Cutting Corners

The Heroine's Journey.  I'm in the midst of it, the journey that is.  Am finding my struggle to get into the studio greater than I had thought.  I have more time available but my head won't get out of the way to let it happen.  Or is it heart?

This semester's work is supposed to be expanding last semester's work: the five centers of five mandalas that represented the first five stages of the heroine's journey.  I am finding that after giving myself the month of January to go easy on myself that it is harder getting back to the work.  I go into the studio and end up cleaning or organizing or finishing up something undone and unrelated to the MFA work or just stare out the window at the frozen river and watch the snow fall.  I know that is all part of the process.  It's part of the process of grieving as well I suppose.

I've got the 5 centers all laid out waiting for me to pounce on them but it's not as easy as that.  I keep hearing what we talked about in the final crit/presentation and I also think about what Susan said about this semester...there's no 'minor' so put some extra thought into the work at hand.  How can I expand on what I am already thinking about?  Do I add another medium?  Add more pieces?  Radically change what I proposed for the semester?  The thought of completely changing the 5 mandala centers I currently have is a strong one.  Cut them up, manipulate them so the images are so obscure they are unrecognizable?  Lots more thinking to do and living with what is for a while I think.  There is no right or wrong answer, I know. 

I do know that I need to keep the options down to a bare minimum or I'll never truly focus on what is to be.  My decisions will come from techniques most likely and keeping the techniques to one or two and make the work speak that way.  I can get so carried away with technique, color, shape, size, etc...so I need to have some sort of guidelines to get started.

The final shape of the finished mandalas is also undecided.  I'm thinking that it would be good to focus on that first as the clay work is more involved with drying times and firing.  That work I'll be doing at Bowdoin College so I won't have constant access to it as I do my glass work.  Form first, content to follow.  There is something that's drawing me to the form and shape of the lilypads in my garden pond.  They are under a thick blanket of ice right now but they speak to me still.  So I might play around with that form first.

I am going to fire the glass pieces face down first to give them a totally new perspective.  Then I will cut into them and introduce new imagery.  My initial thought was to go large with the final pieces.  Now I'm moving toward smaller, more intimate pieces.

So, I'm continually thinking and "percolating" ideas even though I'm not doing the work in the studio like I think I should be.  It's all part of the process...I just need to remain patient and keep trusting.

The Beginning of Something New

2013 is here and I thought I'd try a new weekly blog to capture what transpires in my studio, especially for the MFA work.  So here goes....

Winter brings a warm blanket of introversion as these dark and cloudy days arrive making the incandescent lights in the studio lure me in.  I so wish I had a door on the studio so I could close out all the other responsibilities.  I absolutely love the space, it's bright, open, full of windows that overlook the Cousin's River and it has everything I need.

Cousin's River

Glass Frit

I tried reorganizing things so my workflow would be better but I soon realized that it was going to take a major overhaul of 'stuff' to do that.  I have too many mediums going on in my head to dispose of any of them.  A major overhaul is just not in me so plan B will fall into action.  Plan B is to just do a little reorganizing and accept that will suffice for now.

One thing I did do was to make a large, 6x6' work surface so that I could have a more comfortable area for bookmaking. Those large sheets of paper that need cutting were impossible to cut neatly otherwise.

My studio goal for 2013 is to spend more time in it!  Productive time or not, just spending time in it keeps me in a creative thought process and that is good.

Below are the glass mandala centers that I did last semester for my Master's work at Heartwood College of Art in Kennebunkport, Maine.

These mandala 'centers' will be altered and re-fired several times to become complete and separate mandalas.  The basis for these designs are from my work with The Heroine's Journey, or my life's journey.  The images are from dreams, realizations and work with the Journey.  The mandalas will expand in their depth and design during the next semester's work.  Making and carving clay molds is next.  I'll be using a low-fire white clay to make the molds.

I'm making my semester journal at the moment.  It will have some new book features that the previous journals could have used. 

So here's to a new beginning and a commitment to keeping it going!

Images on Glass

    I recently attended a two day workshop in Lowell, Mass with Barry and Sharon Kaiser of Kaiser Glass Studio of Greensboro, North Carolina.  Barry and Sharon teach several fusing classes but I chose this one so I could learn more about silk-screening on glass.  As they work solely on jewelry sized items, we all worked on roughly 2x2" pieces of glass.

We learned about the various types of enamel paints that can be applied to glass for firing.  The Kaisers have designed their own paint that works very well which they generously supplied us with for use in class.  Several mica powders were also available to use and we learned how to successfully apply those to pre-fired decal pieces. 

