of paint or organize my tools. So it's full steam ahead, tools flying, kilns firing, chaos.

I truly appreciate my family for tolerating having no dining room among other things. I do attempt to keep everything confined to this space, although some of it occasionally leaks into other areas of the house.

And, I do tend to straighten it up between projects...it helps me to at least start with things a little neater.

What about you? Do you like to work neat, or are you as messy as I am? Any secrets to being organized that you think might help someone as hopeless as me?




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Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Some Seem to Smile

Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as men and animals. Some seem to smile; some have a sad expression; some are pensive and diffident; others again are plain, honest and upright, like the broad-faced sunflower and the hollyhock. - Henry Ward Beecher

Here is a piece that I started Saturday. I think it's about finished, although sometimes I have trouble knowing when to quit.

The glass bloom is tack fused and is about the size of a dinner plate. I mounted it on a background created on 16x20 wood panel.


















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Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Round peg in a square hole...

Here's another piece I finished this past weekend. It was a lot of fun to create. It was what I imagine it would be like to piece a quilt, without the precision and needles. I enjoyed playing with the colors, contrast, and negative space. It is mounted on a 11x14 Canvas Board.











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Monday, March 7, 2011

Woven Glass Finished

Last week I was trying to figure out exactly what to do with this glass creation. Thanks to everyone who made suggestions.

In the end, I decided simplicity was probably best and placed it on a 12x12 white canvas board. I did elevate it slightly so that it appears to be floating. This allows for some interesting reflections and shadows below, depending on the lighting.

I took some photographs while it was hanging on my dining room wall. There are 2 large windows to the right.




















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Saturday, March 5, 2011

A Good Cuff Link

A friend from Indie Craft Parade visited Greenville this week, and was at Liz Daly's shop last night creating her wonderful leather cuffs. I've posted pictures of the one I bought last night.

She up cycles old leather belts and jackets and stuff to make cuffs, earrings and more!

If you'd like to see more of her work, visit the shop on Main Street downtown between the Greenville News building and the Bridge, or you can look at her etsy shop here...http://www.etsy.com/shop/TocadoraLeather


















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Friday, March 4, 2011

Summer in the light, and winter in the shade.

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. - Charles Dickens

Yesterday was one of those March days. I had the chance to take a long walk downtown during lunch. It was so pretty out, and there were signs of Spring all around - budding trees, blooming daffodils, even a tulip or two.












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