What was truly wonderful about Barry and Sharon was that there were no secrets as to their methods!  They have perfected their technique and the results are beautiful.  Their website is http://kaiserglass.com/index.html .  Their website has several tutorials and tips on working with fused glass.  I'd recommend their classes if you are interested in incorporating any sort of imagery on your fused glass pieces.

I have been experimenting with the silk-screen process on glass for a few months now and this class was just what I needed to get me in the right direction.  There are a lot of steps involved but so worth it in the end!

The challenge for me is taking what I learned on a very small scale and putting it to work in larger pieces that are slumped with multiple layers.  It has been a wonderful process figuring out how to incorporate the paint and mica into my larger glass mandala pieces.

New York Gallery Show

If you're in the area of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York stop by Figureworks to see the latest in the series of my fused glass mandalas.

Visit their website for more details.

Figureworks

Gallery Owner, Randall Harris, has curated an amazing show with spirituality at it's core.

The opening reception is this Friday night, November 11th.

Stained Glass Nautilus Award for Senator Olympia Snowe

I recently had the honor and privilege to be chosen to create this one-of-a-kind stained glass nautilus sculpture that was presented to Senator Olympia Snowe by Coastal States Organization, a small non-profit group in Washington, D.C. that represents the Governor’s of the 35 coastal states and territories on federal ocean and coastal policy.  This October, CSO held its annual member meeting in Kennebunkport, ME.  At this meeting, CSO presented Senator Olympia Snowe with an award for her service and leadership on behalf of the coasts and oceans. 

It was a fun piece to design and create.  The center shell is an actual nautilus shell that has been cut in half and soldered into the glass.  Glass was chosen to depict colors and textures of Maine's ocean waters.

 

Summer In Maine

Wondering where it goes and how it goes by so quickly.  We all wait so long for it to arrive.  Dare I say that it's the end of July already? I've already heard (and I'm whispering now) 'back to school' ads on the radio and TV. 

Pink Pond Lily blossoming in our little pond at Heron Point

Mr. Cardinal has been one of my more favorite visitors this summer to Heron Point.

Rocky Racoon has been one of my least favorite visitors!

I thought I would have more time to spend in the gardens this year, but it's not in the cards I'm afraid.  There's a lot of life going on these days mostly running the gallery and helping Michael get White Cap Grille up and running.

White Cap Grill Bar area

Maple Creme Brulee still remains my favorite White Cap Dessert!

As far as finding the time to delve into glass art and artists books...it just hasn't materialized...but as an artist I tend to recognize these times as "percolating".  Instead of getting frustrated and feeling like time is running out I give myself permission to soak up every inspiration or creative thought that passes through my mind or field of vision...and know that it's working it's way out when time does permit.  And sometimes it's good to step away from all things creative.  It changes ones perspective, that's for sure.

I have been thinking a lot about my upcoming semester at Heartwood this fall.  Wondering how I can possibly fit that in without letting something else go.  But it'll happen, it always does.  Mandalas are still in the forefront of my inspiration. Nature is a close second.  One thing that I have had time for is just watching.  Sitting back on my porch looking out over the gardens and the river and just watching nature unfold.  One morning we had 6 herons in sight...I think that is a record for us.  6!  A goldfinch landed on some bright red beebalm stalks and swayed in the wind like a ballerina, it was quite a sight!

Pink Phlox in the 'Little Girl Garden'

Summer is not over by any means...I haven't been rafting on the river nearly enough for it to be over.  I did jump in the water on the first day of summer back in June.  I didn't swim laps but at least I can say I did it!  It was invigorating to say the least.

I think I feel a mandala coming on....

Stephen Lanzalotta at Heron Point Gallery

Sunset at Phang Nga Bay, Stephen Lanzalotta

Last Friday we had an opening reception for Portland artist, Stephen Lanzalotta at Heron Point Gallery.  It was a gorgeous summer night with gentle winds, warm temperatures and evening light, a great way to kick off the summer shows!  Stephen has about 8 new paintings for this show called "A New Light". 

The title of the show brings many things to mind.  The lightness of the actual wooden panels that he's painted on.  In the past, his panels were heavy and large.  A New Light also refers to the colors Stephen has chosen.  They feel brighter, rich with color, texture and movement. 

Many friends, art appreciators and collectors came by to celebrate this new 'light' with Stephen.  In listening to him speak with guests, it's evident the passion Stephen possesses for his painting.